Montana Fishing Reports for 2/22/25

From DIY lures to a booming tackle business, Dave Chichester of Plugit Tackle spills the secrets behind his wooden plugs, monster trout tactics, and the surprising twist on the wood he uses—tune in to this week’s Montana Outdoor Podcast to reel in all the details!

Celebrate National Margarita Day with a zesty twist—Kokanee Quinn’s Baked Margarita Walleye is easy, delicious, and ready in just 20 minutes!

Mark your calendars and sharpen your raffle skills—the Annual Bitterroot Chapter Fundraising Banquet is back, bringing epic prizes, great food, and a chance to take home a gun from the coveted Sponsor Gun Wall!

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has released a final environmental impact statement (EIS) analyzing potential environmental impacts from the statewide management of gray wolves. 

House Bill 436 aims to protect Montana’s ‘furry friends’ by requiring signs at FWP access points where trapping is conducted—helping recreationists make safer choices for their pets. Read more from Brett French here..

This one is for the big cat hunters–take note of the latest LMU closures…

Governor Greg Gianforte today announced Montana’s Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) placed nearly 130,000 forested acres under management since he took office.

 In a continued effort to improve safety on opening day at Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Blackfoot-Clearwater Wildlife Management Area (WMA), antler hunters wanting to enter by vehicle at noon on May 15 should register and will use the WMA’s east entrance.

Reservations for Blackfoot River float-in campsites will open Monday, March 3. New this year, reservation dates will be open several months at a time with another month of availability rolled out on the first Monday of each month.

Discover how Plugit Tackle’s handcrafted wooden lures are reeling in Montana’s biggest fish, from giant Rainbow Trout to Walleye and Pike! Check out this exclusive sneak peek before the big episode drops tomorrow!

Nelson is the hot spot for walleye, northern, and perch—just watch the ice, find the fish, and drop a line!

What do you think of these findings? Field teams recovered carcasses of 410 identifiable birds…

A bull elk was illegally taken during the closed season near the bottom of Moon Pass Road at Placer Creek near Wallace.

Thick ice, cold temps, and cautious steps—Lake Trout are biting, but Peck’s ice is shifting, so stay sharp out there!

Saddle up for some snowy excitement! The Big Hole Skijoring event kicks off this weekend—come for the races, stay for the party!

Sharpen your aim and your knowledge—Miles City’s only Bowhunter Education classroom course is set for March 21-23, so register now!

Cast your line and cash in! The 2nd Annual Margo’s March Madness Fishing Tournament at Bitterroot Lake is back!

Where should you aim on a deer? Keith Warren and James Eagleman have a go-to guide to help you place the perfect shot.

No need to wade through the BS—fishing is about camaraderie, not competition, so let’s drop the snark, share the knowledge, and make every cast count! More from Montana Grant here…

Two Bear Air had to turn back due to poor visibility.

If you applied for a Smith River permit, you can check the drawing results now…

The experiments were designed to answer a question never before asked of wild fish: are they capable of telling people apart?

The investigation began on Nov. 12, 2024, when 32 vacuum-sealed brown trout,18 of which exceeded the 16-inch size limit, and one rainbow trout were discovered in the freezer.