The Whitehall Ledger - Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana

A daily fishing restriction is now in place for the lower Madison River to reduce fish stress and mortality during high water temperatures.

The hoot-owl fishing restriction, which prohibits fishing each day between 2 p.m. and midnight, applies from the Warm Springs Boat Launch to the Madison River’s confluence with the Jefferson River. Water temperatures in the lower Madison have exceeded 73 degrees for three consecutive days, meeting criteria for the restriction.

Two years ago, the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted a permanent, seasonal hoot-owl restriction for the lower M...