Glacier plans fishing rule changes

Glacier National Park resource managers are proposing a series of fishing regulation changes, including a catch-and-release rule for westslope cutthroats on the west side of the park.

The changes, according to a park press release, are aimed at managing park fisheries more consistently with Glacier’s “conservation mandate.”

The catch-and-release rule for cutthroats would apply to all waters west of the Continental Divide, with the exception of Hidden, Evangeline and Camas lakes, which all have non-native Yellowstone cutthroat populations.

“Native westslope cutthroat trout would benefit from additional protections to maintain strong populations in the park in the face of expanding non-native species, and they are extremely vulnerable to angling,” the rule proposal states.

But a more liberal regulation is proposed for non-native brook trout — a 20-fish possession limit across the park.

For the east side of the park, a catch-and-release rule is proposed for Midvale Creek in the Two Medicine drainage and Wild Creek in the Hudson Bay drainage, both of which have westslope cutthroat populations.

Overall, the regulation changes are geared towards simplification, clarification and consistency.

The park is seeking public comments by Dec. 30 on the proposals.

A full description of the regulation proposals can be found on the park’s Web site at www.nps.gov/glac/parkmgmt/planning.htm