Montana's Paddlefish Season To Open Soon

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A fish species that has survived for eons will be on anglers’ minds during the 2004 paddlefish season set to open May 15 on the Yellowstone River from the mouth of the Big Horn River to the North Dakota state line. The Missouri River below Fort Peck dam is open to paddlefish snagging year round.

Anglers at Intake Fishing Access Site on the Yellowstone River are required to catch and release paddlefish caught between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. (MDT) on every Wednesday and Sunday. This is the only location on the Yellowstone River open for anglers to catch and release paddlefish.

  All paddlefish anglers regardless of age, must purchase the proper prerequisite conservation license, fishing license and paddlefish tags.

The paddlefish season will close within 48 hours if the harvest quota of 1,000 is reached before June 30 when the season on the Yellowstone River is scheduled to close.

For detailed paddlefish regulations and descriptions of areas open for paddlefish, see the 2004 Montana Fishing Regulations.

Anglers may also contact the FWP Region 7 office in Miles City at 406-232-0900 for details.