The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission has agreed on the content of a draft biennial rule to better distribute angling and floating pressure on the Big Hole and Beaverhead Rivers. The rule will designate specific reaches of the rivers where commercial floating is not permitted. The popular Saturday "Citizens Days" on both rivers will be restricted to residents on specific reaches of the rivers. A Commission motion to continue a moratorium on adding new outfitters and guides on these two rivers was defeated and the moratorium will expire when the new biennial rule goes into effect May 2. "Our intent is to take simple, reasonable steps to help distribute the pressure on these two rivers without unduly limiting use," said Stan Meyer, FWP Commission Chairman. BIG HOLE RIVER Stretches of the Big Hole River that would be designated as open to commercial floating total 66 miles:
- 6 miles from Fishtrap Fishing Access Site (FAS) to Dewey FAS;
- 2 miles from Divide to Browns Bridge FAS; and
- 8 miles from Notch Bottom FAS to the mouth of the river;
- all floaters would be limited to launching a total of two boats at or between official access sites.
A total of 90 miles of river would be designated for non-commercial use with no outfitted or guided floating but allowing wade anglers accompanied by outfitters or guides. These reaches total 90 miles:
- 72 miles from Headwaters to Fishtrap FAS;
- 4 miles from Dewey FAS to Divide FAS; and
- 14 miles from Brownes Bridge FAS to Notch Bottom FAS;
- the popular Saturday "Citizens Days" on the Big Hole River would restrict float fishing to Montana residents who are non-commercial users from the third Saturday in May through Labor Day on the stretch of river from Jerry Creek to Melrose.
BEAVERHEAD RIVER On the Beaverhead River, a total of 63.3 miles would be designated as open to commercial floating:
- the 14.3 miles from High Bridge to Barrett’s Diversion; and
- the 49 miles from the Selway Bridge to the confluence of the Big Hole River.
- The Commissioners did not propose to limit the number of boats outfitters could launch per day from river access points open to commercial use on the Beaverhead.
A total of 15.9 miles are designated closed to commercial floating but would allow wade anglers accompanied by outfitters or guides including:
- the 1.7 miles from Clark Canyon Dam to High Bridge; and
- the 14.2 miles from Barretts Diversion to the Selway Bridge.
- Outfitters and guides would be permitted to continue to launch boats at Buffalo Bridge but they may not fish until past the High Bridge.
- The Saturday "Citizens Day" on the Beaverhead River also would restrict float fishing to Montana residents who are non-commercial users from the third Saturday in May to Labor Day from Clark Canyon Dam to Henneberry FAS.
The Commission is expected to take final action on the issue at the Feb. 8-9 meeting. If adopted, the draft biennial rules will go into effect May 2. The public can offer their comments on the proposed rule at hearings in Dillon and Butte. These are scheduled in Dillon, on Jan. 22, at 6:30 p.m. at Western Montana College, Lewis and Clark Room. In Butte, Jan. 23, at 6:30 p.m. at the War Bonnet Inn. Public comment must be received by 5 p.m., Feb. 2, in writing and mailed to: FWP, Beaverhead/Big Hole Rule, 1400 S. 19th Ave., Bozeman, MT 59718. Copies of the draft rule will be available to review on the FWP web site by the afternoon of January 5 at
fwp.state.mt.us/riverrule, under "Whats New," or can be obtained by calling FWP at (406) 994-4042 and requesting copies of the Beaverhead /Big Hole River Recreation Draft Biennial Rule.
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