Paddlefish Season Opens May 1

This year's Montana paddlefish seasons will again kick off on May 1 with the opening of the Upper Missouri River section from Fort Benton downstream to Fort Peck Dam.

Camping and other access will be available at the James Kipp Recreation Area near the Fred Robinson Bridge south of Malta. The area is a popular location for paddlefish anglers and their families, and the public boat ramp at the Kipp Recreation Area is fully operational. For questions about the recreation area and other surrounding federal lands, contact the BLM Lewistown office at 406-538-1900. CMR officials can be reached by calling 406-538-8706.

According to Steve Dalbey, FWP Region 6 Fisheries Manager, "Snowpack is well below average in the Missouri River headwaters this year, so flows will be lower than in the past. Fish may be a little harder to locate, as the normally high runoff that triggers spawning runs will be substantially lower than in previous years."

The paddlefish snagging season on the Missouri River below Fort Peck Dam and in the Yellowstone River below the mouth of the Bighorn River opens May 15, and the archery fishing season for paddlefish in the Fort Peck Dredge Cuts below Fort Peck Dam opens July 1.

All paddlefish anglers should obtain a copy of the Montana 2015 Paddlefish Regulations, or 2015 Montana Fishing Regulations, which contain specific rules for each of the different seasons and river stretches. There have been no changes in any of the regulations from last year's rules.

For the Upper Missouri River section, the fishery will again be managed with a 500-fish harvest cap, and the harvest season will close on a 24-hour notice if harvest is approaching the cap limit. Anglers should call the Paddlefish Hotline at 406-464-2169 for current information on harvest status and river conditions.

"Because river conditions and fishing pressure from anglers can change quickly, anglers are advised to check on paddlefish harvest status on the hotline before they leave home," said Dalbey. "That call could save a lot of traveling time in finding out if the season is already closed or is close to being finished."

If the 500-fish harvest cap is reached, catch-and-release fishing will continue until June 15. Specific fishing hours apply (6 a.m. – 9 p.m., MST), and there is no night snagging allowed.

For more on the paddlefish seasons and regulations, see the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov under "Fishing" and "Regulations" and "Eastern District" then click on "Paddlefish Regulations" for a pdf file. Or, pick up a copy of the 2015 paddlefish pamphlet or 2015 Montana Fishing Regulations at FWP offices or any other license provider. Information on the harvest quota will also be updated on our Region 6 Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MontanaFWP.R6.