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FWP: Smallmouth Bass Illegally Put in Seeley Lake

By Beacon Staff

MISSOULA – State wildlife officials are looking for information on the illegal introduction of smallmouth bass in Seeley Lake.

Fish, Wildlife and Parks received a report about the illegal introduction from an angler who caught a smallmouth bass this summer.

Region 2 Fisheries Manager Pat Saffel says smallmouth bass are predators and can reduce the survival of trout and salmon in the lake.

Smallmouth bass are not native to Montana, but can be found in some waterways in western Montana. Moving live fish from one body of water to another is illegal in Montana.

Anyone with information on who planted the fish is asked to call 1-800-TIP-MONT (1-800-847-6668).

The agency also plans to propose a no harvest limit for bass in Seeley Lake at the Oct. 10 Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting.