Submitted by shauna_sherard on Wed, 2015-12-02 13:40 Vote Up Down +1 + Walleye.gif Invasive species are no small problem, especially when illegally introduced - look no further than the massive effort on Yellowstone Lake to eradicate cutthroat-gobbling-lake trout to see the effort, cost and time it takes to reverse such actions. That is why Montana Trout Unlimited and the Flathead Valley Chapter have doubled the state council’s reward for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of the persons responsible for illegally planting walleyes in Swan Lake and Noxon Reservoir, as well as smallmouth bass in Seeley Lake. MTU announced the reward would be upped from $10,000 to $20,000 late in November. "We've had it with the selfish individuals who have been vandalizing Montana's lakes and streams by dumping harmful species on top of established and popular populations of sport fish," says Chris Schustrom, chairman of Montana Trout Unlimited."The recent discovery of walleye in Swan Lake, the latest in a string of more than 600 documented illegal stockings that have plagued Montana in recent years, clearly indicates that FWP's current approach to stopping the vandals isn't working. So we're helping by upping the ante. The illegally planted fish now threaten a stronghold for bull trout in Swan Lake in Northwest Montana; legally established or wild populations of bass, cutthroat and bull trout in Noxon Reservoir on the lower Clark Fork River; and rainbow trout in Seeley Lake, in the Blackfoot River watershed "People wanting to help protect Montana's great fishing can contact Montana Trout Unlimited. We'll pass the information on to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Or folks can directly contact the agency at TIP-MONT," says Bruce Farling of Montana Trout Unlimited. "Informants can remain anonymous if their identification isn't critical to a prosecution. We are urging FWP to treat this illegal activity, which can ruin multi-million dollar recreational resources, as serious as wildlife crimes, and to step up its enforcement and investigative efforts." Contact the Montana Council at 406-543-0054; or, Bruce Farling at bruce@montanatu.org.