State commission considers northern pike kill order

The Montana Fish & Wildlife Commission will vote on a kill-order measure for northern pike in Lake Mary Ronan at its meeting June 18-19 in Helena.

According to Fish & Wildlife, the proposal calls for the mandatory kill, report and turn-in of the toothy predator.

The lake, well-known for its kokanee fishery, as well as largemouth bass, rainbow trout and yellow perch, first saw pike in 2014.

In 2016, a second pike was found during a state survey, the result of a so-called “bucket biologist,” according to an analysis of the fish.

It is unlawful to move fish from one water body to another.

Further analysis of a northern pike captured by an angler in 2018 determined that pike are now successfully reproducing in the lake. Two additional pike were captured during state monitoring in 2019. Analysis has not been completed to determine the origin of these fish.

Lake Mary Ronan is also the only certified source for kokanee salmon eggs to maintain kokanee fisheries statewide.

The commission will also consider a proposal for Fish, Wildlife and Parks to buy 40 acres on the Lower Thompson River to create a walk-in fishing access site.

The Thompson River is the lower Clark Fork River’s most important trout stream, averaging more than 8,000 angler days annually. The main-stem fishery primarily consists of rainbow and brown trout, but many of the river’s tributaries provide excellent spawning and rearing habitat for native fish.

The lower 7 miles of the Thompson River possess the coldest water and provide the best habitat for native fish. During summer months, the lower Thompson River serves as a thermal refuge during high summer temperatures.

The acreage would include one-quarter mile of the river on both banks.

It provides habitat for many wildlife species including bighorn sheep. The property also provides habitat for native bull trout, westslope cutthroat trout and mountain whitefish. Most of the funding for this project will be obtained from the Avista Clark Fork Settlement Agreement and the NorthWestern Energy Adaptive Mitigation Fund.

For the full agenda go to the Fish, Wildlife and Parks website at fwp.mt.gov; under “Quick Links” click “Commission.”

Reporter Scott Shindledecker may be reached at 758-4441 or sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com.