Montana fishing advocates, businesses call for river preservation task force

For those wanting the state to take more action to preserve coldwater fisheries in southwestern Montana rivers, this summer demonstrated the need. But the governor has yet to heed their call for a task force to tackle the problem.

This week, a panel of four advocates for Montana’s rivers, fish and the fishing industry discussed the effect of this summer’s heat and drought on streamflows and fish, and suggested some ideas the state needs to consider to maintain Montana’s reputation as a blue-ribbon trout fishing destination.

“In our area, you can pretty much predict what kind of summer you’re going to have based upon the first two weeks of June. The first two weeks of June, if we get any precipitation or it remains cool, we’ll make it through August,” said Mike Bias, Fishing Outfitters Association of Montana executive director. “Well, the first two weeks of June were wicked hot. Everything was showing that it was going to be a tough year, and then, low and behold, it was.”

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