By Josh Margolis
HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – At a recent open house meeting in Havre, local Fish, Wildlife and Parks fisheries biologist Cody Nagel provided an update on the Fresno Reservoir fishery.
Nagel says that they are working to implement the recently approved Fisheries Management Plan, and will be stocking around 50,000 walleye fingerlings in the Reservoir in June.
“With the new management plan, one of the primary goals is to increase angler catch rates for walleye. And that’s what we’re doing by supplementing the wild population that’s naturally reproducing with these hatchery fish. So we’re just encouraging folks to get out there and catch them. And if you want to keep a few, go for it.”
Fresno Reservoir is not expected to reach full pool this year, but Nagel says one positive impact in low water levels could be increased littoral forage.
“Being as we didn’t quite hit full pool last year, there’s a pretty good growth of terrestrial vegetation that’s establishing in the 3-5 foot littoral zone up near full pool. So as soon as that water comes back, it inundates those areas, creates really good spawning habitat for a lot of the species in Fresno. It also creates a little bit of a boon to the overall productivity, rearing habitat, all that stuff.”
Stay tuned to New Media Broadcasters later this week for more on an upcoming project to rehabilitate Fresno Dam, and the impacts that are expected.
