Hoot-Owl Restrictions Take Effect Today on Section of Madison River

Hoot-owl restrictions take effect on June 19th at 2 pm on the upper Madison River above Hebgen Lake. Hoot-owl restrictions prohibit fishing from 2 pm to midnight each day. These restrictions will stay in effect until conditions improve. FWP's drought policy provides for angling restrictions when flows drop below critical levels for fish, when water quality is diminished, or when maximum daily water temperatures reach at least 73 degrees for three consecutive days. Water temperatures of 77 degrees or more can be lethal to trout. These restrictions are designed to protect fish that become more susceptible to disease and mortality when conditions like this exist. One short-term strategy to address heat-induced stress in Montana's wild trout is to reduce catch-and-release mortality by alerting anglers to fish only in the morning. Anglers can reduce stress on fish at all times of the year by getting fish to the net or in hand quickly, keeping them in the water and reviving them prior to releasing them back into the river. If high temperatures and extremely low flows persist, anglers may want to consider fishing areas with less stressful temperatures and conditions, such as larger lakes or reservoirs, or higher elevation waterbodies. Along with monitoring stream temperatures, FWP also monitors stream flows and, in some streams, holds instream flow water rights. FWP’s water program can issue a call on junior water users, when appropriate, to contribute to stream flows through the late summer and early fall. For more information on FWP water rights, please visit https://fwp.mt.gov.

Hoot-Owl Restrictions Take Effect Today on Section of Madison River

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