How are rivers such as the Missouri and Madison coping with WD?
Larry: Although the Madison and Missouri remain excellent fisheries, they have both felt the impact of whirling disease. The Madison initially suffered from severe declines in the rainbow trout population. In the last 10 years, we’ve seen several good year classes resulting from high flow conditions. We are hopeful that we can time the Spring releases from Hebgen Reservoir to more consistently produce good year-classes in the Madison. On the Missouri, one of three major spawning tributaries is heavily infected with whirling disease, and this is having an impact on rainbow trout reproduction in the first 10 miles of the blue-ribbon stretch of the river below Holter Dam. Brown trout are doing somewhat better, and may eventually increase their presence in the river. GVFFC: While it looks like the disease is here to stay what do you believe are the most likely ways in which it will be controlled? Larry: As our understanding of whirling disease biology improves, we are developing new strate
