Fishing Restrictions Lifted On Several Streams

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Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will remove fishing restrictions on several southwestern Montana rivers Tuesday. The rivers include the: ·         entire Shields River

·         entire East Gallatin River

·         Gallatin River from the I-90 bridge to Three Forks  

·         Madison River from Ennis Dam to the Warm Springs Access

The restrictions—which prohibited fishing from 2 p.m. to midnight—will be lifted Tuesday, Aug. 28.

“The cool nights and more moderate day-time temperatures are offering some relief," said Bruce Rich, regional fisheries manager in Bozeman. "Water temperatures are cooler, so the river’s fish aren’t in the stressful hot zone that can be fatal to wild trout."

The morning- and early afternoon-only fish restrictions were aimed at protecting the rivers’ wild trout populations.

  Rich noted, however, that low water conditions are keeping fishing closures in place on most of the Big Hole River and the entire Jefferson River. Fishing on the Madison River from Warm Springs Access to Three Forks is still permitted only between the hours of midnight and 2 p.m.

FWP closes streams to fishing when low-water conditions and high temperatures, combined with fishing pressure, would lead to an unacceptable level of stress on fish. Montana’s streams and rivers contain wild trout that replenish their populations through natural spawning. It is critical that sufficient numbers of spawning-age trout are conserved to repopulate the fishery when conditions improve.

For details on fire and drought-related restrictions and closures, visit FWP’s website at fwp.mt.gov. Click Drought & Fire.