'Mandatory kill' for walleyes approved

The Montana Wildlife Commission on Thursday approved a “mandatory kill” fishing rule for walleyes in Swan Lake.

After two of the invasive fish were discovered in the popular fishery, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will now require anglers to kill any walleyes caught in the lake, report the catch to the agency within 24 hours and turn the whole fish in to the agency within 10 days.

The rule is immediately effective and will be incorporated into next year’s fishing regulations.

Region One Warden Capt. Lee Anderson said if an angler fails to perform any of the conditions required by the rule, he or she could be fined up to $500 and have their hunting, fishing and trapping privileges revoked for a commission rule violation.

“The other thing they open themselves up for is if they caught a fish and kept it, they would be in possession of an illegal fish,” he added.

The penalty for that charge can include a fine up to $1,000, up to six months in jail and the loss of the offender’s hunting, fishing and trapping privileges.

Two walleyes were discovered in the lake in October as Fish, Wildlife and Parks wrapped up its annual gill netting of invasive lake trout at Swan Lake.

While the walleyes do not represent the first such introduction in the region, state biologists are concerned because the large, predatory fish have a reputation for taking over and displacing other species once they get into a body of water.

State biologists are still trying to determine whether the fish have established a reproducing population in the lake.

Fish, Wildlife and Parks is still investigating the introduction. If caught, whoever placed the fish in Swan Lake would face a fine between $2,000 and $10,000, up to one year in prison and the loss of hunting, fishing and trapping privileges for five to 10 years.

They could also be held liable for the cost required to eliminate or mitigate the effects of the introduction.

A reward of $25,000 is being offered by the agency and sportsman’s groups for information that leads to a successful conviction of those responsible for the introduction.

Those with information can also remain anonymous by calling the state’s wildlife crime hotline, 1-800-TIPMONT.

During the meeting, the commission also approved the purchase of the Haskill Basin easement north of Whitefish. Fish, Wildlife and Parks approved the easement last month.

The easement is aimed at preventing future development in the watershed, which supplies 75 percent of the Whitefish’s municipal water. It will allow the public to continue using the popular recreation lands, and continued forest management activities will be aimed at reducing the risk of wildfire.

The next step will be for landowner F.H. Stoltze Land & Lumber Co. to officially sign off on the easement. Agency officials expect the deal to be finalized by January 2016 if not by the end of the year.

Reporter Sam Wilson can be reached at 758-4407 or by email at swilson@dailyinterlake.com.