Montana FWP to Consider Ruining Trout Fishing

[JoseCuervo]

Missoulian opinion: This is one thing better left alone
Posted Aug 25, 2004 - 04:03 PM


SUMMARY: Western Montana's world-class fishing could be jeopardized by introduction of a voracious new species.

What is it about some people that they just have to mess with nature? Did God really do such a lousy job of Creation that it bears constant tinkering by men? Some people obviously think so. And some of them have found sympathetic ears on the state commission that oversees fish and wildlife management in Montana.

Not content with one of the best fisheries in the world, the state Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission is toying with the idea of transplanting a new species, walleye, to waters west of the Continental Divide. Doing so would require changing the commission's own thoughtful policy, adopted in 1989 after much study, banning the introduction of walleyes in western Montana due to the grave threat they pose to trout and other resident fish.
Walleyes are fine fish, but they're voracious predators that have great potential to upset nature's balance in some of the best fisheries going. Whatever additional recreational opportunity that might be created by giving fishermen another species to pursue wouldn't begin to offset the potential losses to an existing fishery that's hugely important economically, as well as recreationally.

The ability of walleyes to overwhelm and out-compete trout and other fish has been well documented. The threat they pose is reflected in the convoluted proposal a divided FWP commission tentatively approved in July. By a 3-2 vote, the commission voted to consider stocking walleyes in waters west of the Divide, but only "sterile" fish incapable of reproduction, only in lakes that have no outlet to other waters, and only where viable fisheries wouldn't be affected.

These conditions aren't nearly conservative as they might seem at first blush. For one thing, fish hatcheries have developed techniques for genetically altering fish, including walleyes, so that they can't reproduce, but the technique is far from 100 percent effective. Release very many "sterile" walleyes into western Montana waters, and some of them inevitably will be capable of reproduction. It only takes two to breed disaster.

As predators, walleyes require an adequate supply of other fish for food. Any lake likely to support a healthy population of walleyes is going to have an existing fishery that's going to be affected.

As for placing walleyes only in lakes that don't drain into other waters, that's hardly sufficient insurance. All it takes is a few irresponsible "bucket biologists" to cart the walleyes they catch to other waters to deal a devastating blow to a priceless trout fishery.

Montana already has tremendous walleye fishing east of the Divide, in places like Fort Peck and Tiber reservoirs. The Daily Inter Lake newspaper in Kalispell last month quoted a leading walleye proponent lamenting the long drive from western Montana to the the lakes full of walleye. "People are getting tired of having to drag a $30,000 boat and a $20,000 camper to Tiber to fish," the guy said.

We feel his pain. But that doesn't make us want to drag our $100 fly rods and $75 chest waders to Idaho or Wyoming to rediscover the kind of trout fishing we have right now here in western Montana.

The FWP Commission has scheduled a hearing on this proposal in Missoula Sept. 8 (7 p.m. at Ruby's Inn on Reserve Street.) It's planning to make a final decision the next day, Sept. 9, also in Missoula. They might need your help to make the right decision. You can also address the commission in writing at FWP Commission, P.O. Box 200701, Helena 59620-0701, or by e-mail at [email protected].

 

[Bambistew]

The fish and game wants to plant them because they know the enivitable will come anyway. "Fisherman" illeagally transplanting walleye to waters west of the divide. At least they will have a beter chance that they will be transplaning steril fish.

I think its pretty much a no win situation. If they don't do it, they will eventually get them anyway. This way they have at least some control over it.

When was the last time you fished the Missouri? I thought it was a world class blue ribon stream??? They got walleyes from about the headwaters to god knows how far down stream... The trout are pretty thick too... I think they can get by...

Sound like the wolf problem, the varacious preditors will kill all the elk?