Montana River Proposes Boat Fishing Ban

0:00Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, is proposing a boat fishing ban on the East Gallatin River starting in the 2027-2028 season. It's modeled after the main Gallatin, where vessels have been off limits for 45 years to keep things calm for weight anglers and avoid crowding. Officials say shrinking flows and warmer waters are stressing the fishery. Drawing more boaters to this quieter stretch northwest of Boseman. Dragging boats over gravel bars could trample trout and whitefish eggs during spawning. While weighed fishing, let's folks stick to the edges. Angers are split on it. Some praise the move as smart protection for habitat that feeds bigger rivers like the Jefferson and Madison. Others push back, saying nutrient pollution and sedimentation are the real threats, and they want hard data before cutting access. Region 3 fish manager Mike Duncan calls it proactive, noting trout numbers are dipping and boat traffic could spike. He stresses it's not from landowners, but part of broader tributary safeguards with weighed fishing staying the main game.

1:02Public comment on the 89-page rigs runs through May 31st, with more chances to chime in before the commission locks it down later. This year, local news, powered by AI, this is Canada News Today.