HELEN, Mont. — The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission has decided to approve four additional protections for bull trout in Hungry Horse Reservoir and the South Fork of the Flathead River.

The new regulations aim to stabilize the decline in the number of adult bull trout.

The following regulatory amendments have been approved:

• Big Salmon Creek: Closed to all angling within 300 meters of the entrance (where the creek enters the lake) to Big Salmon Lake.
• Big Salmon Lake: Closed to all angling within 300 meters of the entrance (where the creek enters the lake) to Big Salmon Lake.
• Hungry Horse Reservoir: one fish per permit year, from the third Saturday in May to August 15. Catch and release the rest of the year with Hungry Horse/South Fork Flathead license validation on the fishing license. A Hungry Horse/South Fork Bull Trout Catch Card must be in possession when fishing for Bull Trout. See bull trout under “What do I need to fish in Montana” of the 2025 Montana Fishing Rules. All bull trout must be released immediately or killed and counted as your limit when harvested is permitted. It is illegal to possess a live bull trout for any reason.
• South Fork Flathead River: No intentional fishing for bull trout except catch and release July 1-31. Angling is prohibited at the mouths of Gordon and Little Salmon creeks downstream 300 meters from June 15 to September 30. The Horse/South Fork Bull Trout Catch Card must be in possession when fishing for bull trout. See Bull Trout under “What Do I Need to Fish in Montana” in the 2025 Montana Fishing Regulations for application information. All bull trout should be released quickly, with little or no delay. It is illegal to possess a live bull trout for any reason. Bull trout fishing is not permitted in tributaries of the South Fork Flathead River or in Big Salmon Lake.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks sent the following:

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission has approved additional protections for bull trout in Hungry Horse Reservoir and the South Fork of the Flathead River in northwest Montana.

The commission approved four amendments to Montana’s fishing regulations at the Nov. 12 meeting in Helena. Vice Chairman Patrick Tabor of Whitefish adopted the amendments with support from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

“I appreciate the work of Vice Chairman Pat Tabor on these important amendments regarding the bull trout fishery,” said Jay Pravecek, Acting Administrator of the Division of Fisheries. “Our department believes, and the science tells us, that reducing fishing pressure and handling of bull trout will help stabilize population declines in these waters.”

The regulatory changes come as the FWP sees record numbers of bull trout spawning nests, known as redds, in many areas of the South Fork Flathead River watershed, including the creek. Big Salmon and other tributaries. Bull trout were listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act in 1998. Historically one of the strongholds of bull trout in Montana, the South Fork of the Flathead River is the only river in the state that allows intentional fishing for bull trout throughout Montana. a limited season.

“These changes are intended to be a proactive measure that maintains limited fishing opportunities but reduces the stress of handling bull trout,” said Leo Rosenthal, FWP fisheries biologist based in Kalispell. “These fish are ecologically and culturally important, but they are also an important sport fish. We want to maintain the opportunity for fishermen to pursue this unique native species.

Angler surveys show that 44 percent of bull trout caught in the South Fork of the Flathead River are caught in the lowest part of the river. Migratory bull trout in this lower part of the watershed are vulnerable, and by shortening the season, fish could migrate to their natal streams without being targeted by fishermen. Additionally, bull trout are known to congregate near the mouths of major spawning tributaries such as Little Salmon Creek and Gordon Creek. These confluence zones have well-defined holes and are areas known to target concentrations of migratory stopover bull trout. Reducing angler-induced handling stress may help stabilize the downward trend in adult bull trout numbers.

Here are the changes to the bull trout regulations:

Big Salmon Creek: Closed to all angling within 300 meters of the entrance (where the creek enters the lake) to Big Salmon Lake.

Big Salmon Lake: Closed to all angling within 300 meters of the entrance (where the creek enters the lake) to Big Salmon Lake.

Hungry Horse Reservoir: one fish per permit year, from the third Saturday in May to August 15. Catch and release the rest of the year with Hungry Horse/South Fork Flathead license validation on the fishing license. A Hungry Horse/South Fork Bull Trout Catch Card must be in possession when fishing for Bull Trout. See bull trout under “What do I need to fish in Montana” of the 2025 Montana Fishing Rules. All bull trout must be released immediately or killed and counted as your limit when harvested is permitted. It is illegal to possess a live bull trout for any reason.

South Fork Flathead River: No intentional fishing for bull trout except catch and release July 1-31. Angling is prohibited at the mouths of Gordon and Little Salmon creeks downstream 300 meters from June 15 to September 30. The Horse/South Fork Bull Trout Catch Card must be in possession when fishing for bull trout. See Bull Trout under “What Do I Need to Fish in Montana” in the 2025 Montana Fishing Regulations for application information. All bull trout should be released quickly, with little or no delay. It is illegal to possess a live bull trout for any reason. Bull trout fishing is not permitted in tributaries of the South Fork Flathead River or in Big Salmon Lake.