NGPC reviews post-winter-kill stocking, fishery status and refuge access petition in Northwest District

NGPC Northwest District fisheries staff summarized ongoing recovery work after the 2022'023 winter-kill events, reported recent stocking totals and described current fishery conditions for pike, perch, crappie, bass and walleye across the district.

"We stocked about 3,000,000 in 2024 and about 2,000,000 in 2025," said Zach Reshears, describing a multi-million-per-year stocking effort that the district said is largely composed of perch eggs and fingerlings to rebuild populations.

Winter-kill and recovery: staff said many smaller, vegetated lakes (Watts Lake, Rice Lake, Duck Lake, West Long) experienced severe winter-kill, while others retained populations. NGPC described targeted restocking and sampling to rebuild opportunity for anglers.

Notable species updates provided by staff:

- Northern pike: West Long showed very high net catch rates (about 34 pike per net); Hackberry and Dewey also showed strong pike numbers, including fish in the 28—34-inch range. Reshears reminded anglers that "it is illegal to move fish." He also noted a new protected slot regulation of 24 to 34 inches that applies at several refuge lakes instituted this year and suggested anglers target other lakes for harvest.

- Yellow perch: Watts Lake had strong perch sampling (about 280 perch per net) with a high proportion in the 8—10-inch range; other lakes ranged from 10 to 25 perch per net depending on site.

- Black crappie and bluegill: Pelican Lake and Clear Lake showed high crappie trap-net catches (Pelican ~60 crappie per trap net; Clear as high as ~84 per trap net in samples). Bluegill reports included catches of 8—9-inch fish at Shell Lake.

- Largemouth bass: staff said bass were among species hardest-hit by winter kill at some Sandhill sites; Rice Lake, Rat and Beaver and Dewey on the refuge were highlighted as better bass options depending on access and water levels.

- Walleye: Lake Minnatare showed signs of rebound in a 2023 survey but a fall gill-net survey later showed reduced gill-net catches and continued uncertainty about recruitment. Staff advised anglers to consult the web summary for the latest sampling details.

Refuge and access items: the district said a petition sought expanded angler access on the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge; NGPC planned to meet U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff on April 22 to discuss the petition and said outcomes depend on federal permission. On Hudson Lake, an ice-fishing-only landowner contract did not renew after a change in property ownership; NGPC staff said efforts to reopen the lake for ice fishing are "a work in progress."

Local access notes: Joe Bridal said NGPC is working to secure a 20-year signing for the east access at Rat and Beaver (the west access is under a new private landowner) and said the Powder Horn ramp at Merritt will likely remain closed until lake drawdown allows repairs this fall.

What comes next: staff will continue sampling and stocking, post web summaries and release news on closures and openings; they invited anglers to contact district biologists for the latest on specific lakes.