Return of the Cutthroat Trout - American
Fisheries Society
27 minutes
Bull
Trout - Road To Recovery - USFWS
Good information about Flathead Lake and
bull trout from the Montana Native News Project
of the U of M School of Journalism with a
great video. Watch the
Montana FWP video on Bull Trout Recovery
from the FWP website.
"Protecting existing bull trout habitat and
restoring places that used to have bull trout
has benefits for other kinds of trout as well.
We can all do something to help Montana's
largest native trout."
Non-Native Lake Trout Continue to
Threaten Flathead Lake
Opinion piece from FVTU in the Missoulian
March 23, 2012 FVTU
is pleased to announce the release of our
exciting video, Jewel in The
Crown. This important DVD examines the
plight of native fish in the Flathead with a
focus on current problems facing bull trout.
Through conversations with the last generation
of anglers who were able to legally fish for
bull trout in our home waters and many
historical photos as well as interviews with
local fisheries biologists and managers, we
examine the current situation and where we need
to go now to preserve our native fish heritage.
Jewel in The Crown
is available for only $12 (+ $2 shipping and
handling)
For more information about bull trout in the
Flathead and the exciting DVD as well as a
short trailer for the film, see our companion website
www.savethejewel.org
Truth in
Advertising Notice:
Due to a manufacturing glitch, these videos will
auto-start in the middle. You will have to
rewind to the beginning to start the video.
Sorry 'bout that.
CS&KT Proposed Netting Program
Note:
The original April 2009 CSKT proposal has been
removed from consideration, but continues to be
a good example of actions that can be taken to
save native bull trout and cutthroat trout. The
Tribes and FWP are reviewing current science and
will release proposals for restoring native fish
to the Flathead watershed sometime in late 2011.
FVTU will continue to follow this process and
keep you posted.
MTFWP also released the
redd
counts for the Kootenai Drainage on Nov.
29th. Populations continue to decline in the
Kootenai as well as the Flathead and Swan.
Western Lake Trout Woes.
Great article in the Sept. 2009 issue of
Fisheries, the monthly publication by the
American Fisheries Society. The article
details problems and attempts at control of
non-native lake trout across the west, including
the Flathead and Glacier Park.
Netting of invasive lake trout has been ongoing
for the past four years in Lake Pend Oreille in
northern Idaho. This year's report shows some
encouraging signs. "...the evidence is
beginning to suggest the effort is benefitting
bull trout."
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is
conducting a 3-year lake
trout removal effort in Swan Lake, Montana, to
determine the feasibility of suppressing the
population in helping depressed native fish and
kokanee populations. The proposed action
involves contracting with professional
fishery consultants to conduct gill netting
over 3-week periods beginning late August or
early September...
Read the EA and Decision Notice from FWP -
PDF 2010
Swan Lake Netting begins Sept. 10,
2010
Work continues this month on an experimental
project in Swan Lake using modified
electrofishing equipment to destroy lake trout
embryos in Swan Lake. If successful, this
project could provide a valueable tool for
controlling lake trout invasions in several
western lakes.
Read the Environmental Analysis from FWP and
watch this site for more information.
Upcoming FVTU
Events
Next general meeting of 2013
will be our February 19th at FWP
Region 1 headquarters. 490 N. Meridian in
Kalispell, 7pm. Hope to see you there. Get more
information above.
Ever wonder just what we have lost by
eradicating bull trout from the Flathead
watershed? You've got to see
these amazing images taken by Joel Sartore
and local endangered fish biologist Wade
Fredenburg for National Geographic. This is what
a healthy bull trout population looks like. This
is what we had in the Flathead before we screwed
it up and this is what we could have again with
proper management. These photos came from the
Wigwam River, just over the divide from the
North Fork Flathead.
The 63rd session of the Montana Legislature is
now in session. Keep up with happenings that may
affect fish and fisheries in Montana by
following the Flathead TU
Legislative Coverage
April 16th wrapped up our
general meetings for the year. We will be back
in October so, please join us then for another
series of fun and informative meetings.
Next up, our fabulous Annual
Fund Raising Banquet and Auction
on May 18. Please join us for the best
social evening of the year and the best
way to kick off a new fishing season.
We will have raffles, door prizes, live
and silent auctions and for our grand
prize this year, a full-wrap,
self-bailing, 14-foot NRS raft package
complete with rowing frame, oars and
everything you need to make this the
best fishing season ever.
Please join the members and friends of
FVTU at Grouse Mountain Lodge in
Whitefish on May 18th. Festivities begin
at 6:30 with the no-host cocktail hour
followed by a scrumptious supper at 7pm.
Auctions, raffles and door prizes will
be spread throughout the evening with
the grand prize raft package being
announced at the end. We hope you can
all make it and we look forward to
seeing you there.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and
Parks has approved the all new
Fisheries Management Plan for the state. The
plan identifies overarching goals for fisheries
management, habitat protection and improvement,
fishing access and angling opportunities
statewide for the next six years.
There was a good article in
the July/Aug issue of
Montana Outdoors explaining the reasoning
behind the proposed implementation of the
Fisheries Plan.
FVTU encourages everyone
to participate in the public discusssion of
native fish issues. Please visit our
Letters to the Editor page
for tips on writing an effective letter and for
news outlet contacts.
For more information and
important updates be sure to vist the FVTU blog