2021 has, without a doubt, been our busiest season to date. Retail is up, lodging is up and as I’m sure you’ve noticed if you’ve been anywhere near the MO this past month, guide trips are also WAY up for everyone. And while we’re thrilled about the recovery after last year’s Pandemic debacle, the low flows coupled with the high temps and the heavy traffic have us re-thinking our game plan for the remainder of the summer season.

We have no knowledge of restrictions or closures coming to the MO but current flow and temperature conditions are definitely trending towards the thresholds which would dictate some sort of restrictions, especially on the lower river.

In light of this we have decided to do what we can to reduce the stress on the fishery by implementing a couple of self-imposed restrictions for the remainder of the summer season.

First – we are asking all of our clients to do a 6:00 AM start which puts our trips on the water from 6:00 AM – 2:00 PM which is essentially what we would be doing if Hoot Owl restrictions went into effect on the Missouri. At this point it’s more of a suggestion than a mandate but we are doing our best to make sure everyone is on the water at least by 7:00 AM at the latest.

Second- we are capping our guide trips for the remainder of the summer season and will be taking no more bookings for guide trips for July and August. We hope to resume bookings in September at which time we will re-evaluate and proceed accordingly. Hopefully things will improve as fall approaches. We recognize that this is an inconvenience for those making last minute plans for a guided day on the Missouri and we apologize for not being able to accommodate those plans but we feel it’s in the best interest of the river, the fish and all of our clients to do what we can to reduce our impact for the remainder of the summer season.

Daytime temperatures in the 80’s and 90’s will persist for the foreseeable future with Sunday looking like a scorcher with temps approaching 100 degrees.

Current river conditions – 2980 CFS with water temp 65 degrees at the dam. Please keep any eye on those water temps further down-stream and take appropriate measures to protect the fish. FWP policy is to implement Hoot Owl restrictions when max water temps reach 73 degrees for three consecutive days however anything over 67 degrees is stressful to the fish so Hoot Owl restrictions or not, it’s a good idea to stop fishing and seek cooler waters or other activities once water temps reach that point.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ 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. These restrictions and closures are designed to protect fish, such as trout, that become more susceptible to disease and mortality when drought and warm water conditions combine with additional stressors, including catch-and-release fishing.

All stress to fish at this time of year is cumulative, and anglers should consider fishing in cooler waters during times of low flows and high water temperatures in rivers. Anglers can help reduce stress for fish by following these practices when catching and releasing fish, though fish mortality may still occur:

• Fish during the coolest times of day, where permitted.
• Land the fish quickly.
• Keep the fish in water as much as possible.
• Remove the hook gently. Using artificial lures with single and barbless hooks can make hook removal faster and easier.
• Let the fish recover before releasing it.