The general fishing season starts this weekend with the opening of rivers and streams in the Western District. In this district, rivers and streams open every year on the third Saturday in May through Nov. 30, unless otherwise specified in exceptions to the regulations. This year, the opener is May 17.
Anglers in northwest Montana are reminded of a few noteworthy changes to the regulations, which were approved last year by the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission.
Single-Pointed Hook Restriction Expanded
FLATHEAD RIVER
Building on a 2020 regulation that restricted anglers to single-pointed hooks on the three forks of the Flathead River upstream of the Teakettle Fishing Access Site, the new rule extends the ban on treble and double hooks to the main stem of the Flathead River down to Flathead Lake. This restriction does not apply to Flathead River sloughs.
Anglers may remove treble or double hooks from lures and replace them with a single hook, or the shanks may be cut off the other hook points to leave a single hook. Lures with multiple hook attachments may still be used, but any treble or double hook must be replaced by a single hook.
“Bull trout are vulnerable to mortality because generally they need to be netted and treble hooks are notorious for getting caught and re-caught in nets, increasing time out of water for the fish,” said Mike Hensler, regional fisheries manager for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
“Westslope cutthroat trout are also vulnerable to hooking mortality due to their tendency to be caught multiple times in a season.”
Hensler added, “Single-pointed hooks reduce handling stress and injury, making catch-and-release more effective while still supporting all types of fishing.”
KOOTENAI RIVER
There is also a new single-pointed hook restriction on the Kootenai River from Libby Dam to the Highway 37 Bridge near the Fisher River. That section of river is only open to fishing from June 1 through Feb. 28.
Bull Trout Fishing Season Adjusted
In response to record-low bull trout spawning nest (redd) counts in the South Fork Flathead River, the commission adopted amendments to further protect this threatened species, listed under the Endangered Species Act since 1998.
Bull trout fishing is permitted in three Western District waters of Montana, and anglers may select only one area to fish for bull trout:
• Hungry Horse Reservoir and Part of the South Fork Flathead River
• Lake Koocanusa
All other waters in Montana are closed to intentional fishing for bull trout.
Anglers must possess a Hungry Horse/South Fork Flathead Bull Trout Catch Card when fishing for bull trout in these waters. Cards are free and available at FWP’s Region 1 office in Kalispell or the U.S. Forest Service Spotted Bear Ranger Station.
Key changes in 2025 include:
SOUTH FORK FLATHEAD RIVER: Intentional angling for bull trout is now limited to catch-and-release only from July 1 to July 31, shortening the previous season that began on the third Saturday in May. Angling is prohibited within 300 yards downstream of the mouths of Gordon Creek and Little Salmon Creek from June 15 to Sept. 30 to protect spawning areas. Angling for bull trout is not allowed in South Fork tributaries or Big Salmon Lake.
HUNGRY HORSE RESERVOIR: Anglers may harvest only one bull trout per license year from the third Saturday in May through Aug. 15. Catch-and-release is permitted the rest of the year with a valid Bull Trout Catch Card. As a reminder, Hungry Horse Reservoir ends at the Cross-over Boat Ramp. Upstream of the boat ramp, the South Fork regulations are in effect.
BIG SALMON CREEK and LAKE: Angling is closed within a 300-yard radius around the inlet where Big Salmon Creek enters Big Salmon Lake to safeguard spawning habitat.
“These changes are proactive measures to reduce angling stress on bull trout, which are ecologically and culturally significant,” said Hensler. “With angler numbers tripling since 2014 and bull trout redds at historic lows, these regulations aim to hopefully help improve populations while preserving limited fishing opportunities.”
FWP data shows bull trout redds in the South Fork Flathead River watershed at approximately 48 percent of the long-term average in 2024, following a record low in 2023. The South Fork remains the only river in Montana where intentional bull trout fishing is permitted, underscoring its importance as a stronghold for the species.
Read the 2025-26 fishing regulations here: https://fwp.mt.gov/fish/regulations
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Feature photo via Getty Images
