New Licenses & Regulations: Your Guide to Fishing 2016

It’s the end of February, but it’s been feeling more like April. 73 degrees was the official high in Great Falls last Friday. Really nice, but a bit unsettling. I sure hope we get some heavy mountain snows and spring rains in later this year.

Who knows what the future will bring, but if you are waiting for some magical date in the future to begin your open water fishing season, you are missing out on some of the great opportunities available right now. A sustained cold snap could cause some re-icing on the lakes and slow the bite on the river, but it will only be temporary.

I’m already hearing complaints about how busy the Mo is up around Craig. The fishing is good from the Dam all the way to Cascade and beyond, so don’t be afraid to spread out. Late winter fishing on the Missouri River is can be exceptionally good as I found out again last week, but there are other choices.

Regional fishing reports have been coming in steadily. Many are glowing. If you want to go out and enjoy our area waters, there are plenty of options. The lakes along the front have been open or open enough for shoreline fishing. Holter has been producing both trout and perch from shore. Upper Holter has been clear and fishable. Boats are running up to Hauser or down into the Gates. Some toads have been landed up north on the Blackfoot Reservation. Pike have been landed on the Marias.

Many of our creeks and streams are fishable and ice free. March 1^st begins the new regulation cycle. There are some big changes afoot this year. Most small streams will be open year round from this point forward. A few will still have special regulations. It is your responsibility to know the current regulations. I’ve already heard reports of anglers fishing in Belt Creek above Riceville. Starting Tuesday, that will be allowed. Last week, it was not.

Come in and get your 2016 License and grab a new regulation book. If you have questions, we are happy to help. If you want specifics on flies and rigging for your intended locations, we’ve got that too. If you are headed to the lakes, we’ve got some great Stillwater patterns with lots more on the way. It’s already fishing season all around us.