HELENA – The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission 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 carried the amendments with support from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

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

Acting Fisheries Division Administrator Jay Pravecek testifying at the Montana Fish & Wildlife Commission meeting on Nov. 12

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

“These changes are intended to be a proactive measure that maintains limited fishing opportunity but reduces the amount of handling stress on bull trout,” said Leo Rosenthal, FWP fisheries biologist based in Kalispell. “These fish are important ecologically and culturally, but they are also an important sport fish. We want to maintain opportunity for anglers 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 portion of the river. Migrating bull trout in this lower portion of the drainage are vulnerable and by shortening the season, fish would be able to migrate to their natal streams without being targeted by anglers. Additionally, bull trout are known to congregate near the mouths of key spawning tributaries like Little Salmon Creek and Gordon Creek. These confluence areas have well-defined holes and are known areas to target concentrations of staging bull trout. Reducing the amount of angler-induced handling stress may help stabilize the downward trend in adult bull trout numbers.

Here are the changes to bull trout regulations:

• Big Salmon Creek: Closed to all angling within a 300-yard radius around the inlet (where the creek enters the lake) of Big Salmon Lake.
• Big Salmon Lake: Closed to all angling within a 300-yard radius around the inlet (where the creek enters the lake) of Big Salmon Lake.

Figure 1: Bull trout redd counts for the Big Salmon Lake population (1993-2024)

• Hungry Horse Reservoir: One fish per license year from the third Saturday in May through Aug. 15. Catch-and-release the rest of the year with a Hungry Horse/South Fork Flathead permit validation on fishing license. A Hungry Horse/South Fork Flathead 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 Regulations. All bull trout must be released immediately or killed and counted as your limit when harvest is allowed. It is unlawful to possess a live bull trout for any reason.
• South Fork Flathead River: No intentional angling for bull trout except catch-and-release from July 1 through July 31. Angling is prohibited from the mouths of Gordon Creek and Little Salmon Creek downstream 300 yards from June 15 to Sept. 30. A Hungry Horse/South Fork Flathead 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 2025 Montana Fishing Regulations for application information. All bull trout must be released promptly, with little or no delay. It is unlawful to possess a live bull trout for any reason. Angling for bull trout is not allowed in South Fork Flathead River tributaries or Big Salmon Lake.

Bull trout redd numbers for the Hungry Horse/South Fork population (1993 – 2024)

Estimated bull trout angling pressure for Hungry Horse Reservoir and of South Fork Flathead River (2004 – 2024)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g32llm2mcs

For more information on passed amendments to fishing regulations, click here.