Fishing Regulations Scoping Meetings for Libby and Eureka
March 30th in Eureka; March 31 in Libby
by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
March 20, 2011
Every four years FWP goes through the process to re-examine current fishing regulations for potential changes. Biologists are looking now at regulations that will be in affect 2012-2016. Changes could range from simplifying existing regulations to protecting important fish species. The first stage of that process is to identify issues or problems that may affect the fisheries that could be corrected with a change in fishing regulations.
Fisheries Biologist Mike Hensler has scheduled two meetings for the Kootenai area to identify issues facing the recreational fishery:
--March 30 from 7 pm to 9 pm at the Lincoln Electric Cooperative meeting room in Eureka
--March 31 from 7 pm to 9 pm at the Ponderosa Room at 952 East Spruce Street in Libby
So far, the following fisheries issues have been identified in Northwest Montana:
• Investigate strategies to reduce catch-and-release mortality for bull trout in Lake Koocanusa
• Consider dropping harvest and going to catch-and-release only for bull trout in Lake Koocanusa and Hungry Horse Reservoir to reduce bull trout mortality and management costs
• Investigate strategies to stabilize the number of spawning bull trout in the
Swan drainage.
• The number and size of rainbows has declined downstream of Libby Dam.
Anglers can also check the FWP website under "For Anglers" to see statewide issues and provide comments. Comments will be accepted through April 22.
For more information, or to comment, contact Hensler in Libby at 406-293-4161, ext. 204, or Fisheries Manager Jim Vashro in Kalispell at 406-751-4550.
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