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Speak up for your Madison River

A angler stands on the bank of the Madison River Anglers and river recreationists need to speak up to lend their voice to the future management of the Madison River. 

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks are conducting a public survey to gauge support for implementing river recreation rules for the Madison River. The survey is in response to three petitions filed recently to push the Commission to begin the rulemaking process. Commissioners rejected all three petitions, which were filed by four sporting organizations, the Fishing Outfitters Association of Montana, and the Madison River Foundation. 

But the Commission did commit to crafting an agency proposal. The scoping and survey are the beginning of that process. 

The issue has arisen because of gross crowding on the river in the summer months. The Madison is receiving more than 200,000 use-days of anglers per year. And much of that is concentrated from June 15 through Sept. 30. 

An angler kneeling in the water releases a fish into the madison river. In addition, outfitter days are not limited. Anglers report intense crowding of fishing access sites and a steady stream of boats that makes wade fishing difficult. 

Officials experienced similar problems on the Big Hole and Beaverhead rivers years ago and implemented some river recreation rules that put some caps on outfitter days and implemented a rest/rotation schedule that included “citizen days” on stretches of those rivers. It’s worked, and the Madison River could be no different. 

Get engaged, and make your voice heard for your Madison River by going to FWP’s survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RDWKFXW

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Jeff Lukas – MWF Elk Campaign Manager

Jeff Lukas

Elk Campaign Manager

Jeff Lukas is a passionate conservationist who has been fishing and hunting his entire life. Whether it’s floating a small stream chasing trout, pursuing elk in the high country, or waiting in a blind for ducks to set their wings, Jeff is always trying to bring more people afield to show them what we are trying to protect. He loves being in the arena, and he will never shy away from conversations about the beautiful and unique corners of Big Sky country.