Big Hole Section 5 drought closure lifted after weekend rain

Anglers can fish Big Hole River Section 5 again. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, in a Sept. 22, 2026, news release out of Helena, lifted the drought angling closure on that stretch after weekend rain improved flows. Section 5 runs from Tony Schoonen Fishing Access Site, also called the Notch, downstream to the confluence with the Beaverhead River.

Section 1 stays shut. That closure still covers the river from Saginaw Bridge on Skinner Meadows Road to the confluence with the North Fork of the Big Hole. FWP’s current waterbody-closures page lists that Section 1 drought closure and does not list Section 5 as closed.

A separate annual fishing closure, from Dickie Bridge to the Jefferson River, starts Oct. 1 to protect spawning trout. FWP said sections of the Ruby and Beaverhead also go under those yearly spawning closures. The release asks anglers to land fish quickly, keep them in the water, and revive them before release.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: Montana FWP — Angling closure lifted on Section 5 of Big Hole River (Sept. 22, 2026). Closures still in effect: FWP waterbody closures.