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Fishing closures due to high temps go into effect Wednesday – Daily Montanan [1]

['Daily Montanan Staff', 'More From Author', '- August']

Date: 2022-08 

Full fishing closures will go into effect for the following rivers at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, according to a Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks press release:

The entire Jefferson River

The section of the Big Hole River from the confluence with the Beaverhead River to Tony Schoonen Fishing Access Site

portions of Fish Creek within a 100-yard radius of the mouth of Fish Creek on the Clark Fork River

The temporary closure on Fish Creek will protect bull trout from the additional stress of fishing while water temperatures stay warm.

Bull trout require cold water to survive and tend to congregate in areas such as the mouth of Fish Creek to seek refuge, where waters temperatures are lower than the river. This location also receives consistent fishing pressure, adding more stress to the fish in the area.

August is on track to be the hottest on record for the Treasure State. Both short- and long-term lookouts out from the Climate Prediction Center forecast above-average temperatures and below-average precipitation for much of the state.

Bull trout numbers are low in Fish Creek and surrounding areas. Restrictions are also in place for other waterbodies. Anglers can find a statewide list of current restrictions at fwp.mt.gov/news/current-closures-restrictions.

Fishing restrictions, such as hoot-owl restrictions and full closures, are designed to protect trout and other fish that become more susceptible to disease and mortality when conditions, such as low flows and high water temperatures, combine with other stressors, including catch-and-release fishing.

All stress to fish at this time of year is cumulative, and anglers should consider fishing in cooler waters during times of low flows and higher water temperatures in rivers. Anglers can help reduce stress for fish by following these practices when catching and releasing fish where fishing is allowed, though fish mortality may still occur:

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[1] Url: https://dailymontanan.com/briefs/fishing-closures-due-to-high-temps-go-into-effect-wednesday/

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