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Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

FWP REGION 7 P.O. Box 1630, Industrial Site West, Miles City, MT 59301

Dwayne Andrews, Information Officer (406) 234-0919 dandrews@mt.gov

PADDLEFISH REGULATIONS FOR 2009

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is taking a conservative approach to managing the state's paddlefish season. Paddlefish reproduction is down after an extended drought with low water flows over the past several years. This, combined with increased fishing pressure for adult paddlefish, makes more conservative management of these long-lived fish essential.

Paddlefishing on the Yellowstone River begins May 15. Catch and release paddlefishing is only allowed in the Yellowstone River at Intake Fishing Access Site. Specific fishing times and days apply too, so be sure to check the Montana fishing regulations for details at Intake Fishing Access Site. .

"This year's regulations are geared to what is thought to be a sustainable harvest and should help to reduce catch and release mortalities," said Brad Schmitz, FWP Region 7, fisheries manager in Miles City.

New Paddlefish regulations for the 2008 season include hook size restrictions for all river stretches that are open to spring paddlefishing, a size 8/0 hook limitation or smaller is in effect.

Among the significant changes in this year's paddlefish regulations are:

• On the upper Missouri River (upstream from Fort Peck Dam to Fort Benton) there is a new 500 fish harvest target, and the season may be closed on 24-hour notice. Once the target is reached, catch and release continues to the end of the regular season ending June 15. Anglers will need to call the FWP Glasgow office at 406-228-3700 to check the harvest status.
• Daytime fishing hours, 6 AM to 9 PM, remain in place and there is no night snagging for paddlefish.
• On the Missouri River downstream from Fort Peck Dam and the Yellowstone River catch and release fishing will be allowed only at Intake Fishing Access Site (defined as Intake Diversion downstream to Cottonwood Creek), a change from last year. At Intake FAS, catch and release will be limited to Sunday, Monday and Thursday. Harvest days are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday until the harvest quota is reached. Catch and release paddlefishing will remain in effect 10 days immediately following the harvest closure or the end of the regular season, whichever comes first.
• On the Yellowstone River at Intake Fishing Access site, FWP may close the harvest season immediately if it appears the harvest target may be exceeded (the harvest target is 800 paddlefish harvested at the Fishing Access Site).
• Hook size restrictions are new this year. An 8/0 or smaller hook is now required for all paddlefish snagging.

The color coding on paddlefish tags remains the same: yellow for the Yellowstone River and lower Missouri River; white for the upper Missouri River above Fort Peck Dam; and blue for the dredge cuts below Fort Peck Dam for archery paddlefishing. The appropriate tag is required to fish for paddlefish in each of these river sections and anglers must choose only one stretch of river to fish.

"FWP has made quite a few changes the past few years in the paddlefish regulations and will continue to refine them as we learn more about this long-lived fish and the best ways to conserve it to ensure continued harvest," Schmitz said.

For more on paddlefishing, see the FWP web site at fwp.mt.gov under Fishing and Regulations; pick up a copy of the 2008 Fishing Regulations at FWP regional offices or license providers; or request a copy of the special paddlefish pamphlet available at FWP offices.