Anglers Should Note New Fishing Regulations

Friday, March 03, 2000
Headlines

This article was Archived on Monday, July 01, 2002

As the 2000 fishing and hunting license year begins on March 1, anglers should note some new fishing regulations adopted by the Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission for the 2000-2001 biennium. Included among the most important changes in regulations are the following new catch limits:

• One sauger in the Marias River and on the Missouri River upstream from the PN Bridge on State Highway 236.
• Five trout daily on the Beaverhead River, but only one may be a rainbow trout. 20 walleye and 50 yellow perch on Canyon Ferry Reservoir. Ten walleye and 50 yellow perch on Hauser Reservoir. In addition, brown trout fishing is limited to catch-and-release only.
• Five walleye under under 20 inches, and one over 28 inches on Holter Reservoir. Walleye between 20-28 inches must be released on Holter Reservoir.

Karen Zackheim, FWP’s fisheries management bureau chief, said the change in the sauger limit is an attempt to protect sauger, a native species in Montana that has experienced population declines. The proposed regulation changes on Canyon Ferry, Hauser and Holter reservoirs come in response to FWP’s recently completed Upper Missouri River Reservoir Management Plan. Also new this year, a $5 Warm Water Fish Stamp will be required to posses warm water game fish caught on designated waters. The stamp, established in a law passed by the 1999 Montana State Legislature, will help fund a new multi-species fish hatchery planned near Fort Peck Dam. Resident and nonresident anglers (except youth under 15, seniors and disabled anglers) will need the new Warm Water Fish Stamp. For details check the 2000-2001 fishing regulations. -