FVTU Comments on 2014 Regulation Changes

Don Skaar

Fish Management Bureau Chief
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
P.O. Box 200701
Helena, MT 59601

Dear Don,

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on proposed Montana fishing regulation changes for 2014. Flathead Valley Trout Unlimited (FVTU) consists of more than 300 Montana anglers and conservation-minded individuals interested in the conservation, protection and restoration of coldwater fisheries in Northwest Montana and we are very interested in the regulation and preservation of our coldwater fisheries.

Regarding the proposal to change the definition of westslope cutthroat/rainbow hybrids in the North Fork of the Flathead River. We support the Department in its effort to better identify and manage our native state fish. Hybridization with invasive rainbow trout is a growing problem in the North and Middle Forks of the Flathead River and slowing the spread of the hybrid fish is an important strategy in conserving westslope cutthroat trout. We consider this a direct threat to the genetic integrity of the native fish population. We continue to support the ongoing rainbow/hybrid suppression effort on the Mainstem Flathead and important tributaries.

We can support changing the regulation regarding the identification of rainbow/cutthroat hybrids on a portion of the North Fork for a limited time as long as monitoring is performed rigorously and often. Creel census personnel should be well trained in identification and regular genetic sampling should be performed. Angler education is crucial and should be readily available. If data from the monitoring indicates that any damage is occurring to the native fish population, procedures should be in place to quickly remove the new regulation.

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With respect to regulation modifications not specified in the proposed changes for 2014, FVTU would also like to propose these other changes;

1) Within the Flathead River sloughs, it is still permissible for anglers to catch and keep up to 3 cutthroat trout with no size limit. Westslope cutthroat trout remain a “species of concern” in Montana and are rightly protected. Within the rest of the river system fishing for westslope cutthroat trout is catch-and-release due to threats to the species. As most of these sloughs are connected to the rest of the river system for, at least part of the year, and the cutthroat population is part of the larger overall basin population, we believe that the same regulations that protect our state fish in the rest of the system should apply to the sloughs. Therefore, we would like to see the regulation changed to catch-and-release for cutthroats in the sloughs as it is in the river.

2)  In the Stillwater drainage that includes the Whitefish River and Whitefish Lake it is still permissible for anglers to catch and keep westslope cutthroat.  With the completion of restoration of the Whitefish River from the Whitefish Lake outlet to the Highway 93 culverts, our members have been reporting increased catch of westslope cutthroat, some of which appear to be migratory from the Stillwater and Flathead Rivers downstream.  Therefore, we would like to see the regulation changed to catch-and-release for cutthroat in the Stillwater River drainage as it is in the Flathead River, to which the Stillwater system connects.

3) Lower Flathead River Sloughs-  We continue to advocate for removing protections for northern pike in the lower river and sloughs above Flathead Lake. These fish were illegally introduced many years ago and continue to take a heavy toll on our native fish as they move between the river system and Flathead Lake. We feel that the illegal pike population should not be protected as game fish through seasons and bag limits. We would like to see the removal of at least all bag limits on northern pike in the Flathead and seasonal restriction should be lifted where feasible.

4) Flathead River System-  Finally, FVTU continues to promote the imposition of single barbless hooks and no bait restrictions for the upper areas of the Flathead River system. We continue to see declines in our native bull trout and westslope trout populations even though fishing is limited and we feel that whatever can be done to alleviate hooking mortality within these populations would better support the ultimate goal of conserving and restoring our native fish populations.

Thank you for taking our comments.

Larry Timchak
President
Flathead Valley Trout Unlimited