Montana’s native Bull Trout haven’t fared well in the South Fork and the Hungry Horse Reservoir, and so, the Montana Fish & Wildlife Commission is establishing new restrictions on landing these beauties.
Here’s some background: FWP is seeing record low numbers of bull trout spawning nests, known as “redds”, in many areas in the South Fork, in Big Salmon Creek and other tributaries. Bull trout have been “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act for the past 2-decades. One of the strongholds for Bull Trout has been the South Fork, which has been the only river in the state that allows intentional fishing for the species. That’s over.
Next spring, there’s be no intentional fishing for Bull Trout on the South Fork…and if one is hooked by accident it’s catch-and-release. I the Hungry Horse Reservoir, one Bull Trout per season can be taken.
