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 public meetings in each region to present the 2027–2028 fishing regulation proposals, answer questions, and collect input.
The meeting in FWP Region 7 will be in Miles City on Thursday, May 7 at the FWP regional headquarters in Miles City beginning at 6 p.m. Staff will present fishing regulation proposals, answer questions and collect input.
The full set of preliminary proposals is available to download and view at
https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/public-comment-opportunities/fishing-regulations
Proposals that impact waters in region 7 or the Eastern Fishing District include:
- Proposal 1: Definition of Hook and bait (Clarification), page 4.
- Proposal 4: Eastern District Standard Smallmouth Bass Limits, page 20.
- Proposal 6: Transportation of Live Fish in the Eastern District, page 26.
- Proposal 41: Castle Rock Lake Bluegill Harvest Limit, page 88.
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.
If you can't attend the in-person meeting, statewide virtual meetings will be held May 26 at noon and at 6 p.m. The login for those meetings will be posted on fwp.mt.gov beforehand.
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.
FWP uses a two-year cycle for fishing regulations and booklets are printed on odd-numbered years. In the interim, changes will be posted online and shared via other outreach like FWP newsletters and social media.