Field Reports

FISHING

Walleyes considered

Some anglers believe that western Montana has a number of lakes well suited for walleyes.

The state, however, has rules prohibiting walleye introductions west of the Continental Divide, although the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks commission has voted 3-2 to allow plants of sterile walleye into selected west-side lakes.

The commission is taking further steps, accepting public comment on overturning that 1990 ban on spreading non-native walleyes. Final action is scheduled for a Sept. 9 meeting in Missoula.

The Flathead Valley chapter of Walleyes Unlimited has been a vocal proponent of having a warm-water walleye fishery in western Montana. Some members think the commission is moving too slowly.

Chris Hunter, fisheries chief for the state, said he supports the existing ban on walleye plants.

Walleyes Unlimited had four of the five FWP commissioners persuaded to repeal the ban, said, Frank Danner, a founder of the local Walleyes Unlimited chapter. But after “heavy lobbying” by Trout Unlimited, the vote went down to 3-2, and commissioners did not repeal the ban. Instead the commission merely replaced the ban with a policy to allow transplants of sterile walleye.

“It’s a bad deal,” said Bruce Farling, executive director of Montana Trout Unlimited. “We’re not happy about it. We don’t want to go to war against other anglers. We’re not against walleye fisheries, but there are certain places you have these … and certain places you don’t.

The current ban on walleye plants came on the heels of the 1989 biological assessment that concluded putting walleye in areas where trout or salmon were present would harm those populations.

Walleye have been planted in Canyon Ferry Reservoir, turning a traditional family fishery for perch and rainbow trout into a predominantly walleye fishery.

“My biggest fear is that the frustration level will get so high, people will start doing damage to other fisheries out of spite,” Danner said. “We feel the bucket biology could be controlled if the frustration level were lowered.”

Just recently, walleye were found in Lake Five, a warm-water lake near West Glacier. There are 466 recorded cases of illegal introductions in 266 waters statewide.

The Flathead Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited, meanwhile, has identified 18 lakes that would be suitable for walleye plants, Danner said. Echo Lake and Lake Mary Ronan are on that list, he said.

Local walleye anglers have been working for 20 years to establish a walleye fishery in western Montana and, Danner said, “We won’t give up.”

Associated Press

ENDANGERED SPECIES

Grizzlies on right track

Grizzly bears could reach “full occupancy” in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem within 25 years if the animals’ population growth continues at recent rates, biologists say.

Grizzlies were listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act in 1975. Steps were taken to protect the animals, including moving livestock away from grizzly habitat and keeping sources of human food away from the bears.

Associated Press