INTRODUCTION 



The Thompsai Chain-of-Lakes (TCL) management area consists of a series of 17 inter-connected 

 and/or adjacent bodies (Figure 1) of water capable of a producing an acceptable fishery in 

 northwest Montana about halfway between Kalispell and Libby. Each year thousands of visitors 

 utilize the lakes in many different ways, including fishing for warmwater, coolwater, and 

 coldwater species of fish. The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) has developed this 

 fisheries management plan to aid in attaining state, regional, and site-specific management goals 

 for the TCL. 



This plan outlines fisheries managemoit directions for the TCL and was developed in cooperation 

 with a citizen/agency advisory committee. The committee included individuals fix)m a 

 homeowners group, several sportsmens groups, FWP, and the Kootenai National Forest. This 

 plan does not address other concerns such as direction in boating or fishing access, facilities 

 development or land acquisition. Those concerns will be addressed in other plans. 



Although the lakes are considered to be parts of a larger unit, the diversity of fisheries and 

 seasonal use of individual lakes necessitates they be considered individually. Lake specific 

 management objectives and strategies can then be brought together to meet system- wide 

 management goals. 



This plan states the system- wide fisheries management goals, addresses fisheries information in 

 each lake and reviews the historic and current fish population status of each lake (including past 

 fish management, current sport fishery and current lake regulations, if different from standard 

 r^ulations). In addition, lake-specific management concerns are presented along with strategies 

 to meet the system-wide and lake management goals. The plan incorporates extensive public 

 input. This plan is designed to guide fisheries management in the Thompson Chain-of-Lakes for 

 ten years at which time the plan would be reviewed and modified as necessary to meet changing 

 management goals. The plan may be modified at any time through adaptive management as new 

 fisheries data or changing public goals dictate. 



PUBUC INVOLVEMENT PROCESS 



The TCL Fisheries Management Plan was initiated in 1995 when background information was 

 assembled into sections on the history and management status of each lake. A TCL Fishery 

 Citizen Advisory Committee was formed and assisted in the identification of management concerns 

 and potential management options for each water. The Committee consisted of the following: 



