Greetings, Beacon Nation, and happy Fish Friday. Or, as my Grandma Scott enthused as she brushed past the outdoor grease trap behind McFeely’s, our family’s neighborhood tavern: “Mmmm-mmm, smell that fish fry!” Sadly, this edition of the Daily Roundup doesn’t capture that back-alley bouquet of deep-fried perch, nor can it adequately convey Grandma Scott’s irresistible charm, extinguished far too early 25 years ago. But what the newsletter lacks in fragrance — and in Francis — it makes up for in fish-related news. I’m Tristan Scott, here with your catch of the day.

Last night, Flathead Valley anglers convened at the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) Region 1 office in Kalispell to share their input on the state’s biannual review of fishing regulations. FWP will use the input it gathers during its initial round of public meetings to develop a regulation proposal package for the Fish and Wildlife Commission. The proposal package will go out for public comment in August before going to the Commission for final consideration at its fall 2026 meeting.

With the proposed changes set to take effect in 2027-2028, some anglers say the new rules skew too far in favor of conserving native trout, which they say comes at the expense of sport fish in the Flathead Basin.

“I’ve watched our opportunities decline and our interests get lost,” said Pete Geller, a local commercial guide on Flathead Lake. “[FWP] is supposed to be a steward of the sportsmen and the resource, not destroy it.”

Other conservation advocates appreciate the state’s renewed focus on conserving native trout species in decline, saying that most of the fish that grow into trophy fish are the product of illegal introductions.

Among FWP’s 41 regulation proposals is a raft of changes to fishing rules in and around Flathead Lake, the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. Those proposals include relaxing or removing daily angling and possession limits for northern pike, smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, and lake trout, which compete with native species such as bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout.

“Lake trout have altered the abundances and size structures of native and sport fish populations, especially in western Montana,” according to FWP’s rationale for eliminating possession limits on lake trout. “For example, in Flathead and Swan lakes, lake trout have altered threatened bull trout populations to the point where active removal of lake trout may be needed to reduce impacts to bull trout. Prevention of additional unauthorized introductions and associated impacts is a management priority in western Montana.”

Although northwest Montana and Glacier National Park have historically remained one of the best strongholds for native bull trout in the state, the region has seen its wild populations of the threatened species decimated by the explosion of invasive lake trout. Responsibility for that population explosion lies with state fisheries managers who introduced mysis shrimp to Flathead Lake a half-century ago, providing lake trout with an abundant food source that upended the natural order of a sprawling aquatic ecosystem.

FWP shares its management authority of Flathead Lake with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Together, they have been actively suppressing lake trout in Flathead Lake for decades. And on Swan Lake, where the abundance of native bull trout spawning nests in the drainage has fallen dramatically in recent years, as have populations of kokanee salmon, the Montana Fish and Wildlife commission in 2024 approved a proposal by state fisheries managers to begin gillnetting invasive lake trout.

The commissioners passed the gillnetting initiative after hearing support from a diverse range of stakeholders, including representatives of the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association (MOGA), the Fishing Outfitters Association of Montana (FOAM) and Trout Unlimited. Representatives from all three groups said they recognized the ecological value of restoring native fisheries, as well as the recreational value of improving kokanee populations.

Meanwhile, the Flathead Valley’s chapter of Trout Unlimited is preparing to host Flathead Fin Fest on Saturday, May 16, from noon to 4 p.m. at Snappy Sport Senter in Evergreen. The drop-in event is free and family friendly.

“The fishing pond behind Snappy’s is stocked with trout and all children age 10 and under are welcome to try their luck,” according to a news release from Trout Unlimited, whose chapter members will be ready to assist and also loan out rods and reels.

The festival also features a free casting clinic for beginners, as well as a fly-tying demonstration and aquatic insect identification event.

More information is available at flatheadtu.org.

Here’s the rest of the Daily Roundup.