HUNTING & FISHING UNDER THE BIG SKY
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Ice Fishing
The New Winter Past Time
Winter 2015
IN THIS ISSUE Page 2
Outdoor Winter Safety
Page 4
Ice Fishing Derbies
When you plan a trip to West Yellowstone, Montana, your first thought might not be about sitting out on a frozen lake waiting for a trout to bite on your line. Sounds cold, right? For those winter fans who like a challenge, and another activity to share with the family, ice fishing is it. Bundle up the kids and dogs and head out to the lake for some fun. It may not be fast-paced like snowmobiling, but the thrill of pulling a four pound trout though a ten inch hole in the ice provides plenty of excitement. Many times, while out on the ice you will get to see bald eagles flying overhead looking for a chance to snatch up your catch. There are elk and deer tracks where small herds cross. Sometimes on the drive out, you can spot bison that have migrated out of the park. Locals and residents of Montana and nearby Idaho already know what a hidden gem Hebgen Lake is during the winter. They all have their favorite spots to pull out the big brown and rainbow trout that cruise around the waters. On any given day, especially on the weekends you can drive along the shore and spot the diehards out on their buckets or the colorful ice fishing tents. Hegben Lake, just north of West Yellowstone, is fast
becoming the destination for serious ice fisherman from around the country. Ice fishing has long been the main winter past time in the Mid West, with many long-standing tournaments and derbies throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and other states. Those fisherman have found that while catching those pan fish like crappies and perch are fun, nothing compares to the feeling of a large trout fighting on the end of your ice fishing rod. And what better place, than Montana to hold an ice fishing tournament to attract fisherman from across the country? West Yellowstone, Montana will host an NAIFC (North American Ice Fishing Circuit) National Qualifier from January 16 – 18, 2015. The qualifier – an ice fishing tournament – takes place on Sunday and is open to any two-person team. Teams range from locals to national level pro’s to teams just wanting to learn more about ice fishing. Pre-registration already includes 57+ teams from nine different states. (Teams can register up to 6 PM at the Saturday night reception and rules meeting.) The tournament is located on Hebgen Lake just outside of West Yellowstone. Kirkwood Resort & Marina is the location for the tournament starting point and Kid’s Ice Fishing Camp. (continued on page2)
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Conservation
Here’s to those powder seekers! Be safe when recreating in the backcountry!
Visit Us Online: REYADVERTISING.COM
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Hunting & Fishing • Winter 2015
Montana Fish, wildlife & parks
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5705 Grant Creek • Missoula, MT 59808 • 406.523.4500 • rmef.org
Outdoor Winter Safety Avalanche Awareness Be cautious of avalanche dangers throughout mountain country. Mountain recreators should carry avalanche beacons, shovels, and probe poles for locating people buried under the snow (and know how to use them) and a portable radio to summon help. Safety tips for recreating in avalanche country: • Only one snowmobile rider should be on the slope at a time. • Learn to recognize and understand avalanche-prone terrain. Suspect any slope that is steeper than 30 degrees. • Observe the slope orientation with respect to the sun and the wind. • Be cautious of cornices. • Think about the consequeneces of an avalanche. Will you be carried over a cliff, pushed into a tree or buried deep in a gully? • Travel with a partner and carry the appropriate rescue gear. • Practice using an avalanche beacon.
support one person on foot. However, ice experts and winter survivalists will tell you there is NO such thing as safe ice. You are taking a risk anytime you travel on ice. What to do if you do go through the ice? You must move quickly because your body temperature will drop immediately. Grab for surface ice in the direction from where you came. If need be, use a knife or any sharp object you have to dig into the ice and pull yourself out of the water. Kicking your feet in a swimming motion may help propel you onto the ice. Roll or crawl away from the hole (do not stand up) and move across the ice in the same direction you came from, where the ice presumably is safer.
Ice & Water
Once you reach a safe area, you can roll in the snow to blot some of the water off your body. You must be treated for hypothermia as soon as possible. Get into dry clothes immediately. Take shelter if available and stay out of the wind. If you need to and can do it, start a fire to get warm. Drinking warm, non-alcoholic beverages is good, but do not drink alcohol-it will further increase heat loss. Seek professional medical care as soon as possible for follow-up treatment.
Is the ice thick enough? Unless you know for a fact that the ice is safe to walk on, stay off it! A general rule of thumb is that you need at the very least four inches of ice to be able to
Note to snowmobilers: If you are snowmobiling when you go through the ice, your snowmobile suit (even a non-buoyant one) and helmet may keep you afloat for several minutes.
OUTDOOR EVENTS - MONTANA Kids’N’Snow Weekends West Yellowstone, MT 406-646-7701 January 17-18: Featuring The Naifc Kids Ice Fishing Camp February 7-8: Kids’n’snow Weekend March 7-8: Featuring The Youth Ski Festival www.kidsnsnow.org
GREAT ROCKIES SPORTSHOW 1/10/2014 - 1/12/2014: MetraPark in Billings 2/28/2014 - 3/2/2014: Lewis & Clark County Fairgrounds in Helena 3/22/2014 - 3/23/2014: Adams Center on the campus of The University Of Montana in Missoula www.greatrockieshow.com
LINCOLN SNOWMOBILE CLUB PANCAKE BREAKFAST & FUN RUN February 7, 2015 Lincoln, MT 406-362-3334 RACE TO THE SKY SLED DOG RACE Helena 406-881-3647 2/13/2015 - 2/17/2015 MONTANA POND HOCKEY CLASSIC Kalispell 406-758-2820 2/20/2015 - 2/22/2015
Ice Fishing
continued from page 1
Throughout the two days preceding the tournament, there are many educational opportunities. These activities are free and open to the public. Friday night kicks-off with a social hour from 6 to 7 PM followed by seminar designed to put attendees on the fast track to becoming highly skilled anglers, eventually becoming teachers to their friends and fishers in the local community. This is free and open to the public. Friday night’s feature presentation specifically addresses how to catch trout thru the ice, as well as the latest equipment and technologies in the ice fishing industry. After the speakers are done those attending the seminar are invited to get up close and personal, talking to NAIFC Pro Staff one-on-one about how they go about catching fish. Join locals and pro’s for dinner at local eateries after the seminar. It’s also a chance to talk with members of the USA Ice Fishing Team. The Rocky Mountain Ice Fishing Product Fair, featuring national manufacturers and regional suppliers, will be set up at the Holiday Inn Conference Center for both Friday and Saturday Nights. This is a chance to see the latest in equipment, talk to manufacturer’s pro staff and area distributors. On-ice equipment demonstrations will be set-up on Saturday morning on Hebgen Lake, along with pre-fishing with the pros. One of the most popular activities of the weekend is the free NAIFC Kid’s Free Ice Fishing Camp will be back again on Saturday, January 17th at Kirkwood Resort & Marina on Hebgen Lake. All kids can participate, along with family members, regardless of age. This is the largest kids ice fishing camp in the Intermountain West where kids get to meet ice fishing pro’s, members of the USA Ice Fishing team, and leave with free gear.
MGTU Annual Banquet Sat, February 21, 2015, 5pm – 10pm Best Western Plus GranTree Inn, 1325 North 7th Avenue, Bozeman, MT 59715
There will be two different starting times. The first group begins at 10:00 AM with classroom instruction and demonstration of ice fishing equipment, techniques, as well as safety, conservation and environmental stewardship. Then, everyone heads out onto the ice on-ice fishing tutorials delivered by experienced, certified NAIFC Pro-Staff instructors. A hot dog lunch will be served after on-ice demo’s and practice. Before leaving, all kids who participate will receive a complimentary ice rod and tackle that is donated by HT Enterprises. The NAIFC Kid’s Ice Camp is sponsored by ice fishing industry supplies along with local businesses including Northwest Energy, food suppliers, and Kirkwood Resort and Marina.
WORLD SNOWMOBILE EXPO West Yellowstone, MT 406-646-7701 3/13/2015 - 3/15/2015 www.snowmobileexpo.com
On Sunday, the NAIFC will conduct the Hebgen Lake Qualifier with two-person teams fishing from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM for thousands of dollars in cash and prizes. At 2:00 PM the NAIFC Tournament weigh-in will be conducted at the Holiday Inn Conference Center. Cash and prizes will be awarded to the top teams. The top ten finishing teams also receive an invitation to the 2015 NAIFC National/North American Championship to be held in December in Minnesota.
THE YELLOWSTONE SPECIAL SLED DOG RACES West Yellowstone, MT 406-646-4988 3/19/2015 - 3/22/2015 www.wysleddograces.com
For more information on the NAIFC, Friday Night Seminar, the Kids ICE CAMP, information about the West Yellowstone/Hebgen Lake lodging and activities for tournament, go to www.westyellowstoneicefishing.com. To enter an NAIFC qualifier please go to www.naifc.com or please call Kathy Roberts at 320.252.0428. For information on lodging and other winter activities, please go to www.destinationyellowstone.com or contact the West Yellowstone Visitor Center at 406.646.7701.
ICE SKATING AT BANNACK STATE PARK Dillon, MT 406-834-3413 12/27/2014 - 2/28/2015
If you can’t make it to West Yellowstone during the tournament, feel free to join us anytime. Ice fishing equipment rentals and instruction is available on the weekends at the Kirkwood Resort Marina Store. For more information visit kirkwoodresort.com
Hunting & Fishing • Winter 2015
WINTERips N I H S I F YES! WE ed winter guide tr discount
FLY FISH BIG SKY
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Hunting & Fishing • Winter 2015
2014-15 Approved Ice2014-2015 Fishing Derbies Approved Winter Derbies Region
Dates & Hours
Contact Person
Telephone
Waterbody
Species of Fish
Entry Fee
# Anglers
Bitterroot Bash, 4th Annual
Mar 14-15, 2015 8am-5pm & 8am-2pm respectively
Gene Fincher
406-261-6445 406-257-0668
Bitterroot Lake
Rainbow Trout, Kokanee Salmon
$20
100
4
Broadwater Lions Perch Derby
Jan 24-25, 2015 6am-2pm & 8:30am-1:30pm respectively
Mike Colbert
406-266-5790
Canyon Ferry, Silo's Recreation Townsend
yellow perch, walleye
Sat. Adult $10 Kids $5; Sun. Team $50
300
2
Bull Lake Ice Fishing Derby
Jan 24, 2015 6am-4pm
Jason Williams
406-295-4358
Bull Lake
$10
200
1
Canyon Kids Christmas Fund - Lion Lake Derby
Feb 28, 2015 10am-2pm
Northern Pike, Pike Minnow, Rainbow Trout, Kokanee
Don Lietz
406-387-9042
Lion Lake
rainbow trout, yellow perch
FREE
75
1
Fisher River Valley Winter Fishing Derby
Jan 24-25, 2015 6am-7pm & 6am-4pm respectively
Ruth Rogers
406-293-6884
Upper, Middle & Lower Thompson Lakes plus Crystal & Loon Lake
northern pike, kokanee salmon, rainbow trout, yellow perch
$20
350
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Fresno Ice Derby, 4th Annual
Jan 24-25,2015 7am-3pm & 7am-2pm respectively
Chuck Wimmer
406-265-3800
Fresno Reservoir
northern pike, walleye, yellow perch, crappie
$25 per day
125 Cap
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Glasgow Chamber Ice Fishing Derby, 19th Annual
Feb 21, 2015 10am-4pm
Lisa Olk
406-228-2222
Fort Peck Reservoir Marina Bay
walleye, yellow perch, lake trout, bass, carp, suckers, northern pike, ling/burbot
$50 per hole or 3 holes for $100
300
1
Gol-Fishing Ice Tournament
Mar 8, 2015 8am-4pm
Mike Howe
406-257-5214
Lake Mary Ronan
yellow perch
$200 per 4 person team
36
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Hebgen Lake NAIFC Qualifier
Jan 18, 2015 8am-1pm
Jack Baker
612-308-4858
Hebgen Lake
rainbow trout, cutthroat trout
$200 per two person team
200
Feb 7, 2015 8am-3pm Dates & Hours
Deb Thomas Contact Person
406-557-2345 Telephone
Reservoir Waterbody
walleye, northern pike, lake 30 trout, yellow perch, burbot $75 for 6 holes Species of Fish Entry Fee # Anglers (ling)
Jan 11, 2015 7:30am-3:30pm
Mike Howe
406-257-5214
Smith Lake
northern pike, yellow perch
$50
75
Mike Feldmann
Page 1 of 2 406-858-2253
McGregor Lake
lake trout, rainbow trout
$15
530
Jason Brenden Stoughie's Bar & Grill
406-202-0747
Nelson Reservoir
walleye, northern pike, yellow perch
$20 per adult
250 Cap
Mike Howe
406-249-0556
Lake Mary Ronan
yellow perch
Mike Howe
406-249-0556
Middle Thompson Lake
yellow perch
Mike Howe
406-249-0556
Smith Lake
yellow perch
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Contest Name
6 Hell Creek Ice Fishing Tournament Region Contest Name 1
Ice Duels Montana
2014-2015 Approved Winter Derbies Hell Creek Bay - Fort Peck
1
McGregor Lake Annual Fishing Derby
Feb 7-8, 2015 6am-5pm & 6am-3pm respectively
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Murph's 9th Annual Memorial Ice Fishing Tournament
Jan 31, 2015 7am-6pm
1
Perch Assault - Lake Mary Ronan
1
Perch Assault - Middle Thompson Lake
1
Perch Assault - Smith Lake
1
Mar 7, 2015 6:45am-3pm Feb 21, 2015 7am-3pm Jan 10, 2015 7:45am - 3pm Feb 1-28, 2015 minus Feb 14-16 holiday weekend, 8am-6pm daily
Perch Pounder, 12th Annual
1
Ryan Wagner Memorial Ice Fishing Derby
1
Snappy Sport Senter, 15th Annual
3
Stan Shafer Memorial Ice Fishing Derby
Jan 31, 2015 6am-2pm Jan 24, 2015 7am-4pm
1
Sunriser Lions Smith Lake Family Fishing Derby
Dec 27, 2014 7am-1pm
4
Valier Volunteer Fire Department Fishing Derby
4
Western Bar Ice Fishing Derby
Feb 14, 2015 7am-2pm Jan 31, 2015 8am-2pm
Gene Fincher
Feb 21, 2015 8am-2:30pm
406-261-6445 All Region 1 Waterbodies
$100 per 2 person team $100 per 2 person team $100 per 2 person team
150 150 150
yellow perch
$15
190
yellow perch, large mouth bass, rainbow trout, northern pike, northern pike minnows, sunfish & non-game fish yellow perch, kokanee salmon
Adults $5; Ages 12-17 $2.50; Ages 11 and under - free
350
-0-
400
Mike Sartori
406-882-6018
Murphy Lake
Chancy Jeschke
406-257-7525
Lake Mary Ronan
Tommy Goins
406-925-3217
Clark Canyon Reservoir
rainbow trout, burbot (ling)
$10
700
Warren A. Illi
406-257-5703
Smith Lake
yellow perch, northern pike, sucker
500
Scott Curry
406-279-3365
Lake Francis
northern pike, yellow perch, burbot (ling)
$5 adults $1 kids $10 family $15
350
Jay Shalz
406-562-3262
Willow Creek Reservoir
rainbow trout, sucker
$15
250
HUNTING & FISHING UNDER THE BIG SKY
Hunting and Fishing Under the Big Sky is published four times per year and distributed at key locations throughout Southwest Montana.
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It is the editorial mission of Hunting and Fishing Under the Big Sky to provide accurate and balanced coverage of hunting, fishing, outdoor and conservation news and events throughout Montana. If you have news you would like to share, please email information to reyadvertising@q.com. We proudly support conservation and hunting and fishing education.
Publisher: Mike Rey • marketing director: Chris Rey • editor: Dave Reuss Advertising: Rey Advertising - Mike Rey - (406) 539-1010 • production: Swenson Design CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Jessica Byerly, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
DEADLINE FOR ADVERTISING AND EDITORIAL IS 7 DAYS PRIOR TO PUBLICATION: JANUARY, APRIL, JULY AND OCTOBER
Hunting & Fishing • Winter 2015
ALPINE YAMAHA
301 N MAIN ST LIVINGSTON MT, 590472016 406-222-1211
ALPINE YAMAHA
301 N St • Livingston, MT 59047 301Main N MAIN ST LIVINGSTON MT, 590472016 406-222-1211
406-222-1211
* 0%-10% down payment required. Applies to purchases of new 2010-2015 Motorcycles, Scooters, ATVs & Side x Sides, made on a Yamaha Installment Financing loan account from 9/1/14 to 12/27/14. Offer is subject to credit approval by Synchrony Financial. Maximum contract length is 36 months. Minimum amount financed is $5,000. Fixed APR of 3.99%, 5.99%, 6.99% or 12.99% assigned based on credit approval criteria. Example: Monthly payments per $1,000 financed based on 36 month term are $29.52 at 3.99% rate and $33.69 at 12.99%. Standard down payment requirement is based on credit approval criteria. **Customer Cash offer good on select 2010-2014 models between 9/1/14-12/27/14. Offer good only in the U.S., excluding the state of Hawaii. Dealer remains responsible for complying with all local and state advertising regulations and laws. Dress properly for your ride with a helmet, eye protection, long-sleeved shirt, long pants, gloves and boots. Do not drink and ride. It is illegal and dangerous. Yamaha and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation encourage you to ride safely and respect the environment. For further information regarding the MSF course, please call 1-800-446-9227. ATV models shown are recommended for use only by riders 16 years and older. Raptor 700R recommended for experienced riders only. Yamaha recommends that all ATV riders take an approved training course. For safety and training information, see your dealer or call the ATV Safety Institute at 1-800-887-2887. ATVs can be hazardous to operate. For your safety: Always avoid paved surfaces. Never ride on public roads. Always wear a helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Never carry passengers. Never engage in stunt riding. Riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. Avoid excessive speed. And be particularly careful on difficult terrain. Professional riders depicted on closed courses. ©2014 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved. •YamahaMotorsports.com 9/14
* 0%-10% down payment required. Applies to purchases of new 2010-2015 Motorcycles, Scooters, ATVs & Side x Sides, made on a Yamaha Installment Financing loan account from 9/1/14 to 12/27/14. Offer is subject to credit approval by Synchrony Financial. Maximum contract length is 36 months. Minimum amount financed is $5,000. Fixed APR of 3.99%, 5.99%, 6.99% or 12.99% assigned based on credit approval criteria. Example: Monthly payments per $1,000 financed based on 36 month term are $29.52 at 3.99% rate and $33.69 at 12.99%. Standard down payment requirement is based on credit approval criteria. **Customer Cash offer good on select 2010-2014 models between 9/1/14-12/27/14. Offer good only in the U.S., excluding the state of Hawaii. Dealer remains responsible for complying with all local and state advertising regulations and laws. Dress properly for your ride with a helmet, eye protection, long-sleeved shirt, long pants, gloves and boots. Do not drink and ride. It is illegal and dangerous. Yamaha and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation encourage you to ride safely and respect the environment. For further information regarding the MSF course, please call 1-800-446-9227. ATV models shown are recommended for use only by riders 16 years and older. Raptor 700R recommended for experienced riders only. Yamaha recommends that all ATV riders take an approved training course. For safety and training information, see your dealer or call the ATV Safety Institute at 1-800-887-2887. ATVs can be hazardous to operate. For your safety: Always avoid paved surfaces. Never ride on public roads. Always wear a helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Never carry passengers. Never engage in stunt riding. Riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. Avoid excessive speed. And be particularly careful on difficult terrain. Professional riders depicted on closed courses. ©2014 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved. •YamahaMotorsports.com 9/14
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Hunting & Fishing • Winter 2015
Rocky mountain elk foundation
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5705 Grant Creek • Missoula, MT 59808 • 406.523.4500 • rmef.org
Public Access Secured to 41,000 Acres in Southwest Montana
MISSOULA, Mont.— The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation teamed up with a private landowner, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), US Forest Service (USFS), Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) and local sportsmen groups to secure permanent public access to approximately 41,344 acres of public lands in time for Montana’s 2014 general big game hunting season.
“This strikes at the very core of our mission,� said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “RMEF is committed to seeking and finding avenues like this particular project to open public access for increased recreational opportunities like hunting.�
RMEF funding assisted in the purchase of a 30-foot wide permanent road easement to cross 0.66 miles, in three separate road segments, of a private ranch through two drainages in the Medicine Lodge area approximately 35 miles southwest of Dillon in Beaverhead County. The project improves access to both the Tendoy and Beaverhead Mountains.
More specifically, the easement provides 0.16 miles of motorized access to Ayers Canyon (Hunting District 328) between the Medicine Lodge Road and BLM ownership as well as motorized access to Kate Creek (Hunting District 302) through two private segments of 0.29 and 0.21 miles on the northwest corner of Ellis Peak. (These areas are also included in Hunting District 300 for antelope.) The road previously
alternated between BLM and private ownership, and the public portions are designated as Road 70095 on both the BLM and USFS ownership. (See maps here.)
Other project partners include the Beaverhead Outdoors Association and the Skyline Sportsmen’s Association. Since 1984, RMEF has opened or secured access to more than 215,000 acres in Montana and 758,000 acres nationally across elk country for hunting, hiking, fishing, camping and other outdoor activities.
“These types of collaborative efforts continue to ensure that sportsmen and women have access to public lands throughout Montana,� said Ron Aasheim, FWP spokesperson. “Partnerships are key to FWP’s management of resources which we hold in trust for all Montanans.�
About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation: Founded over 30 years ago, fueled by hunters and a membership of more than 200,000 strong, RMEF has conserved more than 6.4 million acres for elk and other wildlife. RMEF also works to open and improve public access, fund and advocate for science-based resource management, and ensure the future of America’s hunting heritage. Discover why “Hunting Is Conservation™â€? at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.
“Improving public access to encourage the public’s responsible use and enjoyment of their lands and resources continues to be a high priority for BLM, both locally and nationally,� said Cornie Hudson, BLM Dillon Field Office manager. “The partnerships that made this project possible could be a model for future access projects of this nature. Thank you partners!� RMEF also partnered with the BLM Dillon Field Office in 2013 to complete construction on a road project that re-opened and improved public access to more than 9,355 additional acres at Cow Creek in the Medicine Lodge drainage.
UPCOMING BANQUETS:
“When you combine our work from last year with these two new projects, RMEF has now improved access to more than 50,000 acres of public lands in this drainage over the last two years alone,� said Blake Henning, RMEF vice president of Lands and Conservation.
Trout numbers up in Missouri River HELENA (AP) –Longtime Missouri River fishing guide Pete Cardinal says the rainbow and brown trout in the river near Craig were as healthy as he’s ever seen. And a report by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks backs him up. For the second year in a row, FWP said a survey on the Missouri found an increase in the number of large rainbow and brown trout between Holter Dam and Cascade. State biologists found nearly 3,500 rainbow trout longer than 10 inches near Craig this fall, compared with a long-term average of nearly 3,000. “The most noticeable difference is the quality of the fish. They’re just larger than they’ve been,� said Cardinal, owner of Missouri River Angler in Craig. “People are really happy with the quality of the fish, and the fish really fight hard. They’re so healthy that they just really tear you up when you hook them.� Fisheries biologist Grant Grisak said the rainbows in the Craig area were remarkably high quality. “About 85 percent of the rainbows were 15 inches and larger, and fish in the 18-inch length alone represented about 24 percent of the total population,� he said. In the river’s Pelican Point section, just upstream from Cascade, rainbow trout were estimated at 1,577 fish per mile, compared with the long-term average of 1,494. Grisak said 64 percent of the rainbows there were at least 15 inches long. Brown trout populations are also up. The spring estimate in the Craig section was 584 per mile, just above the long-term average of 578. In the Pelican Point section, spring browns were estimated at 611 per mile, well above the long-term average of 358. Biologists estimate the number of fish per mile by electro-shocking the water and then counting, tagging and releasing the fish. Two weeks later, they repeat the process and use the ratio of tagged and untagged fish to calculate an estimate of the number of trout per mile. Cardinal, who has guided on the Missouri for 26 years, said high water levels helped. “That’s what happens when you add water to a Montana river,� he said. “The fish like it. There’s more habitat, more food, more space and greater survival. It’s probably a real reflection of great habitat conditions from the last two years of great water levels.� Things weren’t as encouraging on the Smith River, where trout populations continue to trend down. “Higher water flows and lower water temperatures in the Smith River this year should provide relief to future trout populations, especially in the wake of a nine-year drought experienced in central Montana,� Grisak said.
Mission Valley 406-240-1325
Polson, MT 1/31/2015
Flathead Valley 406-257-9110
Kalispell, MT 2/21/2015
Giant Springs 406-453-6989
Great Falls, MT 3/28/2015
Five Valleys 406-728-4176
Missoula, MT 4/25/2015
Vigilante 406-682-7857
Ennis, MT 5/2/2015
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Hunting & Fishing • Winter 2015 7
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