Anglers on the Big Hole River near the Powerhouse fishing access site on Aug. 2, 2023. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)
Hoot-owl fishing restrictions went into effect Wednesday, and more are coming Friday, on rivers across southwest Montana that close fishing in the afternoon and evening because of warm water temperatures.
The restrictions mean water temperatures have reached 73 degrees or higher for three straight days, a threat to trout, which can die when temperatures reach 77 degrees.
Fishing will be closed between 2 p.m. and midnight daily until conditions improve, which will not likely be for at least a few weeks because of hot temperatures forecast for most of July, on seven rivers and one creek in southwest Montana, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks:
Big Hole River – From Saginaw Bridger on Skinner Meadows Road to the confluence with the North Fork of the Big Hole; and from the Tony Schoonen Fishing Access Site to the confluence with the Beaverhead River
Beaverhead River – From Highway 41 near East Bench Road to the confluence with the Big Hole River
Jefferson River – In its entirety, from the confluence of the Big Hole and Beaverhead Rivers to the Missouri River
Madison River – Lower section from the Warm Springs Fishing Access Site to the confluence with the Jefferson River; and above Hebgen Lake, from the lake to the Yellowstone National Park boundary
Ruby River – From the confluence with the Beaverhead River to Duncan District Road
Sun River – From the mouth of Muddy Creek to the Highway 287 bridge
Clark Fork River – From the mouth of Warm Springs Creek to the mouth of Rock Creek
Silver Bow Creek – In its entirety
FWP announced additional hoot-owl restrictions Thursday that will go into effect Friday at 2 p.m. Those restrictions will keep the rivers closed to fishing from 2 p.m. to midnight each day:
Big Hole River – Entire river downstream of Saginaw Bridge on Skinner Meadows Road
Smith River – From Eden Bridge to the confluence of the North and South forks
East Gallatin River – Entire river
Gallatin River – From Amsterdam Road to the confluence with the Missouri River
Madison River – From Ennis Fishing Access Site to Ennis Reservoir
Clark Fork River – From Rock Creek to the confluence with the Flathead River
Bitterroot River – Entire river, from the confluence of the East and West Forks to the Clark Fork River
Blackfoot River – From Cedar Meadow FAS to the confluence with the Clark Fork River
“These restrictions are designed to protect fish that become more susceptible to disease and mortality when conditions like this exist,” FWP said in a statement. “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.”
FWP advises anglers to consider fishing other bodies of water, like lakes or higher-elevation streams, that are less prone to warm temperatures and low runoff during the hottest days of the summer.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include new restrictions going into effect Friday.
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