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Madison Rainbows Bouncing Back From Whirling Disease (While We're On a Good News Kick)

By Tom Chandler 6/11/2009

It's unicorns, rainbows and ponies today at the Trout Underground - at least if you're a rainbow trout living in the Madison River.

Madison Rainbows Developing Resistance to Whirling Disease?

"It's truly remarkable," said Dick Vincent. "A decade ago, whirling disease had wiped out 90 percent of the Madison's rainbow trout. Today, we have a population that's highly resistant and bouncing back quite nicely." Read the full story to get the details.

We'll take it. Really. See you on the Madison, Tom Chandler.

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AuthorPicture

Tom Chandler

As the author of the decade leading fly fishing blog Trout Underground, Tom believes that fishing is not about measuring the experience but instead of about having fun. As a staunch environmentalist, he brings to the Yobi Community thought leadership on environmental and access issues facing us today.

5 comments
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Whirling Disease has definitely played a role on the Madison River but there is also another important tid bit of information that has never been put into the equation of the loss of rainbows on the Madison by most of the FW&P as well as whirling disease experts. In 1993 Montana Power who operated Hebgen Dam at the time, had to release an emergency flow of water out of the reservoir which destroyed ... more the Slide Inn area on the Madison. The Slide Inn prior to the flood event consisted of many small side channels that were basically a natural fish hatchery for the Madison river Rainbows. In the spring the rainbows would stack up like cord wood and replenish the resource with abundant natural "Wild" reproduction. After the flood event all of the side channels were wiped out and one extremely fast moving main channel were all that were left. The loss of habitat was shunned off as a reason for the loss of the rainbow population and the sole focus was pointed at Whirling Disease. I guess it was easier to secure funding with a disease that little was known about rather than address the issue of crucial spawning habitat loss which in my opinion had just as much to do with the decline of the rainbows in the following years. I am extremely grateful for all the work that Dick Vincent has done for the Madison fishery and applaud all those who have and continue to work so diligently for the future of our fisheries. I do not intend to try and take away from the role that Whirling Disease has played on our fisheries but I do feel that the loss of habitat was a major component to the decline of the Madison River fishery. Fortunately Dick Vincent came up with the concept of "Wild Fishery Management" versus hatchery management strategies because it has allowed Montana's "Wild" naturally reproducing fish to evolve and adapt to both invasive diseases as well as loss of crucial habitat losses. The Madison has been a tremendous success story and it has given us a lot of data and information about Whirling Disease and how to manage it. It has also been a great lesson on the importance of anglers dollars and how we affect local economies as well as our beautiful natural environment. Tight lines!
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That's great news!... I'd forgotten about even fishing it for many years now...
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I'd try the Fly Fishing in Yellowstone blog (search it for info). You might find information there.
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I'll be rough flyfishing in late June and the first week of July in the Cottonwood, Crevice and Hellroaring creeks along the Yellowstone river inside the park. Could someone please advise me of fishing potentials and the fly options for this time and these creeks? Thank you!
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this is great news to anglers everywhere.
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