Fishing regulations proposals available for review
Whitefish Pilot | UPDATED 3 days, 22 hours AGO
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is seeking public input on 41 preliminary fishing regulation proposals for the 2027–2028 fishing regulations. The agency is also interested in hearing from anglers on additional ideas for regulation changes.
“We use this ongoing input to help jump start this process. The purpose of this scoping period is to get feedback on our ideas, as well as to hear about any new ideas anglers might have for regulations changes,” said Adam Strainer, FWP fisheries division administrator.
Fish, Wildlife and Parks will host public meetings in each region to present fishing regulation proposals, answer questions and collect input. The Kalispell meeting at 490 N. Meridian Rd., is May 14 at 5:30 p.m. There will be statewide virtual meetings on May 26 at noon and 6 p.m. with a link provided on the Fish, Wildlife and Parks website.
This proposal package will go out for public comment in August before going to the Commission for final consideration at its fall 2026 meeting.
Proposals include changes to statewide and district standard regulations, as well as site-specific regulations in the Western, Central, and Eastern fishing districts. These include clarifying definitions of hook, live bait and artificial bait; adjusting smallmouth bass harvest limits in the Central and Eastern districts; modifying live fish transportation rules in the Eastern District; and refining harvest limits, seasons and gear or bait restrictions on specific rivers, creeks, reservoirs and ponds.
The preliminary proposals are grounded in the Statewide Fisheries Management Plan, which calls for regulations that are effective but as simple as possible to support public understanding and angler compliance.
The full set of preliminary proposals are available online, where people can also easily comment, at fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/public-comment-opportunities/fishing-regulations.
Comments on proposals can be mailed to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620. Comments for this initial scoping effort will be collected through May.