Today, Montana FWP lifted the “Hoot Owl” restrictions on the Missouri River between Holter Dam and the Cascade boat ramp. Yes, you can again ply the waters of the Mo’ with rod in hand through the afternoon and evening. No more 2pm shutdown. With an incoming cold-front, and much cooler temperatures in the short and long-term forecast, fishing hours should quickly revert to the more typical 8-6 timeframe. We are especially excited about nighttime lows forecast to be in the upper 40’s and low 50’s! I’m sure some trout are excited about it as well…
Headhunters hours will change along with the weather, and we will move our opening time from 5:30am to 6:30am, and you should expect us to open at 7:00am in the next few weeks. Closing time TDB, but as always, it will be the latest on the river. And props to our tough as nails staff for opening up the shop at daybreak for the last few weeks.
A few folks seem a little shocked that FWP lifted the closure so soon. Many were expecting it to last through the first of the month, and possibly later. While I have no insight on the reason for lifting the restriction, the fact is that our water temps have dropped a couple degrees in the last few weeks, and this weeks cold front will only accelerate that. FWP should probably get used to being more reactive as we move into the future.
