03-23-2007, 09:26 PM
Here is a link to a great read on the Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks Site: [url "http://fwp.mt.gov/fishing/etiquette/bucketbio.html"]http://fwp.mt.gov/fishing/etiquette/bucketbio.html[/url]
Or since this might violate this site's guidelines here's the text.
Managing Fish with a Bucket
Three years ago, one could watch several thousand grayling jam into the Rogers Lake inlet in the annual spring spawning rites. One could watch with delight as they thrashed about in the shallow water, looking like miniature sailfish with their distinctive fan-like dorsal fins flashing brilliant turquoise and salmon-colored streaks. Dozens came to admire the spectacle. Hatchery workers, with just a few scoops of net, were able to gather enough fish to supply eggs for Montana's entire planting program. The fishing off the mouth of the inlet was some of the best around.
This spring, the stream was eerily vacant. The grayling were gone in just two short years. They were the victims of three successive illegal transplants that introduced rainbow cutthroat hybrids, brook trout and yellow perch.
The perch were the final straw. The lake produced good trout for a while, then produced jumbo perch for two years. Now only stunted 4" perch remain.
Gone,
ly, are the grayling, one of the only four populations in northwestern Montana. Gone, also, is the spring spawning spectacle, the great fly-fishing, and the easy egg supply. Only a ruined fishery remains.
The most likely solution is to start over again by poisoning fish out of the lake, a move that will cost at least $25,000 from anglers' license fees. All because someone thought they had a better idea.
Unfortunately, this scenario is played out every day across the United States. The Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks now has documented over 160 illegal transplants across the state. Undoubtedly, there have been many hundreds of more illegal introductions that didn't take. Gamefish, rough fish, warmwater fish, cold- water fish,-you name them, they've been moved around. Some transplants are unintentional -- a bait bucket dumped overboard or fish escaping from a private pond. Other introductions are more malicious, placed there by someone who wants to "have it all" in the angler's favorite stream or lake.
This does not mean that all fish introductions are inherently bad. Introduced species are the cornerstones of many of Montana's most noted fisheries. But even the best-planned, well-intentioned introductions can have unexpected results. Poorly planned or illegal introductions can cause disasters. Consider these problems that can occur. [ul] [li]Competition for food and space with existing fish; [li]Interbreeding or disruption of spawning with existing fish [li]Introduction of new diseases and parasites; [li]Alteration of aquatic habitat, and; [li]Less fishing opportunity and higher management costs for anglers. [/li][/ul]
Fish have the same biological controls as other animals. Just as you wouldn't run twice as many cows a pasture can handle, people have to understand that if you mix too many fish, or the wrong kinds of fish, something will have to give. This usually manifests itself through lower growth rates or higher mortality.
Because of all the potential problems, environmental assessments or impact statements are now required for all planned introductions. Factors examined include biological and social impacts, access, and economics. Those with little patience and a bucket can bypass the whole process-hence the term "bucket biology". Ironically, these so-called "bucket biologists" also hurt themselves. Fish biologists contemplating the introduction of a new species to satisfy public demand have to face the certainty that the fish will venture beyond the point of which they are planted. If the potential impacts are great enough, biologists have to decide against the introduction and anglers are denied new opportunities.
The biggest expense in many of these waters is the cost of rehabilitating the pond or lake. In some cases a pond or small lake can be drained to remove the unwanted fish. In other instances, we can apply a chemical fish control agent to kill most of all the existing populations and then restock as soon as possible. When rehabilitating a water body with a chemical is possible, it often costs thousands of dollars and does not provide any guarantee that all the undesirable fish will be eliminated. In many instances, chemical rehabilitation is not even possible due to the size of the water body or other factors.
Following are just a few examples on how illegal transplants cost anglers in increased license fees and reduced fishing opportunities. Western Fishing District
The Western fishing district includes all waters in Montana west of the Continental Divide.
Carp were introduced into the Missouri River drainage in the late 1800's and have wreaked havoc by muddying waters, destroying aquatic vegetation, eating fish eggs and competing for food and space.
Several years ago fish biologists were dismayed to find a thriving population of carp in a pond in the Upper Clark Fork of the Columbia drainage. The problem was quickly solved by poisoning the pond, but a carp escape to the drainage could have contaminated 640 miles of the Clark Fork, Bitterroot, and Blackfoot rivers. Walleye, northern pike, and smallmouth bass have all recently appeared illegally and the long-term impacts on this troubled system are unknown at this time.
Upsata Lake (near Lincoln) was rehabilitated 30 years ago to remove stunted perch and has since produced good trout fishing. Perch reappeared several years ago and quickly stunted again. MDFW&P went to considerable expense to plant predacious rainbows and bass and had to close the lake to fishing for a year to give the predators a chance to make headway. Unfortunately, recovery efforts could be jeopardized by the recent appearance of northern pike in the lake.
Northern pike were first illegally planted in western Montana in 1953 and have since spread to 61 waters in every drainage west of the Divide. Although northern pike produce some good fishing, they have also been implicated in the disappearance of bass, trout, and yellow perch when placed in the wrong waters. Pike made their most recent appearance in the upper Clearwater River drainage. Central Fishing District
The Central Fishing District includes all waters in the central part of Montana.
Utah chubs were introduced into Hebgen Lake in the mid-1930's, probably as bait. Since then, they've spread in great numbers as far downstream as Canyon Ferry Reservoir. They compete directly with trout for food, decreasing trout growth rates and possibly decreasing trout survival. They are also regarded as a nuisance by anglers.
Around 1960, Duck Lake north of Browning was regarded as one of the premier rainbow trout lakes in the nation. Suckers, probably introduced illegally as bait, infested the lake and soon accounted for 90 percent of the fish biomass. Trout numbers and growth decreased dramatically. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spent $20,000 on rehabilitation projects and trout numbers and growth have picked p considerably. But the problem is only controlled, not eliminated, and it will require continual management and expenditures.
Buffalo Wallow Reservoir northeast of Lewistown produced very good rainbow fishing until yellow perch appeared. The perch soon stunted out and the fishing there is now poor. Reservoir rehabilitation will either be very expensive and/or require drawdown of the reservoir, so no immediate solution is in sight. Eastern Fishing District
The Eastern Fishing District includes all waters lying east of the Central Fishing District.
The appearance of northern pike in Beaver Creek Reservoir in Hill County required a change in management strategies that required planting more expensive, catchable-size trout. The recent appearance of yellow perch may further raise the cost of managing fish in the reservoir.
Broadview Pond in Yellowstone County was once a very clear pond with large crappie. Illegally introduced carp muddied the pond to the point where productivity declined. A rehabilitation attempt in 1983 was unsuccessful.
Illegal yellow perch introduction ruined a good trout fishery in the Dredge Cut Trout Pond in Valley County. The reservoir was subsequently converted to a warmwater fishery comprising of northern pike, walleye, and largemouth bass. In an ironic twist, a recent illegal introduction of bluegill has severely impacted the size of yellow perch.
Gartside Reservoir near Sidney has been rehabilitated three times over the past 25 years to remove black bullheads, yellow perch, carp, suckers, and pumpkinseed sunfish. Nonetheless, more illegal species show up after each rehabilitation attempt.
The problem is serious and wide-ranging enough that many states are now launching educational programs. The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks has produced a brochure, "Illegal Introductions, A Fishery Manager's Nightmare," and has published a number of articles such as this. If education is not enough, anglers should be reminded that even the transport of live fish is illegal in many instances. The last Legislature addressed the problem with a new law that will significantly increase penalties with higher fines, loss of hunting and fishing privileges, and restitution including the cost of removing illegal fish which could run into the thousands of dollars. You could do everyone a favor by examining your own practices, educating you fishing buddies, and reporting suspected activities to a FW&P employee or by calling TIP_MONT (1-800-847-6668).
Make sure the only buckets full of fish are dead fish, headed for your freezer.
[signature]
Or since this might violate this site's guidelines here's the text.
Managing Fish with a Bucket
Three years ago, one could watch several thousand grayling jam into the Rogers Lake inlet in the annual spring spawning rites. One could watch with delight as they thrashed about in the shallow water, looking like miniature sailfish with their distinctive fan-like dorsal fins flashing brilliant turquoise and salmon-colored streaks. Dozens came to admire the spectacle. Hatchery workers, with just a few scoops of net, were able to gather enough fish to supply eggs for Montana's entire planting program. The fishing off the mouth of the inlet was some of the best around.
This spring, the stream was eerily vacant. The grayling were gone in just two short years. They were the victims of three successive illegal transplants that introduced rainbow cutthroat hybrids, brook trout and yellow perch.
The perch were the final straw. The lake produced good trout for a while, then produced jumbo perch for two years. Now only stunted 4" perch remain.
Gone,
ly, are the grayling, one of the only four populations in northwestern Montana. Gone, also, is the spring spawning spectacle, the great fly-fishing, and the easy egg supply. Only a ruined fishery remains. The most likely solution is to start over again by poisoning fish out of the lake, a move that will cost at least $25,000 from anglers' license fees. All because someone thought they had a better idea.
Unfortunately, this scenario is played out every day across the United States. The Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks now has documented over 160 illegal transplants across the state. Undoubtedly, there have been many hundreds of more illegal introductions that didn't take. Gamefish, rough fish, warmwater fish, cold- water fish,-you name them, they've been moved around. Some transplants are unintentional -- a bait bucket dumped overboard or fish escaping from a private pond. Other introductions are more malicious, placed there by someone who wants to "have it all" in the angler's favorite stream or lake.
This does not mean that all fish introductions are inherently bad. Introduced species are the cornerstones of many of Montana's most noted fisheries. But even the best-planned, well-intentioned introductions can have unexpected results. Poorly planned or illegal introductions can cause disasters. Consider these problems that can occur. [ul] [li]Competition for food and space with existing fish; [li]Interbreeding or disruption of spawning with existing fish [li]Introduction of new diseases and parasites; [li]Alteration of aquatic habitat, and; [li]Less fishing opportunity and higher management costs for anglers. [/li][/ul]
Fish have the same biological controls as other animals. Just as you wouldn't run twice as many cows a pasture can handle, people have to understand that if you mix too many fish, or the wrong kinds of fish, something will have to give. This usually manifests itself through lower growth rates or higher mortality.
Because of all the potential problems, environmental assessments or impact statements are now required for all planned introductions. Factors examined include biological and social impacts, access, and economics. Those with little patience and a bucket can bypass the whole process-hence the term "bucket biology". Ironically, these so-called "bucket biologists" also hurt themselves. Fish biologists contemplating the introduction of a new species to satisfy public demand have to face the certainty that the fish will venture beyond the point of which they are planted. If the potential impacts are great enough, biologists have to decide against the introduction and anglers are denied new opportunities.
The biggest expense in many of these waters is the cost of rehabilitating the pond or lake. In some cases a pond or small lake can be drained to remove the unwanted fish. In other instances, we can apply a chemical fish control agent to kill most of all the existing populations and then restock as soon as possible. When rehabilitating a water body with a chemical is possible, it often costs thousands of dollars and does not provide any guarantee that all the undesirable fish will be eliminated. In many instances, chemical rehabilitation is not even possible due to the size of the water body or other factors.
Following are just a few examples on how illegal transplants cost anglers in increased license fees and reduced fishing opportunities. Western Fishing District
The Western fishing district includes all waters in Montana west of the Continental Divide.
Carp were introduced into the Missouri River drainage in the late 1800's and have wreaked havoc by muddying waters, destroying aquatic vegetation, eating fish eggs and competing for food and space.
Several years ago fish biologists were dismayed to find a thriving population of carp in a pond in the Upper Clark Fork of the Columbia drainage. The problem was quickly solved by poisoning the pond, but a carp escape to the drainage could have contaminated 640 miles of the Clark Fork, Bitterroot, and Blackfoot rivers. Walleye, northern pike, and smallmouth bass have all recently appeared illegally and the long-term impacts on this troubled system are unknown at this time.
Upsata Lake (near Lincoln) was rehabilitated 30 years ago to remove stunted perch and has since produced good trout fishing. Perch reappeared several years ago and quickly stunted again. MDFW&P went to considerable expense to plant predacious rainbows and bass and had to close the lake to fishing for a year to give the predators a chance to make headway. Unfortunately, recovery efforts could be jeopardized by the recent appearance of northern pike in the lake.
Northern pike were first illegally planted in western Montana in 1953 and have since spread to 61 waters in every drainage west of the Divide. Although northern pike produce some good fishing, they have also been implicated in the disappearance of bass, trout, and yellow perch when placed in the wrong waters. Pike made their most recent appearance in the upper Clearwater River drainage. Central Fishing District
The Central Fishing District includes all waters in the central part of Montana.
Utah chubs were introduced into Hebgen Lake in the mid-1930's, probably as bait. Since then, they've spread in great numbers as far downstream as Canyon Ferry Reservoir. They compete directly with trout for food, decreasing trout growth rates and possibly decreasing trout survival. They are also regarded as a nuisance by anglers.
Around 1960, Duck Lake north of Browning was regarded as one of the premier rainbow trout lakes in the nation. Suckers, probably introduced illegally as bait, infested the lake and soon accounted for 90 percent of the fish biomass. Trout numbers and growth decreased dramatically. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spent $20,000 on rehabilitation projects and trout numbers and growth have picked p considerably. But the problem is only controlled, not eliminated, and it will require continual management and expenditures.
Buffalo Wallow Reservoir northeast of Lewistown produced very good rainbow fishing until yellow perch appeared. The perch soon stunted out and the fishing there is now poor. Reservoir rehabilitation will either be very expensive and/or require drawdown of the reservoir, so no immediate solution is in sight. Eastern Fishing District
The Eastern Fishing District includes all waters lying east of the Central Fishing District.
The appearance of northern pike in Beaver Creek Reservoir in Hill County required a change in management strategies that required planting more expensive, catchable-size trout. The recent appearance of yellow perch may further raise the cost of managing fish in the reservoir.
Broadview Pond in Yellowstone County was once a very clear pond with large crappie. Illegally introduced carp muddied the pond to the point where productivity declined. A rehabilitation attempt in 1983 was unsuccessful.
Illegal yellow perch introduction ruined a good trout fishery in the Dredge Cut Trout Pond in Valley County. The reservoir was subsequently converted to a warmwater fishery comprising of northern pike, walleye, and largemouth bass. In an ironic twist, a recent illegal introduction of bluegill has severely impacted the size of yellow perch.
Gartside Reservoir near Sidney has been rehabilitated three times over the past 25 years to remove black bullheads, yellow perch, carp, suckers, and pumpkinseed sunfish. Nonetheless, more illegal species show up after each rehabilitation attempt.
The problem is serious and wide-ranging enough that many states are now launching educational programs. The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks has produced a brochure, "Illegal Introductions, A Fishery Manager's Nightmare," and has published a number of articles such as this. If education is not enough, anglers should be reminded that even the transport of live fish is illegal in many instances. The last Legislature addressed the problem with a new law that will significantly increase penalties with higher fines, loss of hunting and fishing privileges, and restitution including the cost of removing illegal fish which could run into the thousands of dollars. You could do everyone a favor by examining your own practices, educating you fishing buddies, and reporting suspected activities to a FW&P employee or by calling TIP_MONT (1-800-847-6668).
Make sure the only buckets full of fish are dead fish, headed for your freezer.
[signature]
