department is considering dropping the limit to one brook trout per day or using some other more restrictive regulation in a further attempt to maintain or increase trophy-sized fish in the lake. Being such a large lake, along with its location on a high plateau near Yellowstone National Park, creates windy conditions at times. Concerned that their increasingly popular lake was being loved to death, members of the Georgetown Lake Homeowner’s Association began looking into ways to fund a water quality study. The department stocks roughly 200,000 rainbows per year, and the fish grow fat in the shallow, … Rimmed by the Pintler Mountains, it’s also among the state’s most beautiful. He’s seen it change through the years, with more anglers and, especially, more shoreline houses. My last day is Sunday at 5pm for this icefishing season till December! In winter, the abundant vegetation dies, which can cause fish die-offs due to oxygen depletion. of Montana’s most productive and popular sport fisheries? There are also a variety of owls, the largest of which is the great gray owl that stands 29” and can often be seen perched on a branch or a rail post or skimming through the trees. Stafford suspects that the smaller size may be due to lower densities of zooplankton, the salmon’s preferred food. The Georgetown Lake, located just off I-70 is the easiest to access fishing location in the area. Liermann says the He adds that FWP manages Georgetown Lake’s rainbows as a harvest fishery. Details: Rainbow Trout. Hebgen Lake arguably offers the best dry fly lake fishing in Montana. us | Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Recreation: Georgetown Lake is a prime destination for fishing and fly fishing with kokanee salmon, rainbow and brook trout being the most sought-after species. The department stocks roughly 200,000 rainbows per year, and the fish grow fat in the shallow, productive lake. Rainbow trout, brook trout, lake trout, bass, carp, etc. Currently, fresh water species. Georgetown Flats was the location of a placer mining camp operated by George Cameron from 1867. Lake. Tourists can take in the lake from the Anaconda-Pintler Scenic Route (Montana Highway 1) running along Georgetown’s east shore. In the mid-1980s, FWP tightened the limit to five fish per day. “It was a world-class brook trout,” he says. They also investigated the composition and concentrations of the water’s phytoplankton and zooplankton—tiny plants and animals suspended in the water column. Georgetown is one of Montana’s better-known ice fishing lakes. He adds that FWP manages Georgetown Lake’s rainbows as a harvest fishery. Residents worry Georgetown Lake is a 2,818-acre reservoir in Deer Lodge and Granite Counties, Montana. 7 DAY OUTLOOK: Georgetown is iced up. It’s been that way for decades. But it often occurs in winter, when ice blocks sunshine and wind action ends. But in recent years, area residents have feared that Georgetown’s great fishing might be threatened. Also keeping Georgetown healthy are two tributaries that provide fresh water to the lake as well as extensive groundwater that boosts dissolved oxygen in some spots. Conor Russell. Copyright © 2003-2017 Montana Outdoors. systems, which can leach nutrient-laden wastewater. In many lakes, the excess nitrogen and phosphorus can make water murky, grow thick mats of vegetation, and result in fewer fish. In 2004, FWP instituted catch-and-release-only regulations on the colorful eastern United States native and began supplementing the population with hatchery fish. have caught 20-inch rainbows right off the beach,” says Luebeck. Their concern was that booming cabin and home development were overloading the water with nutrients. With this management approach, the lake ends up with the best of both worlds—two different fisheries for people who want fish for the freezer and another one for those wanting the brook trout of a lifetime.”. Tempest Technologies. Non native, exotic species Rainbow smelt, Osmerus mordax; Gars FWP and graduate student researchers had previously accumulated extensive water quality data before the lake was heavily developed. 48555 and 53910. The Lakehouse offers the perfect complement to a memorable visit to Georgetown Lake. Otherwise, Rock Creek is a good option nearby, though. 358 p. Georgetown Lake is one of Montana’s premier blue ribbon fisheries offering nearly year round angling for trophy rainbow and brook trout and kokanee salmon. What about all those new septic systems? That’s fine when plants are alive. 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