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FWP Proposes Reducing Lake Koocanusa Bull Trout Limit

By Beacon Staff

Restrictions on bull trout fishing in Lake Koocanusa will get tighter, and limits on lake trout fishing in Flathead Lake will loosen under new changes proposed by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks for Northwest Montana. Anglers can comment on the proposed interim changes until September 6.

Jim Vashro, FWP’s regional fisheries manager, anticipates the bull trout regulations have the potential to draw the most comments. Under the proposed new regulations, Lake Koocanusa’s bull trout limit would reduce from two fish to one annually, and anglers would be restricted to one line only, down from two. Currently listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act, the bull trout population in Koocanusa has declined by about 30 percent since 2004, Vashro said.

“We’d like to flatten out that curve now,” he added. “We just want to stabilize that fishery.”

Bull trout mortality on Koocanusa from catch-and-release has also been high, which is why officials propose cutting back from one line to two, to reduce handing of the fish, though Vashro acknowledged the change may not be popular.

“This has been a very popular fishery and anglers like doing two or more lines,” he said. “There will be a range of comments.”

Those fishing for lake trout on Flathead Lake, however, may be pleased to learn FWP proposes increasing the daily limit from 50 fish to 100 fish under 30 inches, leaving the 30-36 inch limit in place. The goal is to help native fish by reducing the small lake trout population. During the 2010 Spring Mack Days, 118 anglers met the 50-fish limit.

“We’re proposing raising the daily limit to 100 fish so these anglers can continue to harvest fish,” Vashro said. “And you can do it the rest of the year if you’re a glutton for punishment.”

To stem the increasing hybridization between westslope cutthroat trout and rainbow trout in the Flathead River system, FWP proposes removing the one over 14-inch size restriction for rainbows on the North and Middle Forks. This makes the limits on the Middle and North Forks the same as on the main Flathead River and in Glacier National Park: Five rainbow trout per day.

“The big trick there is fish identification,” Vashro said. “Anything with a slash under its throat is considered a cutthroat.”

“Rainbows appear to be pushing up into the forks and the percentage of hybrids is increasing,” he added. “We want to try to push that back if we can.”

On Rogers Lake, FWP proposed removing the one grayling only restriction from the combined trout limit. The grayling there were brought up from red rocks lakes in southwest Montana with the intention of serving as a genetic reserve. And though Vashro said the Rogers Lake grayling population is reproducing well, it’s not suitable for a brood stock.

“The regulation is no longer needed,” he added. “The genetics aren’t what we were hoping for.”

Anglers wishing to comment can call Don Skaar, fisheries management section chief, at 406-444-7409 or Vashro at 406-751-4550. Comments can also be e-mailed to [email protected].