HELENA – Recent cooler temperatures will allow hoot-owl fishing restrictions to be lifted on Silver Bow Creek, and the lower Bitterroot, Clark Fork, Beaverhead, East Gallatin, Gallatin, Ruby and Smith rivers, effective immediately. Part of the closure on the Madison River upstream of Hebgen Reservoir will change to hoot-owl restrictions. Water temperatures have met the criteria to lift fishing restrictions and FWP expects the temperatures to remain cool.
The rivers where fishing restrictions will be lifted or changed are in Regions 2, 3 and 4:
- Silver Bow Creek – in its entirety
- Bitterroot River – from Veterans Bridge at Hamilton to the confluence with the Clark Fork River (upper river restriction remains)
- Clark Fork River – from the Clark Fork’s origin at the confluence of Warm Springs Creek and Silver Bow Creek to the mouth of the Blackfoot River
- Beaverhead River – from Highway 41 near East Bench Road and Beaverhead Rock to its confluence with the Big Hole River
- East Gallatin River – from Penwell Bridge Road to the confluence with the Gallatin River
- Gallatin River – from Amsterdam Road to the confluence with the Missouri River
- Madison River – from downstream most Yellowstone National Park (YNP) boundary to Hebgen Reservoir will switch from a full closure to hoot-owl restrictions. The short sections that exit YNP near Baker’s Hole campground will remain closed to align with the existing National Park Service closure on the Madison River.
- Ruby River – from Duncan District Road to confluence with the Beaverhead River
- Smith River – from the confluence of the North and South forks to Eden Bridge
The restrictions had been in effect for the rivers since early- to mid-July due to warm water temperatures. Hoot-owl restrictions are designed to protect fish that become more susceptible to disease and mortality when low flows and high water temperatures combine with other stressors, including catch-and-release fishing.
Anglers can reduce stress on fish at all times of the year by getting fish to the net or in hand quickly, keeping them in the water, and reviving them prior to releasing them back into the river.
Along with monitoring stream temperatures, FWP also monitors stream flows, and in some streams, holds instream flow water rights. FWP’s water program can issue a call on junior water users, when appropriate, to contribute to stream flows through the late summer and early fall. For more information on FWP water rights, click here.
For a list of current drought-related fishing restrictions and closures, click here.
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