Single-pointed hook restriction expanded
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News from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
FLATHEAD RIVER - Building on a 2020 regulation that restricted anglers to single-pointed hooks on the three forks of the Flathead River upstream of the Teakettle Fishing Access Site, the new rule extends the ban on treble and double hooks to the main stem of the Flathead River down to Flathead Lake. This restriction does not apply to Flathead River sloughs.
Anglers may remove treble or double hooks from lures and replace them with a single hook, or the shanks may be cut off the other hook points to leave a single hook. Lures with multiple hook attachments may still be used, but any treble or double hook must be replaced by a single hook.
“Bull trout are vulnerable to mortality because generally they need to be netted and treble hooks are notorious for getting caught and re-caught in nets, increasing time out of water for the fish,” said Mike Hensler, regional fisheries manager for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
“Westslope cutthroat trout are also vulnerable to hooking mortality due to their tendency to be caught multiple times in a season.”
Hensler added, “Single-pointed hooks reduce handling stress and injury, making catch-and-release more effective while still supporting all types of fishing.”
