Montana officials want to limit fishing outfitter use on the Madison River in an effort to reduce crowding and social conflicts between anglers.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks released a draft Madison River recreation plan Tuesday that includes capping the number of outfitters, banning commercial guiding on the river’s lowermost stretch and prohibiting commercial guides from certain stretches on certain days.
The plan would not go into effect until 2019. FWP will propose the plan to the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission next week. Initial approval would open public comment.
FWP said in a news release that data shows recreational use on the Madison is increasing, and that fishing pressure bumps by about 15 percent every two years. Since 2008, commercial outfitter use has increased by 72 percent, FWP said.
The proposal caps the number commercial outfitters at 2017 levels and would restrict use by reach of river. One reach each day would be designated for non-commercial use, meaning guide trips couldn’t use it.
The plan would ban guiding from Greycliff Fishing Access Site to the Madison’s confluence with the Jefferson River, near Three Forks. FWP’s release said that’s meant to preserve the “primitive nature of this unique reach.”
It also seeks to ban boat and float tube use by anglers on the uppermost stretches of the river where they are restricted to wading. In the past, some anglers have used boats to access prime wading spots.
