08-08-2008, 11:10 AM
GLASGOW, Mont. -- The 2008 Missouri River paddlefish season in the section between Fort Benton and Fort Peck Reservoir closed as scheduled on June 15.
According to Region 6 Fisheries Manager Bill Wiedenheft, the estimated total harvest for this section was 365 paddlefish, or 125 short of the 500-fish quota.
Wiedenheft noted that river flows were very low during the first several weeks of the season, which opened May 1. But melting snow and persistent rain in the drainage pushed flows to above-normal levels during the remainder of the season.
Low flows in the Missouri River over the past eight years have produced minimal natural paddlefish reproduction. But Wiedenheft said this year's higher flows created excellent spawning conditions for adult paddlefish, and that should in turn produce a strong and much-needed 2008 year-class of young.
The paddlefish closure in the Fort Benton to Fort Peck Reservoir section follows the May 31 closure of paddlefish harvesting in the section of Missouri River below Fort Peck and on the Yellowstone River. Catch-and-release fishing for paddlefish in the Intake area of the Yellowstone ended on June 10.
The Fort Peck Dredge Cuts, located below Fort Peck Dam, is only area of the state where paddlefish angling will remain legal this year. A bow-and-arrow season for paddlefish in the Dredge Cuts starts July 1 and ends Aug. 31. The limit there is one paddlefish per angler possessing an unused blue tag.
In all other cases, paddlefish mistakenly hooked by anglers who are targeting other species must be immediately released.
According to Region 6 Fisheries Manager Bill Wiedenheft, the estimated total harvest for this section was 365 paddlefish, or 125 short of the 500-fish quota.
Wiedenheft noted that river flows were very low during the first several weeks of the season, which opened May 1. But melting snow and persistent rain in the drainage pushed flows to above-normal levels during the remainder of the season.
Low flows in the Missouri River over the past eight years have produced minimal natural paddlefish reproduction. But Wiedenheft said this year's higher flows created excellent spawning conditions for adult paddlefish, and that should in turn produce a strong and much-needed 2008 year-class of young.
The paddlefish closure in the Fort Benton to Fort Peck Reservoir section follows the May 31 closure of paddlefish harvesting in the section of Missouri River below Fort Peck and on the Yellowstone River. Catch-and-release fishing for paddlefish in the Intake area of the Yellowstone ended on June 10.
The Fort Peck Dredge Cuts, located below Fort Peck Dam, is only area of the state where paddlefish angling will remain legal this year. A bow-and-arrow season for paddlefish in the Dredge Cuts starts July 1 and ends Aug. 31. The limit there is one paddlefish per angler possessing an unused blue tag.
In all other cases, paddlefish mistakenly hooked by anglers who are targeting other species must be immediately released.