07/22/2026
Heads up fellow anglers! It’s that time of year to give the fish a little break. Fish early in the mornings, handle the fish as less as possible, getting them back in water quickly.
Attention anglers! Additional “hoot-owl” fishing restrictions begin July 22 on several rivers across the state due to rising water temperatures.
So what’s a hoot-owl restriction? It means fishing is closed from 2 p.m. to midnight each day when water temperatures are highest, and fish are most vulnerable.
New restrictions will impact several rivers, including:
-Big Hole River from the confluence with the North Fork of the Big Hole River to Dickie Bridge
-Madison River from Eight Mile Ford Fishing Access Site to Ennis Reservoir
-Shields River from the bridge upstream of Wilsall between Jordan Bench and Pinkerton roads to the confluence with the Yellowstone River
-Yellowstone River from the Hwy. 89 bridge near Livingston to the Hwy. 212/310 bridge in Laurel
-Smith River from the confluence of the North and South forks of the Smith River to Eden Bridge
-Upper Clark Fork from the Clark Fork’s origin at the confluence of Warm Springs Creek and Silver Bow Creek to the mouth of Flint Creek
-Bitterroot River in its entirety, from the confluence of the East and West forks to the confluence with the Clark Fork River
Catch-and-release anglers can reduce stress on fish by handling fish quickly, keeping them in the water and reviving them prior to releasing them. As the summer warms, Montana offers many other angling options with better conditions for fish, including larger lakers, reservoirs, and higher-elevation lakes and streams.
Stay up to date on all current restrictions here: https://fwp.mt.gov/news/current-closures-restrictions/waterbody-closures
