Lower Reach Of The Big Hole River Will Close To Fishing

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The 73.7 mile lower reach of the Big Hole River will close to all angling effective midnight Saturday, August 12, according to Larry Peterman, Fisheries Division chief, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Park. "This closure will protect the wild brown and rainbow trout that make the lower reach of the Big Hole a nationally renowned sport fishery, as well as protect the Arctic grayling that use this important summer habitat between Dickie Bridge and Divide," Peterman said. The lower reach of the Big Hole extends from Dickie Bridge, west of Wise River, to the mouth of the Big Hole. Late last week, the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission, anticipating the need to close this stretch of the Big Hole, delegated authority to FWP Director Pat Graham to close the lower reach when the river hits 150 cfs on the water gauge located at Melrose. Last week the lower reach was running at about 170 cfs. "The water level held in there for a day or two longer than expected," Peterman said. "But it’s clear the river is in critical condition and closing it to fishing now is a timely step to help protect this fishery." "To this point irrigators have voluntarily restricted their use and have done an admirable job of keeping flows in the river, making a dramatic difference," said FWP fisheries biologist Dick Oswald. "However, with the extreme weather conditions we’re experiencing this year, the fishery is under severe stress." In late June, the upper reach of the Big Hole (Rock Creek Road to the North Fork) was closed and on July 26 the middle reach (North Fork to Dickie Bridge) was closed to angling. The Big Hole Drought Management Plan separates the Big Hole River into three "drought emergency" reaches. FWP closes streams to fishing when low-water conditions and high temperatures combined with fishing pressure on the stream would lead to an unacceptable level of stress on fish. Montana’s streams and rivers contain populations of wild trout that replenish through natural spawning. It is critical that sufficient numbers of trout are conserved to repopulate the fishery when conditions improve. .