FWP Restricts Or Closes Some Waters To Angling

Print

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has set voluntary restrictions, time-of-day restrictions or full angling closures on about 11 waters in the state in the past week.

“Conditions continue to deteriorate on our waters and some are reaching water flow and temperature triggers set in the FWP Drought Fishing Closure Policy or in watershed drought management plans,” said Chris Hunter, FWP Fisheries Division administrator.

FWP works cooperatively with anglers, watershed groups, and outfitters to implement the FWP Drought Fishing Closure Policy and watershed drought plans.

Here is a summary of waters affected by recent angling restrictions and closures.

WATER

EMERGENCY REGULATION

Beaverhead River          

 

Closed to fishing July 25 to Sept. 15, from Anderson Lane near Dillon to the mouth of the Ruby River.

Big Hole River/Upper Reach

The river is closed to fishing July 25, until further notice, on the upper 19 miles from Rock Creek Road upstream from Wisdom to the mouth of the North Fork of the Big Hole River.

Red Rock River

Closed to fishing July 25 to Sept. 15 from Lima Dam to Clark Canyon Reservoir.

Smith River

Closed to fishing from noon to midnight July 24 to Sept. 15

Thompson River and Tributaries

Closed to fishing from noon to midnight July 22 to Sept. 15

Bitterroot River

Voluntary restriction on angling from noon to midnight on the lower Bitterroot River, downstream from Tucker Crossing, near Victor.

Blackfoot River

Voluntary restriction on angling from noon to midnight on the Blackfoot River.   Voluntary restriction eliminating all angling on tributaries including:   Belmont Creek, Copper Creek, Cottonwood Creek, Gold Creek, Landers, Clark Fork, Monture Creek and the North Fork of the Blackfoot River.

Jefferson River

Voluntary restriction on angling from noon to midnight, limiting fishing to the morning hours only.

Rattlesnake Creek

Voluntary restriction eliminating all angling.



Addendum:  FWP closed the Yellowstone River to angling from noon to midnight daily on the stretch of river from Big Timber to Huntley, effective Aug. 1 at noon. 

The latest angling restrictions are available on the FWP home page at www.fwp.state.mt.us under Drought & Fire ’03.