3.0 Methods 



The Madison River stretches 115 miles from Quake Lake near Yellowstone National Park to 

 where it joins the Gallatin and Jefferson rivers to form the headwaters of the Missouri River 

 (Figure 1). Two study sections of the upper Madison River are covered in this report, Snoball 

 and Pine Butte. FWP collected creel survey data on the Madison River as early as the 1960's, 

 and currently assesses trout populations in the Madison regularly. The Snoball section, named 

 after an historic inn, lies between Squaw Creek and Windy Point, approximately 16.5 miles 

 downstream from Quake Lake. The Snoball section, which is approximately 4.5 miles long, has 

 been electrofished intermittently since 1975. The section was shortened to 4.0 miles in 1994. 

 The Madison River in this reach has many small tributaries, but fewer side channels than the 

 second study section. Pine Butte. Snoball is a popular fishing section and has been managed 

 under restricted regulations or closures in the past due to fluctuations in the trout population, and 

 for research purposes (Table 2). Snoball provided a laboratory to study the impacts of angling, 

 regulations, and disease since 1977 when it was closed to all fishing. It was opened to catch-and- 

 release fishing for trout and fishing from boats in March 1983 (M. Lere personal comm. and 

 FWP Files). To study the impacts angling and whirling disease, it was closed to fishing again 

 between March 1995 and February 1997. 



The Pine Butte section lies approximately 12.0 miles below Quake Lake (Figure 1). It is 3.0 

 miles long, extending from Pine Butte Creek to Lyons Bridge (river mile (RM) 89 to RM 92) 

 consistently as a research section since 1977. The Madison River through the Pine Butte reach 

 has a fairly uniform gradient run habitat, with a network of side channels that influence spawning 

 and recruitment. The West Fork Madison River, the largest tributary in the upper Madison basin, 

 enters the Pine Butte Section approximately 0.6 miles above Lyons Bridge. 



Evaluation of 1995 and 1996 Creel Data and its Implications related to Whirling Disease 

 In the Madison River, Montana 



Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks 

 March 12, 2002 



