Fishing restrictions to be lifted on some rivers in north-central and southwest Montana

Recent cooler temperatures allowed hoot-owl fishing restrictions to be lifted August 24 on the entire Smith River and Jefferson River and on the Madison River from Ennis Dam to the NorthWestern Energy powerhouse.

The restrictions were put in place earlier this summer. Hoot-owl restrictions are designed to protect fish that become more susceptible to disease and mortality when low flows and high-water temperatures combine with other stressors, including catch-and-release fishing.

Anglers can reduce stress on fish at all times of the year by getting fish to the net or in hand quickly, keeping th...