Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

Montana’s 2018 paddlefish season will close at 9 p.m. on Friday, June 8 on the Yellowstone River and lower Missouri River downstream of Fort Peck Dam.

On Wednesday June 6 at 4:00 pm the estimated harvest of paddlefish was 825.  By days end Friday June 8, the estimated harvest will approach the harvest target of 1,000 paddlefish. Anticipating that the harvest target could be approached on Friday, the Fish & Wildlife Commission authorized the season closure.

Following the harvest closure, catch-and-release paddlefishing will be allowed only at Intake Fishing Access Site, for 10 consecutive days, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

United States Fish and Wildlife Service Illustration