I am posting this because of the last sentence in the article. A major, heavily used stretch of the Big Hole is CLOSED TO ALL FISHING from Oct. 1 to April 1 to protect spawning brown trout. Of course, anglers and guides who can’t fish that stretch of the Big Hole after Oct. 1 could come down to Browne’s Bridge and fish downstream to Glen or The Notch or Pennington. But they might just decide to turn left at Melrose, bounce over the High Road, wind around through Twin and Sheridan and Virginia City, turn right at the Varney Road, and fish the Madison because…well…the Madison is ALWAYS OPEN FOR BUSINESS. Apparently, the brown trout in the Madison don’t need any protection.
I believe they do. Why not:
- Identify and isolate key brown trout spawning areas on the Madison including the West Fork of the Madison.
- Post and close these areas to all fishing from Oct. to April 1.
- Calibrate and monitor brown trout populations in the Madison. Track results and summarize juvenile recruitment. Montana brown trout populations are declining statewide. The Madison River has always been the gold standard for wild trout fisheries worldwide. Why not continue to lead the way by instituting special regs focused on preserving, protecting and enhancing our populations of wild brown trout?
Temporary fishing closures to be lifted on Big Hole River
- 13 hrs ago, The Montana Standard
WISE RIVER — Temporary fishing closures on some sections of the Big Hole River will be lifted this week.
On Thursday, the Big Hole River will reopen for fishing in two sections:
• From the river’s confluence with the Beaverhead River up to Tony Schoonen Fishing Access Site
• From Dickie Bridge up to the river’s confluence with the North Fork Big Hole River
On Friday, the Big Hole River will reopen for fishing in this section:
• From the river’s confluence with the North Fork Big Hole River up to Saginaw Bridge on Skinner Meadows Road
These temporary closures were implemented due to low river flows as outlined in the Big Hole River Watershed Committee Drought Plan.
A yearly fishing closure remains in place from Brownes Bridge Fishing Access Site up to the Bureau of Land Management’s Maiden Rock boat launch. That closure takes effect on Oct. 1 and lifts on April 1 to protect spawning brown trout. See the current fishing regulations for a full list of annual regulations and restrictions for the Big Hole River.