Montana FWP considers gear restrictions on Kootenai River
Two anglers try their luck on the Kootenai River below the Libby Dam in early January 2024. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is considering a proposal to limit the type of hooks anglers may use on the Kootenai River from the Libby Dam to the Highway 37 bridge near the Fisher River.
According to the agency, the proposal would limit anglers to single-pointed hooks and circle hooks when fishing with bait. A definition of a hook may be found at https://fwp.mt.gov/binaries/content/assets/fwp/aboutfwp/public-comments/2025-26-fishing-regs/scoping_2025-26-fishing-regs.pdf.
According to the agency, the rationale for the possible change is to provide more protections for bull trout and sub-legal rainbow trout. Specifically, the proposal seeks to reduce the catch-and-release mortality rates for the two species.
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