Hoot-owl restrictions take effect at 2 p.m. on Thursday on several southwest Montana rivers.
The restrictions prohibit fishing from 2 p.m. to midnight each day and will stay in effect until conditions improve. These restrictions are designed to protect fish that become more susceptible to disease and mortality when water temperatures rise.
The rivers include:
— Big Hole River on the entire river downstream of Saginaw Bridge on Skinner Meadows Road. This restriction expands the hoot-owl to the entire length of the Big Hole.
— East Gallatin River from Penwell Bridge Road to the confluence with the West Gallatin River at Nixon Bridge near Manhattan.
— Gallatin River from Amsterdam Road to the confluence with the Missouri River.
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— Lower Shields River from Brackett Creek Road to the confluence with the Yellowstone River.
— A full angling closure takes effect at 12 a.m.