The Blackfoot River flows four inches lower than last year at this time, triggering river keepers to ask the public to take precaution when fishing.
Water temperatures have remained about two degrees below the 71 degree threshold that would usher in hoot owl fishing hours, reported the Blackfoot Drought Committee on Aug. 1.
“At this time in the season, we are asking for voluntary ethical fishing restrictions,” said Clancy Jandreau, Blackfoot Challenge water steward. “Keeping fish in the water while removing hooks, letting them rest in your hands underwater until they gain their equilibrium and not handling their gills helps lower the fish’s stress when water temps are high and flows are slower.”
The Blackfoot Drought Committee is composed of 50 members from state and federal agencies, local non-profits like Trout Unlimited and Blackfoot Challenge, agricultural land owners and local fishing businesses.
Montana had its 16th wettest June on record since 1895, according to http://www.drought.gov. Yet Flathead and Lincoln counties in Montana are reporting severe drought.
Hoot Owl restrictions would go into effect when water temperatures rise above 71 degrees during a three consecutive day window while water flows are below 700 cubic feet per second at the Bonner gauge station.
As of Aug. 1, the water temperature was 68.9 F and the water flow was 651 cubic feet per second.
Hoot owl restrictions would close the Blackfoot River to fishing at 2 pm to midnight. With expected cooler temperatures, the Drought Committee is holding back on designating hoot owl regulations.
“The local guides have been voluntarily getting off the river before 2 p.m. for a few weeks,” said Kathy Thurmond, owner of the Blackfoot Angler in Ovando. “I always ask people to please handle the fish gently.”
As of press time hoot owl has not been put into effect by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
Local fishing shuttle companies report 50-60 rafts a day on the Blackfoot River.
“It’s amazing how much the river had dropped when I floated last Monday,” said Pat Kane, a Blackfoot River fly fishing guide since 2001. “When the water levels drop and water temperatures rise, the fish survive by going into deep holes for thermal refuge.”
Patrick Uthe, a fisheries biologist for Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, said it is unlikely the Blackfoot River will reach 71 degrees before summer temperatures cool off. In addition, Uthe argued that anglers are generally out in the morning, leaving less stress on the fish in the afternoon.
“The impact of fishermen and floaters is self-regulating according to the temperature of the day,” Uthe said. “The bulk of anglers are on the river in the cooler morning, and afternoon heat brings out the non-angling floaters. We haven’t seen or expect to see any impact on the fish from the floaters.”
Blackfoot Challenge Anglers published a guide to the Blackfoot drought response, which can be read online at blackfootchallenge.org
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