Warm flows prompt ‘hoot-owl’ fishing

Fish, Wildlife and Parks has advised anglers on two central Montana rivers that fishing will close daily from 2 p.m. to midnight starting Monday until conditions improve.

The “hoot-owl” closures are issued for:

• Smith River — from the confluence of the North and South forks to Eden Bridge south of Great Falls, and

• Sun River—from Highway 287 Bridge to the mouth of Muddy Creek west of Great Falls.

FWP’s drought policy provides for angling closures 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.

The preferred water temperature for rainbow and brown trout is about 55-57 degrees. Temperatures of 77 degrees or more can be lethal to trout.

FWP officials said one of the best short-term strategies to address heat-induced stress in Montana’s wild and native trout is to reduce catch-and-release mortality by alerting anglers to fish only in the morning.

“Both rivers have experienced high water temperatures between 74 and 77 degrees since early July” said Grant Grisak, Region 4 Fisheries Manager in Great Falls. “The cool, rainy weather of mid-July provided some relief, but the long-term forecast is for hot and dry weather so we want to try to minimize impacts to wild fish.”

Angling is still allowed, Grisak said, just not during the hottest part of the day.

For details on all emergency angling restrictions and other drought updates, visit fwp.mt.gov. Click “Drought & Fire Updates.”