State to stock tiger muskies in Horseshoe

The Daily Inter Lake

After a long analysis and public comment period, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks has decided to stock tiger muskies in Horseshoe Lake west of Kalispell.

The major purpose of the project is to create a trophy fishery in the lake for tiger muskies.

The agency's Region One Supervisor Jim Satterfield said that the proposal received a lot of scrutiny and review, and many comments from the public.

"After carefully reviewing the biological merits of the project and the public comments, I am convinced that this will be a good thing for fish management in Northwest Montana," he said.

Public comment on the proposal was mostly favorable.

Eighty-eight comments were in favor of the proposal, including e-mails, phone calls, letters and comment forms. Twenty-five comments and two petitions opposed the proposal.

Tiger muskies are functionally sterile hybrids of northern pike and muskellunge.

The young tiger muskies for Horseshoe Lake would be obtained from the Miles City State Fish Hatchery, which obtains eggs from Wisconsin.

Tiger muskies are useful for sport fish management in Horseshoe Lake for several reasons.

Tiger muskies are attractive to anglers because they reach a trophy size.

As a predator, tiger muskies can reduce numbers of nongame fish such as suckers, which could allow stocking of trout.

Also, because studies show tiger muskies can't reproduce, their numbers can be managed and controlled.

Initial stockings of tiger muskies in Horseshoe Lake will consist of about 500, 7-inch fish stocked in late summer and early fall at night for two or three years.

After review of the draft environmental assessment and public comments, Satterfield signed the record of decision, recommending that the proposed project be implemented. No changes were made to the draft assessment, which becomes the final assessment.

Contact fisheries manager Jim Vashro at 751-5501 or jvashro@mt.gov. for more information.