Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks closed the entire Big Hole River fishing effective Saturday, August 23, 2025 due to low streamflow in accordance with the Big Hole River Drought Management Plan.
Read the press release from MFWP, here:
River-wide closures go into effect Aug. 23 on Big Hole and Jefferson rivers
HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has closed fishing on the entire Big Hole and Jefferson Rivers due to low stream flows. The closure is effective starting at midnight Aug. 23.
The closures are in accordance with drought management plans on both rivers. On the Jefferson River, the drought plan allows for a river-wide angling closure when stream flows fall below 280 cubic feet per second (cfs) at Twin Bridges. On the Big Hole, the drought plan allows for a river-wide angling closure when flows fall below certain thresholds. Streamflows fell below 100 cfs at Wise River and 150 cfs at Melrose, prompting the closure.
“With no precipitation forecasted for either river, angling closures are a necessary step to protect the fisheries in both rivers,” said Adam Strainer, Fisheries Division Administrator for FWP.
The closure on the Jefferson River is in place from the confluence of the Beaverhead and Big Hole rivers to where it hits the Missouri River. The Big Hole River closure is in place from Saginaw Bridge in its headwaters region to where it meets the Beaverhead River to form the Jefferson River.
The closures will be in place until further notice.
More information on restrictions and closures can be found online here.
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