Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment by September 6 on 11 fishing contest applications proposed for the winter of 2003. All but one of these ice-fishing contests have been sponsored in past years. One new contest on Bitterroot Lake is proposed for March 2, 2003 by the Boys and Girls Club of Glacier County. Participants may catch and keep fish entered in the contests, but must comply with state fishing regulations including daily and possession limits.
Four contests are proposed in January:
FWP Region 1 Thompson Chain of Lakes
FWP Region 3 Two contests on Canyon Ferry Reservoir
FWP Region 4 Willow Creek Reservoir
Six contests are scheduled for February:
FWP Region 1 McGregor Lake
FWP Region 3 Canyon Ferry Reservoir
FWP Region 3 Clark Canyon Reservoir
FWP Region 4 Lake Frances and Newlan Creek
FWP Region 6 Fort Peck Reservoir
One contest is proposed in March:
FWP Region 1 Bitterroot Lake
Under the newly revised fishing contest rules, all applications for winter ice-fishing contests are due by July 1 to allow adequate time for processing applications. This year Canyon Ferry Reservoir is the only lake/reservoir with more than one contest proposed for the winter. There are no holiday weekend contests under the new rules and contests may not be held on consecutive weekends on any of the waters.
Details on the proposed contests are in the table below.
Applications for contests may be approved, denied or approved with conditions. Conditions placed on contests may help to minimize fish mortality, regulate harvest, reduce user conflicts or require additional access site maintenance when necessary. The public may comment on the proposed contests through September 6, after which FWP will act on the applications. Comments may be sent to FWP Fisheries Division, PO Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620 or emailed to kzackheim@state.mt.us.
DATE, FEES & PARTICIPANTS
LOCATION
WINNING FISH IN 2002
CONTEST NAME AND SPONSOR
January 18-19
$10/person
450 anglers
Lower, Middle and Upper Thompson lakes, Crystal Lake and Loon Lake
Northern pike 7.46 lbs
Rainbow trout 5.11 lbs Salmon 1.82 lbs Yellow perch 1.29 lbs
Kickin’ Horse Winter Fishin’ Derby
Kickin’ Horse Saloon & Eatery, Libby MT
January 11-12
$5/adult, $2/child
300 anglers
Canyon Ferry Reservoir, Silos
Yellow perch 1.56 lbs
1 st place 41.2 lbs (80 fish)
Ling - none caught
Canyon Ferry Ice Fishing Derby
Broadwater County Lions Club,
Townsend MT
January 25
$25/adult, kids 15 and under free with adult
300 anglers
Canyon Ferry Reservoir
Yellow perch 10.08 lbs of fish
Walleye – none caught
Ling – none caught
Town Pump “Pre-Super Bowl” Ice Fishing Tournament
Town Pump Food Stores, Butte MT
January 25
$10/person
150 anglers
Willow Creek Reservoir
Trout 21 inches
Western Bar Ice Fishing Derby
Western Bar, Augusta MT
February 2
$5/person
500 anglers
Clark Canyon Reservoir
Rainbow trout 6.09 lbs
Stan Shafer Memorial Fishing Derby
Beaverhead Search & Rescue, Dillon MT
February 8
$10/person
100 anglers
Canyon Ferry Reservoir
None caught
Winston Ling Ding
Winston Bar, Winston MT
February 8-9
$10/person
750 anglers
McGregor Lake
Lake trout 4.27 lbs
Rainbow trout 5.16 lbs
McGregor Lake Resort Annual Fishing Derby
McGregor Lake Resort, Marion MT
February 15
$15/person
200 anglers
Lake Frances
Northern pike 18.1 lbs
Yellow perch 2.43 lbs
5 th Annual Valier Volunteer Fire Dept. Fishing Derby
Valier Volunteer Fire Dept., Valier MT
February 15
$50/1 hole
$100/3 holes
300 anglers
Fort Peck Reservoir (Ft. Peck Marina)
Northern pike 4.8 lbs
Glasgow Area Chamber of Commerce Ice Fishing Derby
Chamber of Commerce & Ag., Glasgow MT
February 16
$5/person
100 anglers
Newlan Creek Reservoir
Trout 12.5 inches
Ling 21.25 inches
Annual V.F.W. Ice Fishing Derby
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5609, White Sulphur Springs MT
March 2
$15/adult
kids free
100-200 anglers
Bitterroot Lake
New this year.
Contest Name TBA
Boys and Girls Club of Glacier Country, Kalispell MT
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