Hollecker Lake is a popular family fishery for the community of Glendive. Unfortunately, the waterbody chronically becomes inhabited with undesirable species (e.g. Black Bullhead, Common Carp, River Carpsucker, Shorthead Redhorse, White Sucker) likely via poorly screened irrigation water and illegal transfers. In the winter of 2019, the local Walleyes Unlimited club, under approval from Dawson County, led an effort to drain Hollecker Lake to rid the unwanted species and provide a fresh start to the fishery. The lake was refilled in the spring of 2020. The club, along with guidance from FWP fisheries staff, decided on a restocking composition comprised of Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Black Crappie, White Crappie, Channel Catfish, and Walleye. All these species except Walleye had previously been stocked or transferred into Hollecker Lake. A one-time stocking of catchable Rainbow Trout was completed in the spring of 2020. Wild fish transfers of Yellow Perch, Channel Catfish, Black Crappie, and White Crappie were also completed in the spring of 2020. Walleye have not previously been stocked or transferred into Hollecker Lake, thus the impetus for Environmental Assessment (EA). We are proposing a wild fish transfer of 100-200 adult Walleye from the Yellowstone River downstream of Intake Dam to Hollecker Lake. Walleye would be captured via electrofishing in the spring and/or fall of 2021. While the transfer is expected to have little to no population-level effect on the Yellowstone River, it is expected to provide immediate opportunity for anglers at Hollecker Lake.
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