Yellowstone Smallies

I know there are some IDO’ers who head out to Yellowstone each year. Heads up if you happen to catch a smallie.

Alarming catch: Why Yellowstone is worried about this fish
Pete Thomas – 1h ago

The recent catch of a smallmouth bass in Montana’s Gardner River has Yellowstone National Park biologists deeply concerned about a possible “invasion” of the non-native species.

The bass was caught Feb. 19 near the Gardner River’s confluence with the Yellowstone River, just north of the park.

In a Wednesday news release, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) explained that an established population of smallmouth bass in the region “could pose threats to native fish in the upper Yellowstone River.”

Also on Wednesday, Todd Koel, lead fisheries biologist for Yellowstone National Park, responded to news of the catch with this statement:

“Smallmouth bass are an invasive predatory species that will threaten our wild and native trout populations if they become established in the upper Yellowstone River.

“Since anglers are highly effective at suppressing invasive fish in waters where they coexist with native species such as cutthroat trout, they will be required to kill and report any smallmouth bass caught in Yellowstone National Park when the fishing season opens Memorial Day weekend.

“Additionally, Yellowstone National Park and USGS biologists will be sampling the Gardner and Yellowstone rivers, upstream of where the invasive smallmouth bass was caught. Over the next few weeks, biologists will monitor these rivers closely to gauge the possible extent of the invasion.

“Our goal is to protect native fish populations and natural ecosystems. We will do everything in our power to prevent the establishment of smallmouth bass in the park and prevent them from preying on and displacing trout and other native fish.”

It’s not clear how the smallmouth bass got into the Gardner River, but it might have involved an illegal transfer of bass from another waterbody.

The FWP stated that previous smallmouth bass catches have been reported in two other locations on the upper Yellowstone River during the past seven years. Another catch was reported in the Shields River, a tributary to the Yellowstone River east of Livingston.

The agency added, however, that yearly sampling projects have not turned up any smallmouth bass.

The free-flowing Yellowstone River is one of the world’s premier fly-fishing destinations for wild and native trout.

this should be a multi pager in no time.

They might find out the smallmouth fight harder and are more fun to catch than some of the trout species… then what?!?

Their population is expanding in mn also. I read a lot of DNR lake surveys and reading that a SMB was sampled for the first time ever is relatively common. My opinion is that if they found their way naturally they should probably be left alone. If they were illegally transplanted they should be removed. The problem is proving where they came from. Is there established populations in lakes in that area? Did a high water event create a natural path for them to expand their range?
Im assuming they have no way of knowing now. So removing them is the best way to keep the rivers as natural as they know them to be. I’ll bet that even with aggressive tactics they’ll have a hard time keeping the population from exploding. Trout are very nutritious and the bass should grow exceptionally large.

Water must not be very cold if smallies are thriving there.

FryDog62 wrote:

They might find out the smallmouth fight harder and are more fun to catch than some of the trout species… then what?!?

I think you totally missed the point.

Buffalo Fishhead

phishingruven wrote:

this should be a multi pager in no time.

Why…..If they were put there illegally not many people are going to get butthurt about them being removed or killed. It’s when people are killing them in lakes they’ve been in forever.

Jon Jordan wrote:

It’s not clear how the smallmouth bass got into the Gardner River, but it might have involved an illegal transfer of bass from another waterbody.

it was me. i hate trout.

I think people killing bass because they are over-populated is a bass fisherman fallacy. I caught a couple 3 lbers out of Reno in Alex pulling cranks last summer. They are not surveyed in there. Cool fish.

Pike on the other hand….continuous season, no limit, treated as bullhead…

mahtofire14 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>phishingruven wrote:</div>
this should be a multi pager in no time.

Why…..If they were put there illegally not many people are going to get butthurt about them being removed or killed. It’s when people are killing them in lakes they’ve been in forever.

because the mentioning of invasive species.

grubson wrote:

T Did a high water event create a natural path for them to expand their range?

what if that high water event was caused due to a man-made dam or other structures?

suzuki wrote:

Water must not be very cold if smallies are thriving there.

Might have something to do with the geothermal features of yellowstone and the heated water that pours into the river? But im not certain as to how far up or downstream those hot waters warm up the river.

because the mentioning of invasive species.
[/quote]

I’m telling you, it’s all in the eye of the beholder lol

That’s funny… Lets start with Green Lake near Willmar. Great Walleye lake that got decimated by smallmouth…. Or did I just imagine it?

Bob Smith wrote:

That’s funny… Lets start with Green Lake near Willmar. Great Walleye lake that got decimated by smallmouth…. Or did I just image it?

Oh christ. Kill the smallies, same with muskies. They eat walleyes. I bet green is a great smallie fishery.

Green is a great smallie lake that used be a great walleye lake. Not to hard to figure it out. No need to get butt hurt.

Lots of South Dakota lakes going down the same road.

Let’s not talk about Mille Lacs….

Bob Smith wrote:

Green is a great smallie lake that used be a great <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>walleye lake. Not to hard to figure it out. No need to get butt hurt.

Lots of South Dakota lakes going down the same road.

Let’s not talk about Mille Lacs….

Love Mille lacs. Best smallie fishery around

Bearcat89 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Bob Smith wrote:</div>
Green is a great smallie lake that used be a great <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>walleye lake. Not to hard to figure it out. No need to get butt hurt.

Lots of South Dakota lakes going down the same road.

Let’s not talk about Mille Lacs….

Love Mille lacs. Best smallie fishery around

I’m with you on this one. I say take down that walleye statue in Garrison and replace it with a brownie. Or a muskie now that the state record is from there.

So…the same DNR that planted Browns, Brookies, And Rainbows all over the place is worried about an “invasive species” ?

SR

those 20 pound walleyes in the Columbia river are treated like carp too I hear.
those western states really love their trout

eyeguy507 wrote:

those 20 pound walleyes in the Columbia river are treated like carp too I hear.
those western states really love their trout

It’s true. Any species other than trout or salmon in the Pacific Northwest is an undesirable species.

“Our goal is to protect native fish populations and natural ecosystems.”

If this is their goal then I don’t see anything wrong with what they are trying to accomplish.

Money grab

Bob Smith wrote:

That’s funny… Lets start with Green Lake near Willmar. Great Walleye lake that got decimated by smallmouth…. Or did I just imagine it?

Green Lake = great walleye and smallie lake. People fish it for both, but keep the walleyes and not the smallmouth. Could be a major reason why it gets out of balance…

FryDog62 wrote:

Green Lake = great walleye and smallie lake. People fish it for both, but keep the walleyes and not the smallmouth. Could be a major reason why it gets out of balance…

People love to blame everything else including other predators except themselves. Its never the angler’s fault. You know, the ones who are actually harvesting the fish. This argument has been beaten to death with muskies too and there is zero scientific evidence to back it up.

It’s so nice to see IDO back to arguing about fishing topics now that all the political and Covid threads are toast.

I say carry on with the great walleye > smallies > Muskie debate. At least we can all agree that trout are the worst.

Trout Lives Matter! The stupid smallmouth can have the rest of the country. The cutthroat should continue to have Yellowstone. I thought diversity was good.

I’m so glad that flatheads only eat rough fish!

It is amazing how people defend their favorite fish. Can’t blame them I spose.

We had a guide/member that would post 13 pound walleyes from Oregon(?) but salmon was the game out there. No one wanted guide trips for walleye though!

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Did someone say 20lb Walleyes?? As in plural.

Road trip time!!

gimruis wrote:

People love to blame everything else including other predators except themselves. Its never the angler’s fault. You know, the ones who are actually harvesting the fish. This argument has been beaten to death with muskies too and there is zero scientific evidence to back it up.

100%

Think we are getting a little off course. Comparing Green Lake to Gardner River is like comparing the Gulf to the pond in my back yard.

The DNR there have a clear plan of what they are trying to accomplish in this river system. An invasive species was introduced to the river system that over time could jeopardize their goal.
They are trying to remove it or at least keep the levels to a minimum to not jeopardize there goal.
Sorry just don’t see anything wrong with there plan.