FWP approves bull trout conservation regulations

HELENA, Mont. — The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission 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 offset declining numbers of adult bull trout.

The following changes to the regulations were approved:

• Big Salmon Creek: Closed to all anglers within a 300-yard radius around the entrance to Big Salmon Lake (where the stream enters the lake).
• Big Salmon Lake: Closed to all anglers within a 300-yard radius around the entrance of Big Salmon Lake (where the stream enters the lake).
• Hungry Horse Reservoir: One fish per license year from the third Saturday in May through August 15. The rest of the year, catch and release with Hungry Horse/South Fork Flathead permit verification on fishing license. A Hungry Horse/South Fork Flathead Bull Trout Catching Pass must be carried when fishing for bull trout. Look for bull trout in the 2025 Montana Fishing Regulations under “What Do I Need to Fish in Montana.” Once harvest is allowed, all bull trout must be released or killed immediately and counted as your limit. Possession of live bull trout is prohibited for any reason.
• South Fork Flathead River: Intentional angling for bull trout is prohibited, except for catch and release, from July 1 through July 31. From June 15 through September 30, angling is prohibited at the mouths of Gordon Creek and Little Salmon Creek 1,000 feet downstream. A Horse/South Fork Flathead Bull Trout Catching Card is required when fishing for bull trout. For application information, see bull trout under “What Do I Need to Fish in Montana” in the 2025 Montana Fishing Regulations. All bull trout must be released immediately with little or no delay. Possession of live bull trout is prohibited for any reason. Bull trout fishing is not permitted in tributaries of the South Fork Flathead River or Big Salmon Lake.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks submitted 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 northwestern Montana.

The commission approved four changes to Montana’s fishing regulations at its Nov. 12 meeting in Helena. Whitefish Vice President Patrick Tabor made the changes with support from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

“I appreciate Deputy Pat Tabor’s work on these important changes to the bull trout fishery,” said Department of Fisheries Acting Administrator Jay Pravecek. “Our department believes, and the science tells us, that reducing fishing pressure and managing bull trout will help offset declining population numbers in these waters.”

The regulation changes come as FWP is seeing record low numbers of bull trout spawning holes, known as reds, in many areas in the watershed on the South Fork of the Flathead River, including Big Salmon Creek 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 of bull trout. limited season.

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

Angling surveys show that 44 percent of bull trout caught on the South Fork of the Flathead River are caught in the lowest part of the river. Migrating bull trout in this lower part of the drainage are vulnerable, and by shortening the season the fish will be able to migrate to their native streams without being targeted by anglers. Additionally, bull trout are known to congregate near the mouths of important spawning tributaries such as Little Salmon Creek and Gordon Creek. These confluence areas have well-defined holes and are areas known to target spawning concentrations of bull trout. Reducing the amount of handling stress from angling may help offset the downward trend in adult bull trout numbers.

The changes made to the bull trout regulation are as follows:

Big Salmon Creek: Closed to all anglers within a 300-yard radius around the entrance to Big Salmon Lake (where the stream enters the lake).

Big Salmon Lake: Closed to all anglers within a 300-yard radius around the entrance of Big Salmon Lake (where the stream enters the lake).

Hungry Horse Reservoir: One fish per license year from the third Saturday in May through August 15. The rest of the year, catch and release with Hungry Horse/South Fork Flathead permit verification on fishing license. A Hungry Horse/South Fork Flathead Bull Trout Catching Pass must be carried when fishing for bull trout. Look for bull trout in the 2025 Montana Fishing Regulations under “What Do I Need to Fish in Montana.” Once harvest is permitted, all bull trout must be released or killed immediately and counted as your limit. Possession of live bull trout is prohibited for any reason.

South Fork Flathead River: Intentional angling for bull trout is prohibited, except for catch and release, from July 1 through July 31. From June 15 through September 30, angling is prohibited at the mouths of Gordon Creek and Little Salmon Creek 1,000 feet downstream. A Horse/South Fork Flathead Bull Trout Catching Card is required when fishing for bull trout. For application information, see bull trout under “What Do I Need to Fish in Montana” in the 2025 Montana Fishing Regulations. All bull trout must be released immediately with little or no delay. Possession of live bull trout is prohibited for any reason. Bull trout fishing is not permitted in tributaries of the South Fork Flathead River or Big Salmon Lake.