Middle reach of Big Hole closes to angling Sunday

By the Standard Staff

The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission decided Friday to close the middle reach of the upper Big Hole River, a 28-mile stretch, to all angling effective Sunday, Aug. 24.

Extremely low flows and high water temperatures threaten the survival of the river's native Arctic grayling population and other fish populations.

"With the stream flow near the Mudd Creek Gauge at less than 60 cubic feet per second and water temperatures that have exceeded 70 degrees for three consecutive days, it is critical that we take action to protect the native grayling population and the wild, naturally reproducing fish in this stretch of river," said Chris Hunter, FWP Fisheries Division administrator, in a news release.

The Big Hole's drought plan recommends closure when flows drop to 60 cfs.

The closure goes from the mouth of the North Fork down to Dickie Bridge, about nine miles upstream from Wise River. This reach is critical summer grayling habitat.

The closure will remain in effect until flows exceed 80 cfs for seven consecutive days, Hunter said. The upper reach of the Big Hole River, a 19-mile stretch from Rock Creek Road to the mouth of the North Fork, five miles upstream of Wisdom, has been closed to angling since July 24.

While the fishing closures now total about

47 stream miles, the remaining 109 miles are still open to fishing.

"Stretches of the river still open to fishing are the popular lower reach of the Big Hole, from Dickie Bridge down to the mouth of the Big Hole at Twin Bridges, and the headwaters downstream to Rock Creek Road," Hunter said.

He urged anglers on these open stretches to avoid fishing during the hottest parts of the day and to be alert to declining water flow.