Hungry Horse news. [volume] (Columbia Falls, Mont.) 1948-current, 1955-03-18
Local Sportsmen
Hear Talk On
Fish Propagation


Frank Stefanich, Kalispell, fish
biologist for the Montana Fish and
Game department, discussed prob
lens of fish propagation at the
March meeting OF the Northern
Rocky Mountain Sportsmen's as
ISOLATION.
Hal Kanzler, president, presided
at the meeting attended by so per-
sons in Columbia Falls city hall.
DR.. Loren Kreck was program
chairman, and Homer Wulf had
charge of coffee and donut ar
rangements.
Stefanich discussed findings on
the North Fork project where 145
Dolly Vardens were tagged on
Trail creek headed for spawning,
and later five were caught in Flat
head lake. Stefanich said that
many Dolly Warden return to the
lake within a month after spawn
ing up tributary creeks. The big
trout do not spend much time in
spawning creeks.
Stefanich felt that Dolly Var
dens serve good purpose in con-
troll of rough fish such as perch
and suckers. He commented that
all fish eat fish whether trout or
rough fish.
John Cox, foreman of the state
hatchery at Somers, added that a
fish will eat any fish he can catch
of suitable size. Rough fish being
slower are easier to catch.
Members of the club challenged
the Dolly Warden rule that requires
the fish to be about four years old
and 18 inches long before being
caught.
/ Comment was that 'sbull trout
is protected until he reaches
spawning age, and can eat cut
throat, but that a cutthroat just
reaching spawning age is too small
to eat a bull" Then why protect
one variety discriminating against
| the other?
Stefanich remarked while the
Flathead had good water for fish
production, such streams as the
Madison river and Sun river with
higher naturalization and some
what warmer water encourage
much more fish reproduction.
| He said that Flathead river wa.
ter was SO pure that the state fist
and game department electri
shocking equipment often did no
function properly.
| Commenting on Hungry Hors
reservoir, Stefanich felt that tn
history of such a reservoir is tn
rough fish. taking over. tss
i Fluctuating lake levels caus
problems since 80 per cent Of fis
food is found in shore mud an
gravel within so feet of the toI
Fluctuation kills fish food.
He added that spawning area
for cutthroat above Hungry Hors
reservoir such as Twin creeks an
the Spotted Bear river were goot
Steps are being taken he adde
to improve culvert obstacles 1
spawning fish migration up sue
T tributaries as Felix creek.
The speaker also told of the la
June rs opening on stream fishir
in the Flathead to encourage GU
t throat trout spawning in tt
E spring. Sometimes spawning las
: until July. Water temperatul
! somewhat controls early or la
spawning. Last year the heav
! runoff and cold water delaye
spawning.
> The Flathead river is to be ope
E from Blankenships downstrea
to Flathead lake May %. Lakes al
open year around with four e,
:. :. ceptions including Hungry Horl
: which opens June rs the same tin
as the streams.
Other topics before Stefanich
, speech included discussion of do
y chasing deer on the north edge
Columbia Falls. Ed Sager, depu
, game warden was present, and sa
= efforts were being made to catt
such dogs.
Louis Bertino showed a cole
: ton of old guns. One was an o
: nate pearl handled, formerly 60
plated 80 revolver that carries t
: name of Joe Cosley, early d
: trapper and scholar. He was sto
k led character of SO years ago. Co
: ley's gun belongs to Leon Lenc
e Les Pengelly, Missoula, extensi
!, lecturist on fish and wildlife pro
is lens from Montana State unive
4, sity is to give an illustrated viii
;e please turn to page q
],