Fort Peck's Giant Kings: Where Have All the Salmon Gone?

Something unusual happened at Fort Peck Reservoir this year. King salmon anglers weren’t catching nearly as many fish as they were accustomed to, but when they did hook one, it was often a monster! So, what was going on beneath the surface?

That’s exactly what Downrigger Dale sets out to discover in this week’s Montana Outdoor Podcast, with two men who know Fort Peck’s king salmon fishery better than just about anyone: fisheries biologist Heath Headley and Fort Peck Fish Hatchery Manager Wade Geraets.

And boy, do they have some fascinating answers!

One of the biggest questions anglers have been asking concerns the annual Chinook salmon egg collection. Because Fort Peck’s landlocked king salmon don’t successfully reproduce naturally in the reservoir, the future of this remarkable fishery depends on the dedicated fisheries crews who collect adult salmon each fall and help produce the next generation.

So how did the 2026 egg collection turn out? Wade reveals the numbers, explains what happens to those eggs inside the hatchery, and takes viewers behind the scenes to see how the process works.

Meanwhile, Heath tackles the mystery of the giant salmon. Just how big were this year’s fish? Well, one salmon collected by the fisheries crew weighed an astonishing 36.3 pounds—a fish that would have beaten Montana’s state record had it been caught legally by an angler!

But why were so many salmon growing to such incredible sizes while anglers struggled to catch them? The answer involves something that might surprise even experienced Fort Peck fishermen.

And perhaps the biggest question of all: What does this mean for king salmon fishing in 2027 and beyond?

When you watch or listen you will hear Rigger talk with his guests about the tremendous popularity of Fort Peck’s first Tournament of Kings salmon derby and what its success says about the growing enthusiasm for this extraordinary fishery.

If you fish Fort Peck, dream of catching a 30-pound king salmon, or simply love learning what makes Montana’s fisheries tick, this is one episode you won’t want to miss.

Watch or listen to this week’s Montana Outdoor Podcast and discover what’s really happening with Fort Peck’s mighty king salmon!

Links:

• Fort Peck Fish Hatchery — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Park

• Fort Peck Reservoir — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

• Fort Peck Salmon Tournament of Kings — Facebook Group

• Fort Peck Tournament of Kings Salmon Derby — Glasgow Area Chamber of Commerce

• Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

CONTACT THE GUESTS: JUST CLICK THEIR NAMES TO EMAIL THEM

• Heath Headley — Fort Peck Fisheries Biologist

• Wade Geraets — Fort Peck Fish Hatchery Manager

Questions for Downrigger Dale? Click here to email him.

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