Restrictions & Closures Current Waterbody Restrictions

Hoot owl restrictions (fishing prohibited 2:00 p.m. to midnight) are in effect for the lower Beaverhead River - from Highway 41 near East Bench Road and Beaverhead Rock to its confluence with the Big Hole River starting July 10.

Temperatures were measured at USGS gage 06023100 at Twin Bridges.

Water temperatures exceeded 73 degrees in this reach of the Beaverhead River for three consecutive days starting on July 6th.

Drought Closures (fishing prohibited 24 hours) are in effect for two sections of the Big Hole River

• Section 1 - from Saginaw Bridge on Skinner Meadows Road to the confluence with the North Fork of the Big Hole River starting July 19.
  • Water temperatures and flows were measured at USGS gage 06024450 near Wisdom.
  • Flows have gradually decreased since hoot owl restrictions were put in place on July 10th, and likely dropped below 20 cfs on July 14, and have remained below 20 cfs since.
• Section 5 - from Tony Schoonen FAS to the confluence with the Beaverhead River starting July 23.
  • Water temperatures and flows were measured at USGS gage 06026420 near Twin Bridges.  
  • Flows have gradually decreased since hoot owl restrictions were put in place in early July.  Section V flows have been at or under 100 cfs since about July 20th when flows significant dropped over a 2-day period.  FWP completed manual flow measurements and found the USGS gage to be reporting slightly higher than actual streamflow.

Hoot owl restrictions (fishing prohibited 2:00 p.m. to midnight) are in effect for the remaining sections of the Big Hole River.

• Sections 2, 3, and 4 - from the confluence with the North Fork Big Hole River to Tony Schnoonen FAS starting July 17.
  • Water temperatures and flows are measured in Section II at DNRC gage 41D 08000 near Wise River and Section IV at USGS gage 06026210 near Glen.
  • Water temperatures exceed 73 degrees for three consecutive days starting on July 12th.  

Hoot owl restrictions (fishing prohibited 2:00 p.m. to midnight) are in effect for the upper Bitterroot River - from the confluence of the East and West Forks to Veterans Bridge at Hamilton starting July 11.

Water temperature measured at the USGS gage 12344000 near Darby.

This reach of the Bitterroot River is designated in the Statewide Fisheries Management Plan as a cutthroat trout fishery.  Water temperatures exceeded 66 degrees in this reach of the Bitterroot River for three consecutive days starting on July 7. ​ 

Hoot owl restrictions (fishing prohibited 2:00 p.m. to midnight) are in effect for the lower Bitterroot River - from Veterans Bridge at Hamilton to the confluence with the Clark Fork River starting July 16.

Water temperature measured at the USGS gage 12352500 near Missoula.

Water temperatures exceeded 73 degrees in this reach of the Bitterroot River for three consecutive days starting on July 11. ​ 

Hoot owl restrictions (fishing prohibited 2:00 p.m. to midnight) are in effect for the upper Clark Fork River - from the Clark Fork's origin at the confluence of Warm Springs Creek and Silver Bow Creek to the mouth of the Blackfoot River starting  July 11.

Temperature were measured at USGS gage 12324200 at Clark Fork in Deer Lodge,  and USGS Clark Fork near Garrison as well as an FWP temperature logger at Bearmouth.

Water temperatures exceeded 73 degree in this reach of the upper Clark Fork River for three consecutive days starting on July 7th.

Hoot owl restrictions (fishing prohibited 2:00 p.m. to midnight) are in effect for the lower East Gallatin River - from Penwell Bridge Road to the confluence with the West Gallatin River at Nixon Bridge near Manhattan starting  July 17.

 Temperatures were measured at DNRC gage 41H 08900 near Manhattan and water temperatures measured by FWP staff at upstream bridges.

Water temperatures exceeded 73 degrees in this reach of the East Gallatin River for three consecutive days starting on July 10th. 

Hoot owl restrictions (fishing prohibited 2:00 p.m. to midnight) are in effect for the Gallatin River - from Amsterdam Road to the confluence with the Missouri River starting July 17.

Water temperatures were measured at USGS gage 06052500 near Logan and water temperatures are measured by FWP staff at upstream bridges.

Water temperatures exceeded 73 degrees in this reach of the Gallatin River for three consecutive days starting on July 10th.

Hoot owl restrictions (fishing prohibited 2:00 p.m. to midnight) are in effect for the entire Jefferson River - from the confluence of the Big Hole River and Beaverhead rivers to the Missouri River starting July 10.

Temperatures were measured at the USGS gage (06026500) near Twin Bridges.

Water temperatures exceeded 73 degrees in this reach of the Jefferson River for three consecutive days starting on July 7th.

Drought Closure (fishing prohibited 24 hours) are in effect for the Madison River - from Hebgen Reservoir to upstream most Yellowstone National Park boundary starting July 17.

​​​​Temperatures and flows were measured at USGS gage 06037500 near West Yellowstone.​ 

Water temperatures have consistently peaked in the upper 70s for over a week.  

This recommendation aligns with a similar closure for the Madison River in Yellowstone National Park.

Hoot owl restrictions (fishing prohibited 2:00 p.m. to midnight) are in effect for the lower Madison River - from Warm Springs BLM day-use area to the confluence with the Jefferson River starting July 2.

​​​​River flows were measured at USGS gage 06041000 below Ennis Reservoir.  Water Temperatures were measured at the Sloan gage that is operated by Northwestern Energy, which is near the Blacks Ford FAS.​ 

Water temperatures exceeded 73 degrees in this reach of the Madison River for three consecutive days starting on June 28.​

Hoot owl restrictions (fishing prohibited 2:00 p.m. to midnight) are in effect for upper Rock Creek - from the confluence of the West and Middle Forks to the mouth of Stoney Creek starting  July 11.

Temperature were measured with portable sensors at Bohrnsen Bridge .

This reach of Rock Creek is designated in the Statewide Fisheries Management Plan as a cutthroat trout fishery.  Water temperatures exceeded 66 degree in this reach of Rock Creek for three consecutive days starting on July 7th.

Hoot owl restrictions (fishing prohibited 2:00 p.m. to midnight) are in effect for the lower Ruby River - from the confluence with the Beaverhead River to Duncan District Road starting July 10.

Water temperatures were measured at USGS gage 06023000 near Twin Bridges.

Water temperatures exceeded 73 degrees in this reach of the Ruby River for three consecutive days starting on June 30th.

Hoot owl restrictions (fishing prohibited 2:00 p.m. to midnight) are in effect for the lower Shields River - from Brackett Creek Road to the confluence with the Yellowstone River starting July 17.

​​​​Temperatures were measured by FWP staff at bridge crossings.

Water temperatures exceeded 73 degrees in this reach of the lower Shields River for three consecutive days starting on July 10th.​ 

Hoot owl restrictions (fishing prohibited 2:00 p.m. to midnight) are in effect for the entire Silver Bow Creek - from the confluence with Blacktail Creek at Montana Street in Butte to the mouth of Warm Springs Creek at the Gas City Rd. Bridge starting  July 11.

Temperature were measured at USGS gage 12323600 at Opportunity. 

Water temperatures exceeded 73 degree in this reach of Silver Bow Creek for three consecutive days starting on July 6th.

Hoot owl restrictions (fishing prohibited 2:00 p.m. to midnight) are in effect for the Smith River - from the confluence of the North and South forks to Eden Bridge starting  July 10.

Temperatures were measured at USGS gage 06077200 Smith River below Eagle Creek near Fort Logan.

Water temperatures exceeded 73 degree in this reach of the Smith River for three consecutive days starting on July 7th.

Hoot owl restrictions (fishing prohibited 2:00 p.m. to midnight) are in effect for the Sun River - from the Mouth of Muddy Creek to Hwy 287 Bridge starting July 2.

​​​​Temperatures were measured at USGS gage 06085800 at Simms.​ 

Water temperatures exceeded 73 degrees in this reach of the Sun River for three consecutive days starting on June 29.​