Montana FWP Offering Reward for Tips on Illegal Fish in Kalispell Pond

Usually, when someone thinks of invasive aquatic species in Montana, they think of zebra or quagga mussels.  After all, they're a big part of why boats have to be cleaned and inspected more closely these days after they've been on our lakes and rivers.  But native species can be invasive, too, under certain circumstances.

Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks is looking for information on who illegally introduced a species of pike into a fishing spot north of Kalispell.

What happened?

MT FWP officials have confirmed the presence of northern pike in Pine Grove Pond.  They had received at least one report of a pike in the lake last fall and confirmed it by catching one of their own there last week.

Now, while northern pike are a native species to Montana, they are only considered native in one specific location.  This pond is not part of their native habitat, so they are invasive in this case.  Also, the pond is not connected to other waterways, so there's no way for pike to wind up there without human involvement.

So what do we do?

Normally, the pond in question is catch and release unless you're 14 and under, but anyone fishing in the pond is being asked to kill and turn in any pike caught at this pond to the local FWP office, in order to prevent the species that are supposed to be there from being killed off by the pike.

Is there a reward for information?

Yes, there are.  Multiple awards, in fact.  In addition to the reward from FWP, via tipmont.mt.gov, two other area groups are offering a total of $2500 in additional reward money.