Fish brains: Regional managers in driver seat for future of fishing

Fisheries biologists are stepping in and out of the top regional fish management positions in North Idaho and Eastern Washington this month.

These are the managers who supervise staff and hatchery managers, guide field work, administer fishing rule changes, chart policy, oversee projects, plow through the red tape of government regulations – and take the heat when fishing isn’t up to par.

Chris Donley has taken over as the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Eastern Regional Fish Program manager from John Whalen, who retired July 1.

Andy Dux has assumed the Idaho Fish and Game Panhandle Region fisheries manager position from Jim Fredericks, who was promoted to the statewide chief of Fisheries position in Boise.

While the new managers have big jobs ahead, the former managers shared their insights with The Spokesman-Review on what they did and didn’t accomplish. They also offered their educated opinion on the state of the region’s fisheries management going forward.