HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – The annual Fresno Reservoir fisheries survey has been released, and it shows relatively strong numbers of fish despite low water levels.
The survey was conducted by Fish, Wildlife and Parks staff in September using standardized nets.
“This years survey was right on track with what we’ve historically seen,” says Fisheries Biologist Cody Nagel. “Walleye definitely dominated the overall catch and the most abundant species, with really good numbers observed this year. We also saw pretty good numbers of yellow perch, definitely the highest numbers we’ve seen since 2011. So that was another bright spot. Another thing was that northern pike were right on average with long-term averages. And we also did see a couple species that we don’t normally see in the reservoir this year. Saw pretty good numbers of longnose suckers, which we don’t normally see.”
Nagel adds that the impact of low water in the Reservoir this summer and fall due to the collapse of Drop 5 of the St. Mary’s Canal were not as bad as anticipated.
“We actually had really good water this spring. So we did document pretty good natural reproduction of walleye and also spottail shiners this year. The only thing that really happened with the drawdown, I think it just concentrated fish here for just a short period of time, which just makes it a little more difficult for your smaller fish, your forage fish, to avoid predation.”
And with emergency repairs to the St. Mary’s System complete, water is now flowing back into Fresno Reservoir until they have to shut the system back off for winter at the end of the month.
“That’s huge. It’s pretty amazing what was accomplished with getting all of that infrastructure repaired and to be able to move water this fall. It definitely sets the reservoir up good for capturing enough water in the spring to be conducive to good spawning conditions for all of those fish in the reservoir. It also gives the Milk River above Fresno a good shot of water going into the winter to replenish the pool habitat and things like that that a lot of the river species utilize above Fresno.”
Fishing has also been boosted by fish stocking. Approximately 4,000 rainbow trout were stocked in June, and another 30,000 eight-inch rainbow trout were stocked earlier this month.
“We encourage folks to get out there and target those fish this winter. And there should be plenty of opportunity there between the walleye numbers that we saw, the trout that are going to be in there, and then also that nice little bump in perch numbers that we saw.”
Fisheries Management Plan
FWP is beginning planning and development for a fisheries management plan for Fresno Reservoir.
Right now, we’re in the development phases of getting that off the ground. There’s gonna be a lot of public involvement, there’s gonna be committees developed to help guide that document. And it’s really just for the long-term management of that Reservoir. The fishery and how we manage that water body.”
Due to COVID-19, FWP is planning on conducting much of the management planning process virtually.
Stay tuned to New Media Broadcasters for updates.
