KALISPELL – If you are interested in angling in Montana, your input is needed to help craft new fishing regulations for the next two years.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public input on 41 preliminary fishing regulation proposals for the 2027–2028 fishing regulations. FWP is also interested in hearing from anglers on additional ideas for regulation changes.
FWP will host a public meeting on May 14 at 5:30 p.m. at the Region 1 office, 490 North Meridian Road in Kalispell. Staff will present fishing regulation proposals, answer questions and collect input.
The full set of preliminary proposals are available online, just look at the downloadable PDF. Thirteen of the proposals include changes to regulations in FWP Region 1's portion of the western fishing district. These include:
- Proposal 9: Flathead Lake Northern Pike Limits, page 31
- Proposal 10: Flathead Lake Rainbow Trout Limits, page 32
- Proposal 11: Flathead Lake Smallmouth Bass Limits, page 34
- Proposal 12: Fishtrap Creek and Tributaries Bait Restriction, page 36
- Proposal 13: Hungry Horse Reservoir Bull Trout Length Restriction and Season Change, page 38
- Proposal 14: Little Bitterroot Lake Kokanee Harvest Limit, page 41
- Proposal 15: Little Bitterroot Lake Rainbow Trout Length Restriction, page 42
- Proposal 16: Graves Creek Gear Restriction, page 43
- Proposal 17: Graves Creek Bait Restriction, page 45
- Proposal 18: Vermillion River Bait Restriction, page 47
- Proposal 19: Vermillion River Gear Restriction, page 49
- Proposal 21: West Fork Thompson River and Tributaries Bait and Gear Restrictions, page 53
- Proposal 22: McGregor Lake Crayfish Harvest Restriction, page 55
At the May 14 public meeting, FWP staff will be on hand to answer questions. Comments submitted online will be used to develop a regulation proposal package for the Fish and Wildlife Commission. This proposal package will go out for public comment in August before going to the Commission for final consideration at its fall 2026 meeting.
Comments on individual proposals, as well as new regulation ideas from the public, can be submitted through the FWP website, or by mail to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620. Comments for this initial scoping effort will be collected through May.
Regulations are set by the Fish and Wildlife Commission, which is a seven-member board appointed by Gov. Greg Gianforte and independent from FWP. The commissioners will review public comments and feedback and, prior to the final meeting in the fall, propose any amendments they feel are necessary. Commissioners may also make changes to the regulation proposals during the final meeting.