Comments sought on fishing rules

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is seeking public comments on proposed adjustments to the 2017 fishing regulations.

Comments are due by Monday, Sept. 12.

The proposals are largely aimed at clarifications to make the regulations easier to understand, but also include some harvest adjustments.

The state wildlife agency completes a comprehensive review of fishing regulations and submits recommendations for more substantial changes every four years.

The next major review cycle will be completed in 2019 for 2020 fishing regulations.

Proposed changes in Northwest Montana Region One include minor seasonal access changes to Lake Creek near Troy, as well as language cleanup on fishing regulations in portions of the South and Middle forks of the Flathead River.

Prior to the larger regulation overhaul last year, wilderness-specific regulations had existed for the two rivers, but the districtwide regulations were changed to mirror the wilderness rules in 2015, according to regional fisheries manager Mark Deleray.

This year’s changes simply eliminate the duplicative wilderness regulations, he said.

These proposed changes, along with others, are available for review and comment online at bit.ly/2ccF2ZZ.

Comments may be submitted through Monday, Sept. 12, at 5 p.m.

Comments may also be emailed to fwpfsh@mt.gov or mailed to: FWP Fisheries Division — Attn: Joel Tohtz; P.O. Box 200701; Helena, MT 59601.

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission will make final decisions on the regulations during its Oct. 13 meeting in Helena.