Anglers asked to donate lake trout to food banks

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is teaming up with area food banks to harvest lake trout from Flathead Lake and get them donated to area food banks.

Anglers who participate also are assisting in the management of lake trout in Flathead Lake, according to a news release from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Below is a list of where the food banks are located, when they are open and how they want fish delivered.

As an additional incentive, anglers who donate lake trout to food banks will get a ticket for each fish delivered. In the fall and spring, Fish, Wildlife and Parks will do a random drawing to award fishing equipment and gift certificates. Winners will be notified by phone.

- Flathead Food Bank - 105 Sixth Ave. W. Kalispell; 752-3663; 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday, Wednesday and Friday; 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday. Fish should be cleaned and frozen.

- Northwest Montana Veterans Food Pantry -1527 Montana 35, Kalispell; 756-7304; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Fish should be cleaned, fresh or frozen.

- North Valley Food Bank - 311 East First St., Whitefish; 862-5863; 9:30 to 11 a.m., Monday through Friday, or call 862-2795. Fish should be cleaned, fresh or frozen.

- Columbia Falls Food Bank - 82 Railroad St., Columbia Falls; 892-6576; 4:30 to 7 p.m., Monday; 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Tuesday. Fish should be cleaned, fresh or frozen.

- Westshore Food Bank - 7150 U.S. 93 S., Lakeside; 844-2779; Call Leslie at 261-4560. Fish should be cleaned, fresh or frozen.

- Polson Senior Citizen Center - 504 Third Ave. E. Polson; 883-4735; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Fish should be cleaned, fresh or frozen.

- Polson Loaves & Fish - 10 Eighth Ave. E., Polson; 883-6864; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday and Friday. Fish should be cleaned and frozen.

Care of fish

If you are going to release a fish, be prepared and return it to water as soon as possible. Contact Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks for tips on releasing bloated (extended air bladders' fish.

If you are going to keep trout, live wells are not recommended, especially during summer. Warm surface water stresses the fish and they get soft when they die.

The recommended procedure is to kill the fish by hitting it on head, then place in cooler with ice or chemical ice packs.

Dress fish as soon as possible by removing head and guts. Filleting is not necessary, but would be appreciated.

Fish will stay fresh with refrigeration for 24 to 36 hours. Beyond that, freeze fish in meal-sized portions.

Cut off head and tail to save space.

For fish more than 24 inches, wrap securely and freeze individually. For fish under 24 inches, wrap securely and freeze two to a package. Deliver to the food bank as soon as possible.

Fisheries manager Jim Vashro said the incentive program is only for lake trout from Flathead Lake, but anglers are encouraged to donate any extra fish to the food banks. The first drawing will be early October.