Have More Ponds In NE Montana Winterkilled?

The climate in northeast Montana the last few years hasn’t been the best for our area fishing ponds. Backto-back summer droughts and now a tough, long winter this year, have left fish populations in many ponds and small reservoirs across northeastern Montana with little room to breathe. As a result, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is asking anglers to help identify ponds this spring that may have winterkilled.

What causes fish to winterkill?

There are many factors that influence a pond to winterkill, but it usually starts with low water and increased vegetation.

“Unfortunately, the ongoing drought left many ponds and small reservoirs in Eastern Montana five to ten feet lower, or more, going into the 2022-23 ...