The Flathead lake trout gill netting proposal should be thwarted (Sept. 15 Beacon: “Is Gill Netting the Answer?”). While certainly bull trout numbers or survival will increase as lake trout numbers decrease, the goal of re-establishing a fishable bull trout population in Flathead Lake is most unlikely. Clearly, lake trout have the ecological advantage in Flathead because of an unlimited forage (food) base mainly being mysis shrimp. Since gill netting will not remove the food base, the lake trout population will always have the potential to quickly rebuild – that is unless the population is ad infinitum controlled by gill netting or a similar harvest strategy. The same applies to Swan Lake wherein unless gill netting continues, the lake trout population there will rebuild and re-exert control over the bull trout population. Gill netting is not a one-time solution for bull trout recovery. It is merely a band-aid exercise except for some isolated lakes where complete species removal is possible.
It is most admirable that the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are bent on rehabilitating Flathead Lake’s bull trout population, but gill netting is not the solution. There is no practical solution as the lake trout population is too established and the lake is more conducive for lake trout production than for native bull trout. This is reality, face it. Going forward with gill netting will provide jobs to a select few, but it will adversely impact the local sport fishery and not marginally.
Hopefully, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will scientifically evaluate the issue and not cave to special interests. The public should expect such.
Bruce Barrett, fisheries biologist
Lakeside