MILES CITY – In late 2025, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks conducted the 2025 phone creel survey for the yellow paddlefish tag area on the lower Yellowstone River.
Under new regulations for the 2025 season, paddlefishing was only allowed in two sections of the Yellowstone: 1) the upstream edge of the Tongue River confluence to the Sullivan Creek confluence (a half-mile downstream of Calypso Bridge); and 2) Glendive Black Bridge to the North Dakota state line. The Missouri River downstream of Fort Peck Dam, formerly under the yellow tag, was separated into its own green tag area.
Post-season comments from anglers did reveal that some fishing occurred in closed areas, including the east side of Plentywood Dam, Fairview and the bridge at Fairview, Fallon Bridge and private land upstream of Miles City.
This year’s harvest estimate is 719 paddlefish by 1,646 total anglers.
A total of 1,919 yellow tags were sold. The survey reached out to 920 anglers and gathered 563 responses for a 65 percent return rate.
Of those who bought a yellow tag, 81 percent intended to harvest a fish, 6 percent planned to catch and release and 14 percent wanted to do both.
Those anglers intent on harvesting a paddlefish spent an average of 2.39 days fishing. Average days fished to harvest were 2.11. The average days people fished with no harvest were 2.62. Anglers fished an average of 1.95 hours per day for harvest. Total angler days were 3,715, with a catch rate of 1.936 paddlefish per day.
FWP estimated 377 catch-and-release anglers. They spent an average of 2.03 days fishing, at 2.10 hours a day, and a total of 767 days in the field.
Using several methods for recording information, 97.63 percent of anglers reported their harvest.
Gauging their response to 2025 paddlefish regulations, 72 percent of all respondents were extremely satisfied, 19 percent were somewhat satisfied, 3 percent were neutral, 5 percent were somewhat dissatisfied, and 1 percent were extremely dissatisfied. Satisfaction rates didn’t vary significantly between those who harvested a paddlefish and those who didn’t.
Of the locations where anglers reported snagging on harvest days, Sidney Bridge was highest at 34.6 percent, Intake Fishing Access Site (FAS) was second at 30.2 percent, and Powder-Yellowstone confluence was 18.4 percent. Sidney Bridge was also where most anglers harvested their fish, at 37 percent. Powder-Yellowstone confluence was second at 19 percent, and Intake FAS was 14.7 percent.
Voluntary comments from anglers were mixed on the new regulation requiring barbless hooks, with more opposed to barbless than in favor. Several anglers said they would prefer to be able to catch and release after harvest.
-fwp-
Photo credit: Casiana Malaia’s Images
