Closures and Use Restrictions - Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

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The following closures and public use restrictions are in effect for reasons of public health, safety or protection of property. Only authorized exceptions such as search and rescue craft are exempt. Some waterways have multiple restrictions that apply, so be sure to check all of the following sections for the body of water you plan to use. Other dams not listed here may also be posted for restricted access.

The following dams are closed to all boating, sailing, floating and swimming or closed to all public access as marked by boat restraining systems or signs.

Name of Dam	Restriction
Black Eagle Dam	500'above dam to 100'below the waterfalls. Closed to all public access below ordinary high-water mark from the dam to 100' below the waterfalls.
Canyon Ferry Dam	Closed to all watercraft as posted or marked by boat restraining systems, the area immediately above and below the dam.
Cochrane Dam	500' above the dam to 500' below the dam.
Cochrane Reservoir	Closed to boating, sailing, floating, swimming, personal waterdraft use, and waterfowl hunting.
Flint Creek Dam	100' above the dam to 150' below the dam.
Hauser Dam	250' above the dam to 600' below the dam. Closed to all public access below ordinary high-water mark from the dam to 100'below the dam from December 1 to April 1.
Hebgen Dam	100' above the dam to 100' below the outlet works.
Holter Dam	150' above the dam to 900' below the dam.
Kerr Dam	560' above the dam to 250' below the powerhouse. Closed to all public access and usage on the Flathead river and shoreline from 560' above the dam to 250' below the powerhouse.
Madison Dam	600' above the dam to 700' below the dam.
Milltown Dam	200' above the dam to 200' below the dam.
Morony Dam	500' above the dam to 500' below the dam.
Mornoy Reservoir	Closed to all boating, sailing, floating, swimming, personal watercraft use, and waterfowl hunting.
Mystic Dam	100' above the dam to the dam. Closed to all public access below ordinary high-water mark from the south side of West Rosebud Creek from the powerhouse to the USGS concrete weir.
Rainbow Dam	600' above the dam to 4,400' below the dam. Closed to all public access below ordinary high-water mark from the dam to 4,400' below the dam to the east end of the Tailrace Island adjacent to the Rainbow dam powerhouse.
Ryan Dam	500' above the dam to 100' below the waterfalls. Closed to all public access below ordinary high-water mark from the dam to the east end of Ryan Island.
Ryan Reservoir	Closed to all boating, sailing, floating, swimming, personal waterdraft use, and waterfowl hunting.
Thompson Falls Dam	1020' above the main channel dam to 500' below the powerhouse.
Toston Dam	Closed to all boating, sailing, floating and swimming, the Missouri river between the dam and 300' downstream and the reservoir between the dam and the boat barrier.
W. Rosebud Dam	100' above the dam to the dam.

Boat and Motor Restrictions
Body of Water * All rivers & streams in the following counties:	County	Manually Powered or Electric Motors Only	Closed to Motor boats Over 10 HP	Closed to All Motor boats	No-Wake Speed
*Beaverhead County	Beaverhead		X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
*Broadwater County	Broadwater		X
Descriptions & Exceptions: Missouri River down river from Broadwater-Gallatin county line.
*Gallatin County	Gallatin		X
Descriptions & Exceptions: Missouri River down river from Headwaters State Park.
*Jefferson County	Jefferson		X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
*Madison County	Madison		X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
*Park County	Park		X
Descriptions & Exceptions: Yellowstone River down river from Hwy 89 Bridge near mouth of Shields River.
*Silver Bow County	Silver Bow		X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Alva Lake	Missoula
Descriptions & Exceptions: Boats pulling, taking off with and landing water skiers will travel in a counterclockwise direction.
Arapooish Pond	Big Horn			X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Banana Lake	Lincoln				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: Banana Lake is in the Thompson Chain of Lakes Area.
Bearmouth Rest Area Pond	Granite			X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Bearpaw Lake	Hill			X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Beaver Creek Reservoir	Hill		X		X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Beaver Lake (near Whitefish)	Flathead				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: 5 a.m. through 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. through 11 p.m. each day.
Beavertail Pond	Missoula	X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Big Hole River	Silver Bow, Madison, Deer Lodge, Beaverhead			X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Bighorn River	Big Horn			X
Descriptions & Exceptions: From Afterbay Dam to the Bighorn FAS.
Bitterroot River	Missoula, Ravalli			X
Descriptions & Exceptions: From its headwaters to its confluence with the Clark Fork River. Exception: (1) Any motorized craft may be used from May 1 through June 30 on the Bitterroot River from the Florence Bridge in Ravalli County downstream to the Clark Fork River. (2) Motorized craft of 15 hp or less may operate anywhere on the Bitterroot River from October 1 – January 31.
Blackfoot River	Missoula				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: Downstream from the Stimson Lumber Company chain link fence as posted to and including the Miltown Reservoir then upstream on the Clark Fork River to the old Milwaukee Railroad bridge pilings.
Blackfoot River & Tributaries	Lewis & Clark, Missoula, Powell			X
Descriptions & Exceptions: From their headwaters to Stimson Lumber Mill Dam at Bonner.
Blanchard Lake	Missoula		X
Descriptions & Exceptions: On Clearwater River.
Bootjack Lake	Lincoln				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: Bootjack Lake is in the Thompson Chain of Lakes Area.
Bozeman Pond	Gallatin			X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Branum Pond	Custer			X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Browns Lake	Powell
Descriptions & Exceptions: Closed to all boats from April 1 to July 15, that portion of lake as marked by barrel booms.
Cad Lake	Lincoln				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: Cad Lake is in the Thompson Chain of Lakes Area.
Canyon Ferry Reservoir	Broadwater, Lewis & Clark				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: White Earth Goose Bay Yacht Basin Cave Bay Little Hellgate Magpie Bay and Carp Bay within 300 feet of dock or as buoyed; and from Canyon Ferry Dam to Riverside boat ramp.
Carpenter Lake	Lincoln		X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Carter Ponds (Upper & Lower)	Fergus				X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Castle Rock Reservoir	Rosebud	X
Descriptions & Exceptions: No vessel of any type nor swimming are permitted within 100 yards of the intake structure.
Cibid Lake	Lincoln				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: Cibid Lake is in the Thompson Chain of Lakes Area.
Clark Fork River	Mineral			X
Descriptions & Exceptions: From St. John's fishing access site to the mouth of Fish Creek (also known as the Alberton Gorge Whitewater section).
Clark Fork River	Missoula			X
Descriptions & Exceptions: From the north side of the Interstate Bridge nearest East Missoula to the FWP fishing access site and boat ramp located off Spurgin Road and Kelly Island from July 1 through September 30.
Clark Fork River & Tributaries	Deer Lodge, Granite, Missoula, Powell			X
Descriptions & Exceptions: From their headwaters to the Milwaukee Bridge abutments on Milltown Reservoir.
Clearwater Lake	Missoula	X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Clearwater River	Missoula				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: From the outlet of Seeley lake to the first bridge downstream from Camp Paxson swim dock. From Boy Scout Road Bridge north of Seeley Lake to the mouth of Clearwater River at the north end of Seeley Lake.
Colt Lake	Missoula	X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Cooney Reservoir	Carbon				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: All of Willow Creek arm as buoyed. North Shore and Marshall Cover within 300 feet of dock as buoyed. Boats pulling taking off with and landing water skiers will travel in a counterclockwise direction.
Cottonwood Lake	Missoula	X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Crystal Lake	Fergus	X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
East Gallatin Pond	Gallatin			X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Elsina Lake	Missoula	X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Ennis Lake	Madison			X
Descriptions & Exceptions: Kobayashi Bay swimming area as marked by buoys.
Fitzpatrick Lake	Toole			X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Flathead Lake	Flathead				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: Bigfork Bay to 100 yards west of Hwy 35 bridge; as buoyed.
Flathead River - North Fork	Flathead		X	X
Descriptions & Exceptions: From the Canadian border to Camas bridge no motors are allowed. From the Camas bridge to the confluence of the Middle Fork motorboats may not exceed 10 hp. From Bear Creek into the wilderness no motors are allowed. From Bear Creek to the confluence of the South Fork motorboats may not exceed 10 hp. From Spotted Bear into the wilderness, no motors are allowed. From Spotted Bear to the Hungry Horse Reservoir, motorboats may not exceed 10 hp.
Flathead River - Middle Fork	Flathead		X	X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Flathead River - South Fork	Flathead		X	X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Forest Lake	Meagher			X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Fort Peck Dredge Cut Trout Pond	Valley				X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Fort Peck Reservoir	Garfield, McCone				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: Rock Creek Marina and Hell Creek Marina within 300 feet of dock or as buoyed.
Frenchtown Pond	Missoula			X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Fresno Reservoir	Hill				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: The area around the Fresno boat club docks public boat ramp area swimming and beach area as buoyed and signed.
Gartside Reservoir	Richland	X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Harpers Lake	Missoula			X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Harrison Lake (Willow Creek Reservoir)	Madison				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: All of Willow Creek Arm and Norwegian Arm as buoyed 6 p.m. through 11 a.m.
Hauser Reservoir	Lewis & Clark				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: Lakeside Marina and Hauser Lake State Park at Black Sandy beach within 300 feet of the docks or as buoyed; Spokane Creek Bay within 500 feet from mouth of bay as buoyed; and from Canyon Ferry Dam to Riverside boat ramp. Devil's Elbow Campground from the shore to 100 feet into the river channel or as buoyed; Clark's Bay from shore to 300 feet from shore or as buoyed. York Bridge fishing access site within 300 feet of boat ramp and dock area as buoyed.
Hauser Reservoir	Lewis & Clark			X
Descriptions & Exceptions: Closed to all watercraft from October 15 to December 15 the upper end of reservoir from Canyon Ferry Dam to below Brown's Gulch as marked.
Hebgen Lake	Gallatin				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: Rainbow Point Bay as buoyed; Loneshomehurst Campground within 200 feet of shoreline or as buoyed; Kirkwood Resort Marina and residential area and private marina within 200 feet of shoreline or as buoyed; Happy Hour Marina Yellowstone Holiday Arm Resort within 200 feet of docks or as buoyed.
Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir	Lewis & Clark	X
Descriptions & Exceptions: Swimming and wading are prohibited. Windsurfers wearing a wet suit or dry suit are permitted in designated area.
Henry Reservoir	Toole			X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Hidden Lake	Missoula	X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Holland Lake	Missoula				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: Holland Lake Lodge and the Bay Loop campground within 300 feet or as buoyed.
Holter Lake	Lewis & Clark				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: Bureau of Land Management boat landing as buoyed; Juniper Bay Log Gulch Departure Point Merriweather Camp and Holter Lake Lodge docks.
Holter Lake (upper)	Lewis & Clark				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: Gates of the Mountains Marina within 300 feet of docks or as buoyed. Closed to water skiing on Saturdays & Sundays and legal holidays from the mouth of the canyon on upper Holter Lake to Gates of the Mountains near Mann Gulch as marked.
Hyalite Reservoir	Gallatin				X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Inez Lake	Missoula
Descriptions & Exceptions: Boats pulling taking off with and landing water skiers will travel in a counterclockwise direction.
Johnson Reservoir	Dawson	X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Lake Dinah	Missoula			X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Lake Elmo	Yellowstone	X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Lake Helena	Lewis & Clark				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: From April 1 to opening day of waterfowl season.
Lake Koocanusa	Lincoln				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: Cripple Horse Bay within 300 feet of dock or as buoyed.
Lavon Lake	Lincoln				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: Thompson Chain of Lakes Area. To include the channel between Lavon and Crystal lakes.
Leon Lake	Lincoln				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: Leon Lake is in the Thompson Chain of Lakes Area.
Lilly Pad Lake	Lincoln				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: Lilly Pad Lake is in the Thompson Chain of Lakes Area.
Little Loon Lake	Lincoln				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: Little Loon Lake is in the Thompson Chain of Lakes Area.
Little McGregor Lake	Flathead				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: Little McGregor Lake is in the Thompson Chain of Lakes Area.
Little Rainbow Lake	Lincoln				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: Little Rainbow Lake is in the Thompson Chain of Lakes Area.
Lost Lake	Lincoln				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: Lost Lake is in the Thompson Chain of Lakes Area.
Middle Thompson Lake	Lincoln				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: Only the channel between Middle and Lower Thompson lakes.
Missouri River	Gallatin, Broadwater, Lewis & Clark, Cascade			X
Descriptions & Exceptions: Closed to all motorboats from the Burlington Northern Railway Bridge No. 119.4 at Broadwater Bay in Great Falls to Black Eagle. Also the part of the river extending from the Warden Bridge on 10th Avenue South in Great Falls to the floater take-out facility near Oddfellows Park at Broadwater Bay as posted. Personal watercraft prohibited on the headwaters of the Missouri River downstream to its confluence with Prewett Creek, except in Missouri River reservoirs, and including all tributaries but not their reservoirs.
Missouri River	Lewis & Clark				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: No-wake speed from Hauser Dam downstream to Beaver Creek.
Morrell Lake	Missoula			X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Myron Lake	Lincoln				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: Myron Lake is in the Thompson Chain of Lakes Area.
Park Lake	Jefferson			X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Pelican Point	Cascade			X
Descriptions & Exceptions: Fishing Access Ponds.
Placid Creek	Missoula				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: From its headwaters to the confluence with Placid Lake.
Rainbow Lake	Lincoln				X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Rainy Lake	Missoula	X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Salmon	Missoula				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: Clearwater River from the Placid Lake Road Bridge to Salmon Lake; that portion known as Legendary Lodge Narrows near the South end of the lake; and the area south of Salmon Cove Point (Eagle's Nest) to the lake's outlet.
Savage Lake	Lincoln				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: During the hours of 5 a.m. through 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. through 11 p.m. each day.
Seeley Lake	Missoula
Descriptions & Exceptions: Boats pulling water skiers will travel in a counterclockwise direction.
Smith River	Cascade, Meagher			X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
South Sandstone Reservoir	Fallon				X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Spook Lake	Missoula	X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Spring Meadow Lake	Lewis & Clark			X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Summit Lake	Missoula	X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Swan River	Lake				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: From the mouth of Swan Lake upstream to Porcupine Bridge approximately 4.5 miles.
Thompson Lakes	Lincoln
Descriptions & Exceptions: Refer to Middle or Upper Thompson lakes for restrictions.
Tongue River Reservoir	Big Horn				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: No wake speed in the following areas: 'As buoyed in the marina area at Campers Point; the entire Tongue River Reservoir from Shoreline to 300 feet from the shoreline from the south point that forms Corral Creek Bah (DNRC cabin site) north to the face of the dam, west along the dam face, and south along the west shore of the reservoir to the point where the Tongue River enters the reservoir; Rattlesnake Bay, campers Point Bay, Pee Wee Point Bay, Cormorant Bay, Corral Creek Bay (DNRC cabin site bay), and Tongue River from the Wyoming border to the Tongue River Reservoir. Exceptions: (1 Personal watercraft which must maintain a minimum operating speed to remain upright and maneuver in the water may travel at that minimum operating speed following the most direct route through the no-wake zone to and from shore. (2 Motorized watercraft towing a skier from a dock or the shore.
Topless Lake	Lincoln				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: Topless Lake is in the Thompson Chain of Lakes Area.
Upper Thompson Lake	Lincoln				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: Middle and lower lobes. Thompson Chain of Lakes Area.
Upsata Lake	Missoula				X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Whitefish River	Flathead				X
Descriptions & Exceptions: From its confluence with Whitefish Lake to the bridge on the JP Road.
Whitetail Reservoir	Daniels				X
Descriptions & Exceptions:
Wood Lake	Lewis & Clark			X
Descriptions & Exceptions:

Emergency Fishing Regulations/Closures

FWP may announce short-term emergency fishing closures in response to biological or environmental conditions. Sport fishing regulations in this booklet for the designated waters will be suspended, and fishing may be curtailed or disallowed for the duration of the emergency period announced by the department. In recent years, many Montana streams have experienced drought conditions. Low stream flows can force trout to congregate in pools, making them more susceptible to anglers. Warm water temperatures can cause considerable stress to trout and can be fatal to fish handled by anglers. Check the Emergency Fishing Regulations , your local newspaper or call your regional FWP office to find out about emergency closures.

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