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

King salmon anglers at Fort Peck Reservoir noticed a change this year: far fewer fish than usual, but when they hooked one, it was often a “monster.” The Montana Outdoor Podcast explores what’s happening beneath the surface with fisheries biologist Heath Headley and Fort Peck Fish Hatchery Manager Wade Geraets. A key focus is how Fort Peck’s landlocked Chinook salmon rely on annual egg collection because they don’t reproduce naturally in the reservoir. The episode also highlights that one salmon weighed 36.3 pounds—enough to beat Montana’s state record if it had been caught legally by an angler—while explaining why anglers struggled. It also looks ahead to 2027 and the growing popularity of the Tournament of Kings derby.