Additional fishing restrictions and closures begin July 29 on several Montana rivers and creeks

HELENA – Rising river water temperatures are prompting more daily fishing restrictions and a few localized closures for several Montana rivers and creeks in the southwest and western part of the state.

The first of these restrictions, commonly known as hoot owl restrictions, prohibit fishing from 2 p.m. to midnight each day. They are designed to prevent excessive fish mortality due to angling when water temperatures are warm.

Daily hoot-owl restrictions will take effect July 29 in the following areas:

• Big Hole River will expand restrictions to include the entire river downstream of Saginaw Bridge on Skinner Meadows Road
• Blackfoot River from Cedar Meadow Fishing Access Site to the confluence with the Clark Fork River
• Monture Creek from the confluence with Falls Creek to the Highway 200 bridge
• Clark Fork River restrictions extended downstream to include the river from Flint Creek to the confluence with the Flathead River
• East Fork of the Bitterroot River from the Highway 93 crossing at Sula to its confluence with the West Fork of the Bitterroot; the entire mainstem of the Bitterroot is already under restrictions.
• Lolo Creek from its headwaters to the confluence with South Fork Lolo Creek
• Rock Creek from its headwaters at the confluence of the West and Middle Forks to the mouth of Stoney Creek
• Silver Bow Creek in its entirety from Blacktail Creek at Montana St. in Butte to the mouth of Warm Springs Creek at the Gas City Rd. Bridge

There are also a few new full fishing closures (closed to fishing all day) to protect bull trout that can congregate in these areas. These begin July 29 and apply to a 100-yard radius of the mouths of the following rivers and creeks that are tributaries to the Clark Fork River:

• Mouth of Fish Creek
• Mouth of Rattlesnake Creek
• Mouth of St. Regis River

These closures apply to a 100-yard radius of the mouth, which includes that portion of the Clark Fork River where they flow in.

Fishing restrictions are already in effect for additional waterbodies in the state and other sections of some of the rivers and creeks listed above. For a full list of current fishing restrictions, click here.

FWP’s drought policy provides for angling restrictions when flows drop below critical levels for fish, when water quality is diminished, or when maximum daily water temperatures reach at least 73 degrees for three consecutive days. In cutthroat trout waters, angling restrictions occur when the temperatures reach at least 66 degrees for three consecutive days. In bull trout waters, angling restrictions occur when the temperatures reach at least 60 degrees for three consecutive days. Water temperatures of 77 degrees or more can be lethal to trout.

Catch-and-release anglers can reduce stress on fish by getting them to the net or in hand quickly, keeping them in the water and reviving them prior to releasing them back into the river. Montana offers many other angling options with better conditions for fish, including larger lakers or reservoirs or higher-elevation lakes and streams.

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.

-fwp-

Complete list of restrictions and closures

*^{The above press release is shared as a courtesy to our followers}