By MONTANA FISH WILDLIFE & PARKS
The Montana Fish & Wildlife Commission is seeking comment on proposed 2014 fishing regulations.
The proposed regulations for March 2014 through February 2015 would retain most of the current regulations with some changes being proposed for the Western and Central fishing districts.
Western District
- Little Bitterroot Lake—No bag limit on bass to protect the kokanee fishery and help suppress this illegally introduced fish.
- North Fork Flathead River—Allow for the harvest of hybridized rainbow trout to protect pure cutthroat trout populations.
- Silver Lake—Close the shoreline to fishing around the mouth of Storm Lake Creek seasonally to protect mature, migratory bull trout.
Storm Lake Creek—Close the creek to fishing downstream of the Silver Lake Diversion dam seasonally to protect mature, migratory bull trout.- Warm Springs Creek—Close the creek to fishing 50 yards downstream from the Myers Dam to protect mature, migratory bull trout.
Central District
- Canyon Ferry Reservoir—Lower the bag limit for yellow perch to 10 fish and raise the bag limit for walleye to 12 fish to conserve the perch population.
- Hauser Reservoir—Lower the bag limit for yellow perch to 10 fish and restrict harvest in the spring to conserve the perch population.
- Holter Reservoir—Remove the length slot limit for walleye to improve harvest opportunities and reduce numbers.
- Pelican Point Pond #1—No bag limit on northern pike to protect largemouth bass and yellow perch populations and to suppress this illegally introduced fish.
The proposed changes are available for review and comment on the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov click on Public Notice.
Comments may also be mailed to Don Skaar, Fish Management Bureau Chief, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, P.O. Box 200701; Helena, MT 59601. Comments may also be emailed to fwpfsh@mt.gov.
Comments must be received by Sept.12. The Fish & Wildlife Commission will take final action on the regulations in October.