It’s true that Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has suggested due to overwhelming public outcry they will revisit the walleye suppression issue in Noxon Reservoir, but it has not yet announced a decision to stop attempted eradication. In the interest of accuracy, it truly is speculation as to how walleye were introduced. FWP’s Draft Environmental Assessment states “First documented in 1991, walleye in Noxon appear to be the result of several illegal stocking events. Periodic spikes in catches of walleyes 16 inches and larger … indicated an outside source of walleyes. This was supported by informant information although there was not enough evidence to pursue a case.” No one has been identified, ticketed or charged. It has been reported that walleye may have been introduced inadvertently during bass stocking in the 1980s and 90s. The two species are raised in the same hatchery. Whatever occurred was more than 22 years ago when there was no defined management plan and everyone’s interest was to establish a sport fishery in a reservoir that had been proven to be predominantly warm water habitat and unsuitable for healthy populations of salmonids. Current policy (2002) on introductions was not fully established and the other important element that requires examination is whether removal is “feasible.”
Noxon supports many other species that are important to the fishery, but again the truth is that real impacts from walleye are as yet unknown and uncertain. No stocking or support has been allowed in Noxon since at least 1998 for the important populations of bass, perch or northern pike. Additionally, Noxon is a great deal different in nature from the reservoirs where walleyes have conflicted with other species. With adjustment in management tactics, Canyon Ferry is now one of the state’s premier walleye and trout fisheries. It’s great that FWP continues with the “pines for perch project” with assistance from two local Walleyes Unlimited Chapters. This project was started in the 1980s before the first walleye was netted in Canyon Ferry. FWP identified that perch populations were cyclical due to a lack of spawning structure. Fort Peck is the state’s best example of record walleyes living in harmony with record smallmouth bass. Downstream in the Columbia basin the positive social and economic impact of a thriving walleye fishery is recognized and salmon and steelhead numbers are on the rise. Birds, sea lions and pike-minnows are the predator concerns, according to Bonneville Power Administration reports. There is no mention of walleyes.
In years past, millions of rainbows, browns and even ling cod were planted in Noxon without any true success. Smallmouth bass were the first deliberate plant to successfully create a fishery with largemouth bass, perch and northern pike becoming established incidentally. All reproduce naturally and are good fits for the structure and temperature conditions in Noxon. After more than two decades, walleyes are just now achieving a level of population that has created a challenging and rewarding fishery.
We absolutely do not condone illegal introductions, but we also challenge the position taken by FWP and their loyal supporters that a ready source of walleyes will lead to introductions in other western Montana waters. It’s unfair to characterize sportsmen and women as willing violators of state law and sound resource management. Walleyes already exist in Cabinet Gorge, Lake Pend Oreille, Lake Roosevelt and downstream in the Columbia River. It’s also unreasonable and poor management to discount the obvious suitability of Noxon Reservoir for operation and support as a warm water species fishery. It has been 15 years since FWP applied any reasonable effort through stocking, structure development, regulation enforcement or other tactics to promote perch, bass, and northern pike. We hope that FWP can develop an integrated management plan that better supports all the existing sport fish including the walleye, which have become an important boost to the social pleasures and economic benefits of this great reservoir.
Noxon Warm Water Fisheries Association is a nonprofit entity committed to the social, economic and recreational benefits of the reservoir. We continue to develop support and a library of information (including our full comments to FWP) that we will be happy to share with anyone supporting our mission. We also wish to acknowledge Walleyes Unlimited of Montana and all of their regional chapters for their tremendous response and commitment of resources.
Paul Rossignol, president
Scott Muller, secretary
Noxon Warm Water Fisheries Association