DISTRICT PROJECTS 



Northwest Fisheries District 



During the biennium 12 streams, 42 lakes 

 and 18 ponds were surveyed in the Northwest 

 Montana Fisheries District. The purpose of 

 these studies is to determine the chemical, 

 physical, and biological qualities of our better 

 sport fishing waters. These surveys are the 

 basis for management recommendations and 

 rehabilitation projects. They also provide the 

 basis for amending the hatchery planting pro- 

 gram to make better use of hatchery fish. 

 Species presently used in managing the north- 

 west district waters are cutthroat, rainbow, 

 eastern brook, golden trout, and largemouth 

 bass. 



The Flathead River and its tributary 

 streams above Flathead Lake are providing 

 good to excellent cutthroat trout fishing. In 

 order to maintain and properly manage cut- 

 throat trout, a study on this species was under- 

 taken. The study is designed to gain informa- 

 tion on the extent of cutthroat trout spawning 

 areas, the time of spawning, the distance trav- 

 eled, and the numbers of young fish returning 

 to Flathead Lake. The numbers of young re- 

 turning to the lake indicate spawning success. 

 One summer of the survey work has been done. 



The relationship of yellow perch to cut- 

 throat trout has been studied in Middle Thomp- 

 son and Lower Thompson lakes in order to 

 determine any weak link in the life cycle of 

 perch. The cost of complete perch removal 

 from the lakes would be prohibitive at the 

 present. During the study it was found that 

 perch fry could be effectively killed with 

 toxicant while in schools along the shore. Ac- 

 cordingly, the entire shoreline of lower Thomp 



on Lake was treated with a fish toxicant from 

 1954 through 1957 when the perch Erj were 

 i ongri gated in large schools. Middle Thomp 



on 1 .1 ke a control, wa no1 treated, Accord- 

 ing to observation and "ill ne1 sets made 

 dm in;, the biennium, then- are definitely 6 

 I ellow perch in Lower Thompson I rake than in 

 Middle Thompi en Lake. 



Smith Lake, mall < pei imenta] produc- 

 tion pond ti( ai Whitefi h Montana has been 

 tudied inci 195] Yearly, cutthroat troul Ej •■■■ 

 have inch planted during summei and then 

 the following i g th< pond has been drain d 



and the fish captured. Fish production and 

 numbers as well as the percentage of planted 

 fish that survived in ponds has been computed. 

 During 1958 both fry and yearling cutthroat 



were planted in the pond. 



These studies have aided fisheries person- 

 nel in establishing the desired number of trout 

 to be planted in lakes. Studies have also been 

 made on survival of fish planted in one spot 

 compared to those spread over the lake with 

 a planting boat. Smith Lake will continue as a 

 valuable experimental pond in determining 

 means for best utilizing hatchery fish. 



Milnor Lake near Troy. Montana was 

 chemically treated in August 1959 to remove 

 carp and pumpkinseed sunfish. This lake was 

 treated with 0.1 PPM of "Toxaphene". When 

 the toxicant has dissipated, the lake will be 

 planted with trout. 



Loon Lake near Ferndale, was treated with 

 emulsifiable rotenone in October 1959 to re- 

 move suckers and squawfish. This lake will 

 be stocked with Ashley Lake Cutthroat during 

 the summer of 1960. 



Turtle Lake near Poison, was treated with 

 toxicant in October 1959 to remove yellow 

 perch and pumpkinseed sunfish. It will be 

 stocked with west slope cutthroat trout during 

 the summer of 1960. 



Western 



heries District 



General survey work, which provides the 

 basic information for future fish management, 

 was carried out on 53 mountain lakes and 38 

 streams in the western fisheries district during 

 the biennium. These surveys were concerned 

 with the job of cataloging waters of the area 

 ami determining then- value to the overall 

 Eisherj oi the district. Information n 

 the physical, chemical and biological charac- 

 teristics of these waters and data on their fish 

 numbers w ere collected. 



As a direct result of basic survej work 

 two barren areas have been stocked and sev 

 eral mountain lake- where planting 

 sary to provide Eishable water-, have been lo 

 cated and added to the planting | 

 < mIht lake- either capable of maintaining Eish 

 through natural reproduction and those not 

 worth; of manai ing Eoi a I ishel j ha\ e been 



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