Where do they go? ….
Where do they go?
So, where do all these walleye fingerlings get released in Fort Peck Reservoir? Some walleye fingerlings get planted directly at a boat ramp. Others get transported by boats equipped with hauling tanks and oxygen to the numerous embayments (other accessible bays) throughout the reservoir. The multiple stocking sites ensures the newly planted fish have ample amount of room to grow, as opposed to stocking them at one location where they would have to compete for limited resources. Fort Peck Reservoir is a large water body with many miles of shoreline (1,520 miles) which make it difficult for fingerling walleye to navigate given their swimming ability is limited during their early stages. It should be noted that stocking efforts occur in the lower portion of the reservoir because netting surveys and studies indicate that upper portion of the reservoir (Big Dry and Missouri River) contribute to the fishery more than other portions of the reservoir.
Other Stocking Efforts
Both the Fort Peck and Miles City hatcheries also stocked several other ponds around the state of Montana with fingerlings as well. To see these sites and stocking numbers, please go to the “FishMT” tab on the fwp. mt.gov webpage and go to “stocking data.” These numbers will be updated in the next couple of weeks with the 2020 stocking efforts.
