Fishing closure extended on Big Hole, in effect for entire Jefferson River starting Saturday

The Jefferson River near Cardwell, Montana, on June 19, 2024. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)

Just a day after closing the last 18 miles of the Big Hole River before its confluence with the Jefferson River to fishing, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks announced it was extending the fishing closure to upstream of Wise River and closing the entire Jefferson River to fishing because of low flows.

The closure on the Big Hole will run from Dickie Bridge , which is upriver from Wise River, all the way to the confluence with the Jefferson River, while the entire Jefferson River will be closed to fishing.

The rest of the Big Hole River upstream from Dickie Bridge remains under hoot-owl restrictions that close fishing from 2 p.m. to midnight each day.

FWP said Friday that flows on the Big Hole and Jefferson have reached the flow thresholds by which fishing is closed under their drought management plans. Warm water temperatures and low flows caused the restrictions and closures on Montana rivers because they threaten the health and lives of cold-water fish like trout.

The new closures go into effect at midnight Saturday; as of Friday, the Big Hole is closed to fishing from the Tony Schoonen Fishing Access Site to the river’s confluence with the Jefferson. The restrictions and closures will remain in effect until conditions improve.

Most of the major cold-water trout rivers in Montana are now under hoot-owl restrictions – from the North Fork Flathead River all the way across the state to parts of the Yellowstone River . Some closures are also in place.

Find a full list of fishing restrictions from FWP here .