FWP Seeks Comment on Proposed Tiger Muskie Introductions

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Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on an Environmental Assessment (EA) of a proposed introduction of sterile tiger muskies in Lake Elmo and Lake Josephine in Billings.   

Tiger muskies would improve the quality of the fisheries by helping to control the lakes’ abundant sucker populations. Suckers compete with game species such as sunfish, crappie, rainbow trout, and bass for a limited food supply. Reducing sucker numbers would increase growth and survival rates of the game species and add a limited trophy fishery in these urban lakes.

“We’ve had good luck using the muskies to control sucker populations in other area lakes, such as Deadman’s Basin,” Ken Frazer, FWP fisheries biologist said.   “We’re proposing to introduce a very small number of muskies—just enough to control the sucker population and open up the food supply to the other game fish.”

Under the proposal 65 sterile muskies would be introduced to Lake Elmo and 20 to Lake Josephine.   

  “Although muskie numbers would be low, anglers would have the opportunity to occasionally hook into a big muskie,” Frazer said.

Muskie predation on ducks, frogs, and other non-fish species is rare and would have little impact in either lake. To request a copy of the EA, contact FWP at 247-2940, or follow the link via news/public notices on FWP’s web site: fwp.mt.gov.   Public comment will be accepted until April 25, 2005 and may be mailed to:   Ken Frazer, MT FWP, 2300 Lake Elmo Drive, Billings, MT   59105, or emailed to:   kfrazer@mt.gov.