Montana FWP Implements New Regulations For Paddlefishing

Anglers looking to get out and do some paddlefishing will see a host of new changes in the Montana FWP regulations that look to give you the best opportunity to fill you license while also helping the conservation efforts to protect the species for generations to come.

Significant changes, which can be found below, have been made to the type of hooks, number of hooks, sonar, and reporting periods.

FWP made the regulation changes during the fishing regulations review process last year, with input from sportsmen across the state.

“We know people are very passionate about maintaining or expanding paddlefish opportunities,” said FWP Fisheries Divisions Administrator Adam Strainer. “These changes will ensure paddlefish opportunities continue into the future.”

The following are the major changes made by FWP:

Hooks

All hooks must now be barbless or have pinched barbs, and only one treble hook per line is allowed for all snagging (harvest or catch and release).

Forward-Facing Sonar

The use of forward-facing sonar is now illegal in Montana for snagging paddlefish. Side-imaging sonar, down-imaging sonar, and 2D sonar are still allowed.

This change is targeted at protecting spawning females, who tend to be larger than males. Forward-facing sonar would allow anglers to target larger fish, which are likely to be female.

Mandatory reporting varies by tag area

White tag within 48 hours via onsite check station, creel staff, phone hotline, or MyFWP.
Blue tag within 48 hours via onsite check station, creel staff, phone hotline, MyFWP, or E-tag validation process. · Yellow or Green tag (new this year, for Missouri River downstream of Fort Peck dam) before transporting fish or by 9 p.m. the day of harvest via phone hotline or MyFWP only. Self-check stations are for biological data submission only for the yellow and green tag.

Anglers are still required to report the harvest of any paddlefish, and deadlines and methods vary by tag area. However, new this year, anglers lacking cell service can transport an unreported paddlefish, and once they are back in service, they have 48 hours to report the harvest.

Paddlefish tag areas

Anglers now can choose between the yellow tag, green tag (Missouri River downstream of Ft. Peck Dam), blue archery tag (now E-tag only), or white tag (no changes for 2025).