Trout Gone Wild

In 1974, Montana did something that stunned anglers across the state and the nation: It stopped stocking trout in streams and rivers that supported wild trout populations.

The move initially outraged many anglers, fishing businesses, and even some Montana Fish and Game Department staff. For decades, hatcheries had been credited with producing more and better fishing. Without stocking, many Montanans asked, what would happen to the state’s famous trout waters and the businesses that relied on legions of anglers arriving from across the country each summer?

The answer, now well known, is that trout fishing improved dramatically. Once stocking was discontinued, wild trout numbers doubled, tripled, and more on many rivers.

LINK (via: Montana Outdoors)

Environmentalists say they'll sue over bull trout

Environmentalists say they intend to sue U.S. officials unless more is done to protect threatened bull trout.

A formal 60-day notice of their intent to sue was filed Thursday by the Cottonwood Environmental Law Center, WildEarth Guardians, Cascadia Wildlands and the Western Watersheds Project.

The groups say the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service failed to evaluate the consequences of projects approved within bull trout habitat.

LINK (via: KTVZ)

Michigan allows fish hatchery to expand despite concerns

Photo:Peter Potrowl

Michigan’s Department of Environmental Quality issued a permit today allowing a Grayling fish hatchery operator to step up production, despite concerns from anglers that increased discharges from the hatchery could harm the Au Sable River.

LINK (via: The Detroit Free Press)

Arachnophobia

A new research paper just published in the scientific journal Plos One brings us new fuel for nightmares: Spiders not only eat insects but also kill and eat fish often much larger than them. And it's not only one or two species, but many species at a global scale.

LINK (via: Sploid)

Kiribati Bans Fishing in One of World's Largest Marine Parks

Kiribati, a tiny island nation that controls a vast area of the Pacific Ocean has announced it will ban all commercial fishing in a massive marine park that is the size of Californiia.

LINK (via: National Geographic)

Fish evacuated from American River hatcheries

Something is wrong in Denmark when you're forced to start evacuating fish hatcheries.

The ongoing drought in California is forcing state officials to evacuate rainbow trout and steelhead fish from two hatcheries on the American River amid concern the water will become warm enough to kill the fish in coming weeks.

LINK (via: The Sacramento Bee)