Montana River Closures

[Mike Cline]

Somewhat unexpectedly, Montana FWP has started implementing some “Hoot Owl” closures (2PM to Midnight) on some popular rivers due to low water and high temps. Here’s the list as of this morning. http://fwp.mt.gov/news/restrictions/waterClosure.html

I fished the lower Big Hole yesterday morning and at 6AM the river felt like bath water. Luckily our overnight temps are still dropping into the low 50s/high 40s. Although the fishing was good as long as the sun was low, once the sun hit the water about 10AM, things really slowed down. Can’t imagine what it would be like mid-afternoon.

Big Hole at Pennington Bridge, 6AM July 24

I left the river about noon and stopped by the Stone Fly Inn to get a couple of shirts and a hat per Zach’s suggestions. Holly, the manager indicated they are coping OK with the consequences of the break-in and appreciate all the support they’ve gotten from their customers across the country. While, I was in the shop, a guy came in who had come from somewhere out-of-state to float the Beaverhead-Jefferson from the Twin Bridges Park but was surprised to hear about the closures. Montana FWP had a guy stationed at the park to warn anglers that the Jeff was closed as of 2PM so floating from Twin Bridge wasn’t a good choice.

Strategy without Tactics is a Slow Route to Victory, Tactics without Strategy is the Noise Before Defeat - Sun Tzu

[Zach Matthews]

Very interesting Mike. Thanks for the update and it was very nice of you to help them out. That’s a nice pic by the way.

It’s hard to imagine given our ridiculous water levels that anywhere could be in drought, but Montana is a long way away.

Zach

[John Stanley]

Mr. Cline, I hate to ask you to predict the future, but I am going to make that request. Are they going to be putting limits and/or close the upper Madison between Hebgen and Ennis Lake?

[Mike Cline]

John, no way to know because such closures aren’t really capricious. FWP has a policy to put “Hoot Owl” (2PM to Midnight) closures on any water that reaches 73 degrees for three consecutive days. Anyway, the fishing just isn’t very good once water temps edge into the 70s. The Upper Madison benefits in that regard because it is a tail water of Hebgen and Quake Lakes and there are minimum flows mandated to protect the river. I think its at least 600cfs at Kirby Ranch. The upper river stays reasonably cool even with minimum flows. Minimum flows are designed to protect the river, but the river isn’t very floatable at minimum flows. Here’s the link to the USGS flows for the Upper Madison near Hebgen. http://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?06038500. Flows currently are good, the lake is only a foot below full pool and the temps aren’t getting into the 70s for any length of time. Hopefully, our heat wave and rain less days will subside over the next month.

I did a little urban fishing in Twin Bridges (Beaverhead) this morning (another tail water) from before dawn (6AM) to about 10:15AM. Early on when the sun is off the water or along shady banks, the fishing was outstanding with hoppers and buggers for better than average Browns. Once the sun got on the water things really slowed down and you could see the fish getting lethargic. Air temp was 53 degrees when I started and 77 when I quit. I was off the water by 11AM.

Brown on hopper taped in at 22.5″, 3wgt Diamond Glass

Bluebird skies, even at 6AM in Twin Bridges

Strategy without Tactics is a Slow Route to Victory, Tactics without Strategy is the Noise Before Defeat - Sun Tzu

[John Stanley]

Thank you, Mr. Cline. I am heading up to Ennis in a week, so I am just worried on the water levels. Looks like I will be needing to be up early and be ready to get out of the boat.

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