Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Press Release
HELENA, Mont. — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) has announced full fishing closures and hoot-owl restrictions to some rivers in western Montana, going into effect on Wednesday, July 26.
These closures are a response to the effects hot summer temperatures can have on Montana’s fish. Closures go into effect when maximum daily water temperatures reach at least 73 degrees, or 60 degrees for streams that hold bull trout, for three consecutive days. Trout can die from water temperatures in excess of 77 degrees. FWP officials said one short-term strategy to address heat-induced stress in Montana’s wild trout is to reduce catch-and-release mortality by alerting anglers to fish only in the morning.
Full fishing closures prohibit all fishing. Hoot-owl restrictions close all fishing daily from 2 p.m. to midnight. Hoot-owl restrictions got their name from early 20th-century loggers, who would limit their summer work to the mornings when they might still encounter certain species of owls.
The restrictions will stay in effect until conditions improve, FWP said.
Full fishing closures
- Madison River from the Warm Springs Day Use Area to the Madison Dam (Ennis Reservoir).
- Within a 100-yard radius of the mouth of Rattlesnake Creek on the Clark Fork River.
- Within a 100-yard radius of the mouth of the St. Regis River on the Clark Fork River.
- Within a 100-yard radius of the mouth of Cedar Creek on the Clark Fork River.
- Within a 100-yard radius of the mouth of Fish Creek on the Clark Fork River.
Hoot-owl restrictions
- Clark Fork River from the confluence with the Flathead River to the confluence of Warm Springs Creek and Silver Bow Creek.
- Big Hole River for: Section 1, confluence with North Fork of the Big Hole River to the Saginaw Bridge on Skinner Meadows Road; Section 2, Dickie Bridge to North Fork of the Big Hole River; Section 4, Tony Schoonen Fishing Access Site (FAS) to FWP Maiden Rock FAS. Hoot-owl restrictions for Section 5, mouth to Tony Schoonen FAS remain in place.
- Gallatin River from the confluence with the Missouri River to Nixon Bridge near the confluence with the East Gallatin River.
FWP also made suggestions for anglers to help reduce stress and mortality for fish by following these practices when catching and releasing fish:
- Fish during the coolest times of day, where permitted.
- Keep the fish in water as much as possible, not removing them from the water while unhooking.
- Let the fish recover before releasing it.
If high temperatures persist, anglers may want to consider fishing areas with less stressful temperatures, such as larger lakes or reservoirs, or higher elevation waterbodies, FWP said.
See more about Montana’s water closures on the FWP website.
