Bailey Reservoir
Bailey Reservoir historically has provided great angling opportunities for black crappie, northern pike, perch, and walleye. However, fish population levels have declined significantly since 2000 due to drought. Water levels improved in 2005, but reservoir is still not at full pool. In 2005, rainbow trout, walleye fingerlings and yellow perch were stocked into the reservoir to supplement the fishery. And in 2006, additional pre-spawn yellow perch were transplanted. Walleye and yellow perch stocking were successful and these fish have demonstrated good growth and survival rates. Late summer gill netting revealed increasing abundances of northern pike, walleye, and yellow perch. Black crappie populations are very low. Recently, angler catch rates and satisfaction have been steadily increasing; with the highest catch rates occurring during winter months.
Beaver Creek Reservoir
Beaver Creek Reservoir is a favorite destination for summer and winter fishing and is currently ranked fifth in the region for fishing pressure. Beaver Creek Reservoir, sustained good water levels during the spring and yellow perch, northern pike, and spottail shiners have taken full advantage of the available flooded spawning substrate. Good catches of northern pike, walleye, perch and trout were made throughout most of the year. Fishermen are catching high quality walleye with regularity (total length (TL) > 25 inches.). Smallmouth bass are also providing a great deal of enjoyment. The northern pike population has been increasing in recent years and we routinely catch 24 to 40 inch northern pike during fall sampling. This reservoir usually draws huge crowds from around the state for the winter perch and trout fishing, however warm weather and poor ice conditions in 2004/2005 and 2005/2006 have prevented tournaments and other ice fishing activities.
Bear Paw Lake
The long-term sucker reduction program has increased the growth and condition of stocked rainbow and Yellowstone cutthroat trout and the lake is once again a final destination point for thousands of fishermen. Bear Paw Lake currently ranks number four in fishing pressure in Region Six. Increasing fishing pressure on this body of water required a reduction in the trout limit from 5 to 3, which went into affect in March of 2002. The reservoir is home to rainbow trout (9 to 16 inches), Yellowstone cutthroat trout (9 to 18 inches), brook trout, walleye (6 to 22 inches: illegally introduced in 1985), smallmouth bass (6 to 17 inches), and white suckers. The reservoir is currently full and many upgrades to this Fishing Access Site were done in the last year with more planned. In 2005, an overnight camping fee of $7 was enacted to assist with costs of future improvements.
Cow Creek Reservoir
Though travel to this reservoir requires a trek over approximately 50 miles of gravel roads, this reservoir is a wonderful destination to fish for some unique species. Those who have traveled the extra distance have reported catches of nine-pound channel catfish and 25 pound tiger muskie. Anglers also reported exceptional catch rates of walleye (1.43 fish/hour); good catch rates of tiger muskies (0.05 fish/hour), and channel catfish (0.05 fish/hour). Anglers also catch a few yellow perch, which were illegally introduced, and the occasional black crappie, which are naturally reproducing within the reservoir.
Fishermen should note that the minimum legal size limit for muskies was increased to 40 inches. In addition, this is a privately owned reservoir and overnight camping is not permitted without permission from the landowner (Bill Cowan; Sand Creek Ranch, Chinook).
Dry Fork Reservoir
This reservoir went “bone dry” in 2001, however, the fishery is well on its way to recovery. Rainbow trout were introduced in 2002 to supplement the fishery and these trout are currently around four pounds. Additionally northern pike, black crappie, and yellow perch were reintroduced in 2002 and are doing very well. In 2005, when the reservoir was near full, there were numerous reports of 20 to 30-inch northern pike, 16 to 24 inch rainbow trout, and half-pound perch being caught. Walleye were reintroduced in 2004 and 2005 and many are already 18 inches in length. However, due to low precipitation, water levels in 2006 are at the second lowest levels on record and the fishery will have to be monitored to determine the effects of the low water levels on fish survivability. When water levels increase anglers will be able to enjoy a new road and boat ramp area installed by Blaine County.
Faber Reservoir
The condition of rainbow trout continues to be high after the reservoir was rehabilitated in 2000 to remove white suckers. There continue to be reports of high catch rates with many 13 to 15 inch rainbow trout and the occasional four-pound rainbow trout. Water levels within the reservoir are low but stable, and 10,000 three-inch rainbow trout are stocked annually into this reservoir. Spring and summer fishing for 2007 should be great.
Fresno Reservoir and Tailwater FAS
Spring and summer rains allowed reservoir elevations to increase and remain stable during spawning of various forage and sport fish within the reservoir, flooding shoreline vegetation. As a result, yellow perch, northern pike, and spottail shiners have pulled off successful spawns in 2004, 2005, and 2006. Spawning success can be attributed to the high abundance of flooded vegetation that provided excellent spawning conditions.
Walleye spawning success remains low and 100,000 young of year walleye were stocked into the reservoir annually from 2003 to 2005, with 200,000 walleye stocked in 2006. Since 2003, the abundance of adult walleye has steadily increased and is currently at pre-drought levels. The high abundance of walleye in 2006, nearly 15 fish per net, indicates excellent survival and recruitment of stocked walleye, especially the 2005-year class. In 2006, 29.9% of the walleye were sub-stock (<10 inch.), 53.1% were stock size (10-14.9 inch), 7.9% were quality size (15-19.9 inch), and 4.5% were preferred size (>20 inch). In addition, walleye continue to exhibit high condition indices, which is attributable to a forage base that is adequate for the existing population levels of predators. However, due to the abundance of forage, anglers have a difficult time catching these walleye.
The population of adult northern pike has significantly increased in 2006. The population is currently well balanced with a high number of stock (14-20.9 inch) and sub-stock (<14 inch) fish as well as high numbers of quality (21-27.99 inch), preferred (28-33.99 inch), and memorable (>34 inch) size groups. Based on the young of the year (YOY) surveys in 2006, northern pike population will continue to increase in 2007 and the proportion of preferred and memorable size northern pike should continue to improve as the population ages.
Rainbow trout, walleye and pike fishing below the dam at the Tailwater Fishing Access Site has been very good, however, fishermen should be aware that the Bureau of Reclamation has closed the favorite fishing area immediately below the dam due to security concerns. In addition, the handicap access is going to be improved and a fishing pier built over the next few years (2007-2008).
Grasshopper Reservoir
Water levels are reduced in 2006 due to drought, however they are currently stable. Rainbow trout are thriving within the reservoir, and fisherman report catches of 5-pound rainbow trout, and 14 to 18 inch rainbow trout are common throughout the reservoir. Annual plants of 2,500 Arlee and 3,000 Eagle Lake rainbow trout will continue.
H.C. Kuhr Reservoir
In 2003 the drought all but dewatered this fine trout fishery and the opportunity was seized to kill off a remnant perch and sucker population, which would certainly inhibit trout growth in the future. The reservoir was restocked in 2003 and closed to fishing. The fishery reopened in 2004, and there have been reports of 3 to 4 pound rainbow trout being caught within the reservoir. Currently in 2006, the reservoir is near full and 3,000 3 to 4 inch rainbow trout will be stocked annually. H.C. Kuhr became part of the Private Lands Fishing Access program in 2005.
Little Warm Reservoir
The reservoir regained some volume in 2004 and 2005 however levels are still below full pool. Good catches of tiger muskies were reported this year. This reservoir receives annual plants of 10,000 walleye and alternate year plants of 2,500 tiger muskie. Fishermen should note that the minimum legal size limit for muskies has increase to 40 inches. To improve fishing access, FWP, with the help of landowner Steve Knudsen, installed a much needed boat ramp from a World War II Air Force landing mat in 2003 and a cattle guard was installed at the entrance in 2004.
Missouri River Paddlefish above Fort Peck
A valuable recreational snag fishery occurs each year for paddlefish above Fort Peck Reservoir in areas down river of the Fred Robinson Bridge. In recent years, harvest of Fort Peck paddlefish has varied considerably with annual river discharges, but on average approximately 1,000 fish are harvested annually. Historically, paddlefish anglers have caught numerous paddlefish over 100 pounds, however these fish are aging and being removed from the population. There has also been very limited recruitment of paddlefish over the last decade within this population due to drought, which has removed the cues necessary for spawning. In addition, younger paddlefish are not growing as large due to reduced plankton productivity in Fort Peck Reservoir.
Due to poor recruitment and concerns over increasing harvest, regulations were changed for the 2007 paddlefish season to provide a sustainable recreational fishery while maintaining the historical size and age distribution of the population. Changes include the reduction of harvest to one paddlefish per person per year. Snaggers will now have to choose which areas they wish to fish in, there will be mandatory harvest and catch/release days, and snagging hours have been restricted. For complete details of the regulation changes, please refer to the 2007 fishing regulations, or the FWP web page.
FWP will continue to tag paddlefish and encourage anglers to return tags with information on location and size at harvest, to the Havre Area Resource Office. This information allows biologists to determine survival, harvest, and growth rates of paddlefish in the Missouri River. In 2006, FWP and the University of Idaho began installing radio transmitters in paddlefish to study how spawning locations and spawning success vary with differences in annual flows. They will also evaluate habitat use of adult migratory fish under different hydrological and ecological conditions to gauge the effects of annual environmental variability on paddlefish migratory behavior and eventual year-class strength. FWP asks snaggers harvesting any paddlefish implanted with radio transmitters that the tags be returned to the Havre Areas Resource Office so that they can be re-implanted.
Nelson Reservoir
Nelson Reservoir currently has 26 fish species and is managed primarily as a walleye fishery. Walleye reproduce naturally in Nelson; however walleye fingerlings are occasionally stocked to augment natural reproduction. Spawning shoals were constructed in 1993 at three locations within the reservoir to improve spawning conditions for walleye. Since 1997, drought has reduced the active conservation pool of Nelson and may be the limiting factor in the successful recruitment of walleye. To augment the population, walleye fry and/or fingerlings have been stocked periodically since 1986. In 2006, 200,000 fingerlings and 5,000 advanced fingerlings were stocked.
The fishery within Nelson Reservoir has benefited greatly from increased water levels for the past three years during spring spawning. Surveys in 2006 indicated that yellow perch numbers increased to their highest levels since 1991, at 16.4 fish/net. Adult yellow perch exhibit high condition factors and the size structure of yellow perch is well balanced, with 64.6% of the adults of stock size (5-7.9 inch) and 35.4% in the quality and preferred size groups (8 to 12 inches TL). Walleye numbers have also increased to 13.3 fish/net, with 56% of the walleye of stock size (10-14.9 inch), 37.6% in the quality size group (15-19.9 inch), and 3.01% in the preferred size group (20-24.9 inch). The northern pike population also increased to 3.4 fish/net, with 14.7% in sub-stock (<14 inch), 29.4% in stock size (14-20.9 inch), 29.4% in quality size (21-27.9 inch), and 5.9% in memorable size (>34 inch). Lake whitefish have also been recovering since 2004, and the population currently consists of 25.6% stock size (6-10.9 inch), 25.6% quality size (11-13.9 inch), 2.3% preferred size (14-17.9%), and 20.9% memorable size fish (>18 inch). Finally, the black crappie population appears to be doing well, and is at the highest level on record.
Reser Reservoir
The low water and high productivity of this reservoir caused a winterkill in 2002-2003. Rainbow trout and bluegill were stocked in 2003 and two aerator windmills were installed in an attempt to increase dissolved oxygen, which seemed to be a limiting factor. In 2004, 2,000 two-inch bluegill sunfish were stocked and 3,000 five-inch rainbow trout were stocked. Fall gillnetting surveys show excellent growth and survival of rainbow trout. Water levels are currently high and the fishing should be good in 2007.
Ross Reservoir
This beautiful mountain cutthroat fishery was rehabilitated in 2000 to rid it of suckers. It was closed in 2001, to allow fish to grow to acceptable size. Fishermen were not disappointed when the pond was opened in May of 2002. Anglers enjoyed good catches of 13 to 15 inch cutthroat. Water levels were good in 2006, and 2,000 six to eight-inch Yellowstone Cutthroat trout were stocked. However, this pond is again plagued with white suckers, and a very low density of tiger muskies will be introduced in 2007, to assist in controlling the undesirable white sucker population.
The drought persisted in 2006; however, it wasn’t as severe as previous years, with the pool raising nearly five feet in early summer. The reservoir’s peak elevation was reached on June 25, at 2206.3 feet msl. Snow pack in the mountains was better than average; however, the plains area received little snowfall once again. It is uncertain on the amount of snow pack that we will receive this winter, but Fort Peck is forecast to reach a new record low of 2197.4 by February 2007 if current conditions continue. Fortunately, there are still reservoir areas that are 150 feet deep, so cold-water habitat is still available for the salmon and lake trout program to continue. Shoreline vegetation was flooded in 2006, and was a much-needed change from previous years when water levels did not reach shoreline vegetation. Ultimately, this flooded vegetation provides increased spawning habitat for forage fish and game fish, along with nutrients that increase overall lake productivity.
The walleye spawn continues to be plagued by low water levels making us continue to move further up the reservoir; however, we were still able to collect nearly 125 million eggs that would benefit various walleye waters throughout the state. As a result of the spawn, 35 million fry and 4.1 million fingerlings were stocked throughout Fort Peck in 2006. This was an increase from previous stocking efforts thanks to an increase in spring water levels and a successful year of production at both the new Fort Peck hatchery and Miles City hatchery. An enthusiastic volunteer program also facilitated this year’s success. If anyone is interested in assisting with the walleye egg-take in April 2007, please call (406) 526-3471 to join the 100 other volunteers that participate annually. It’s a great way to learn more about the walleye fishery, see large walleye, and be a part of the statewide egg-take that benefits other Montana walleye fisheries.
Annual gill net surveys conducted in 2006 indicate that strong populations of larger walleye still exist. In addition, surveys revealed a good year-class of walleyes in the 10-14-inch group moving into the current population. This is encouraging, as there has been somewhat of a lapse in this size class over the last couple of years. Walleye numbers also increased as we moved further up the reservoir during our adult annual sampling season. Pike populations continue to remain at constant minimal level as they have in previous years, with a majority of the population comprised of larger individuals. Yellow perch catch rates have increased, with some fish up to 10 inches in length.
Annual seining surveys indicated spottail and emerald shiners have maintained their populations, as they were comparatively similar to last year. In addition, with the increase in flooded vegetation, yellow perch recruitment has increased to levels that were seen in early 2000 as a result of available spawning structure and an increased number of adults in the population. Young-of-year crappie has decreased slightly from 5.2 per seine haul in 2005, to 3.1 per seine haul in 2006. These four species comprise a large portion of the shoreline forage for smaller predatory fish like walleye, northern pike, and smallmouth bass. Seine hauls for young-of-year smallmouth bass are slightly lower than those in 2005, and could be attributed to the rise in water level during their summer spawn.
Cisco young-of-year had a good year of reproduction with catches increasing from 84 cisco per net in 2005, to 137 cisco per net in 2006. Although the lake did not completely freeze over until February 24, 2006, it is possible that the surge in young-of-year cisco resulted from decreased competition from previous weak year-classes of cisco, or decreased wave action at the time of spawning and incubation, that may cause sediment to cover eggs. This is encouraging, since they are the predominant forage base for cold-water species like salmon and lake trout, but are also utilized by larger walleye and northern pike as well. The Chinook salmon program continues to face minimal returns for anglers and annual egg-take for biologists. However, the salmon run for 2006 was better than expected compared to the past several years. As a result, salmon were spawned in 2006 yielding approximately 124,000 green eggs. In addition, North Dakota will be able to supply surplus eggs to supplement our stocking requirements for 2007 plants. It will be interesting next year to see how abundant adult returns will result from the 2004 year-class, as this was the first year that a larger fall stocked fish was released. This year, 180,000 chinook fingerlings were stocked into Fort Peck; 175,000 spring-stocked at three inches, and the remaining 5,000 were fall-stocked at 7 inches.
Despite declining reservoir levels and reduced spawning habitat, lake trout were not spawned in 2006. Currently, lake trout hatching and rearing space in hatcheries is non-existent and special accommodations will need to be made, if future stocking efforts are to occur. Surprisingly, numbers of lake trout captured during this year’s annual gill net sampling were up. Lake trout tagging still continued, and anglers are encouraged to report tagged fish when taken. If you catch a lake trout or any other tagged fish in Fort Peck, please record location, size (length and weight if possible), date caught, tag number and color. After recording the information you may call (406) 526-3471 or send the information to us at Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, PO Box 167, Fort Peck, Montana 59223, or contact any regional office. Tag information is an important part of fisheries management, as it provides insight into movements, harvest rates, and growth.
To comply with the Missouri River Biological Opinion developed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposes to modify operations of Fort Peck Dam to enhance environmental conditions for spawning and recruitment of pallid sturgeon in the lower Missouri River by releasing warm water over the spillway. This additional warm water would be released in the spring and would create a more natural hydrograph, which is a very important spawning cue for native lower Missouri River fish. Unfortunately the proposed flow modifications were not implemented in 2006 due to insufficient reservoir levels. Another thirty-five feet is needed in the reservoir before water can be released from the spillway. An above average snow pack and rainfall, along with more conservative dam operations are needed for a spillway release to occur.
To assess the biological changes of these flow alterations, the Fort Peck Flow Modification (FPFM) crew is researching several key life stages and events of not only pallid sturgeon but other native fish species as well.
First, how will these native species respond to changes in flows out of Fort Peck Reservoir? There are several adult blue suckers, shovelnose sturgeon, pallid sturgeon, and paddlefish that have been surgically implanted with transmitters. The Missouri River from Fort Peck Dam to Williston, N.D. (220 miles) and the Yellowstone River from its mouth to Intake Diversion Dam (71 miles) have been flown and floated every week from April through July and every other week from August to November. These fish are leading us to key spawning areas and we are in the process of determining what flows and temperatures are needed to cue these fish to begin their spawning migrations.
Second, we know where the adults are going but are they reproducing? If so, when and to what extent? We have been looking at reproductive success through an intense larval fish-sampling scheme. There are six sites along the Missouri, Milk, and Yellowstone Rivers that are sampled twice per week from late May through early August.
Third, are these larvae growing and is it likely that they will survive? Sturgeon larvae drift at the mercy of the river for up to two weeks before they are able to resist the currents and settle into their preferred habitats. We have been using a beam trawl to capture the young-of-year sturgeon (1-4 inches) in the lower Yellowstone River and the lower reaches of the Missouri River above Lake Sakakawea from late July through early September. We hope to see primarily larger YOY’s that have settled out before reaching the headwaters of Lake Sakakawea and that are going into winter at a robust size.
Finally, other FWP crews out of Fort Peck are trying to capture juveniles to see if the have recruited into the population. We are in the process of building a baseline data set to see how pallid sturgeon and other native fish behave in existing conditions. This is very important in order to determine whether the flow modifications are successful or not. When the spillway runs, will the adults move up the Missouri? Will they successfully reproduce? Will they come up far enough so that their larvae won’t drift into the headwaters of Lake Sakakawea? Finally, will there be recruitment of these fish? Unfortunately those answers will have to wait until warm water releases from the Ft. Peck spillway occur.
In the meantime, the pallid sturgeon relies solely on a hatchery program to keep the species from becoming extirpated. During April and October, the FPFM crew, as well as other FWP pallid sturgeon study crews, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, combined efforts to capture adult pallid sturgeon for hatchery brood fish. During the spring 2006, four females and several males were captured and taken from the wild to the Miles City State Fish Hatchery and Garrison National Fish Hatchery. They were then spawned and their progeny released back into the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers. There were four females and two males taken to Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery this fall that will be spawned next spring.
Anglers should be aware that that these smaller fish are out there and they are illegal to possess. Most of these fish have colored lines on the underside of their snout; however, anglers should release any sturgeon if they are uncertain of the species.
The Adopt-a-Fish program was a hit with school kids again this year. Researchers from the Yellowstone River added some new areas and new species to the list in 2006. This program allows students to adopt one or two of our radioed paddlefish, blue sucker, shovelnose sturgeon, pallid sturgeon, burbot, or channel catfish; name it; and track their weekly movements over the Internet. This is a cooperative effort with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, U.S. Geological Survey, the Billings Gazette, and Pike Masters. For more information or to adopt your own fish look up www.pikemasters.com and click on the Missouri River Adopt-a-Fish icon.
Battling deadlines, gnats, inclement weather and the occasional equipment malfunction, the Fort Peck Pallid Sturgeon Population Assessment crew’s initial field season in 2006, went off without a hitch.
Biologists estimate there are roughly 150 adult pallid sturgeon remaining in the Missouri River between Fort Peck dam and the Yellowstone River confluence. These low numbers are believed to be a result of habitat loss from damming and channelization of the Missouri River. Juvenile hatchery-reared pallid sturgeon have been stocked in various reaches of the Missouri River over the past nine years. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has helped to develop and fund a comprehensive monitoring plan designed to assess survival rates, movement, distribution, habitat use, and physical characteristics of wild and hatchery-reared pallid sturgeon, as well as other Missouri River fishes, such as sauger, blue suckers, sturgeon chubs, and sicklefin chubs. The monitoring plan splits up sampling efforts into two seasons, the sturgeon season and the Fish Community season. The sturgeon season, which starts in April and ends in July, places sampling emphasis on the pallid sturgeon; the fish community season, which starts in July and ends in October, again places sampling emphasis on sturgeon as well as other native Missouri River species that use shallow water habitats.
The first sampling period, sturgeon season, started late due to hiring difficulties, yet the crew consisting of a biologist and 6 crew members completed all sampling within the given two month timeframe. By otter trawling and trammel netting twenty-five randomly selected river bends, the crew documented numerous species including 19 hatchery- reared pallid sturgeon, as well as sauger, blue suckers, northern pike, and shovelnose sturgeon. The occasional bison skull, boulder, and tree stump were also pulled from the depths of the Missouri.
During the four-month long fish community season, crews otter trawled, trammel netted, beam trawled, seined, and set mini-fyke nets on over 36 river bends. Overcoming thousands of gnats and random hailstorms, crews captured tens of thousands of fish consisting of over 40 species. In one of the mini-fyke net sets, the crew counted a boiling mass of over 17,500 fish, most of which were juvenile white suckers. Other fyke nets also contained burbot with rotund bellies resulting from gorging themselves on the night’s catch. The crew caught an additional 46 hatchery-reared pallid sturgeon, most of which were stocked over the past two years.
The pallid sturgeon population assessment crew wrapped up their field season in November by participating in pallid sturgeon broodstock collection along with the Fish and Wildlife Service and MTFWP crews from Regions 4, 6, and 7. Combined efforts led to the capture of several adult pallid sturgeon, six of which were taken to Gavins Point National Fish hatchery to be spawned next spring.
Data collected from this project during this past year and in the future will help biologists more effectively evaluate the status of Missouri River pallid sturgeon and the pallid sturgeon artificial propagation program. In addition, knowledge gained on other Missouri River fishes will assist in effectively managing the sport fishery of the lower Missouri River.
