This Saturday, as is the tradition in Montana on the third Saturday in May, the general fishing season opens.
It’s always a special occasion for a lot of people, but especially for kids, and for the parents and grandparents of those fledgling anglers.
Fortunately, the agency has designated a number of bodies of water, conveniently located near many western Montana communities, which are recommended for children’s fishing. And to ensure that those youngsters have a good chance of success in their angling efforts, FWP stocks most of those waters with plenty of “catchable-sized” game fish.
The opening of the general fishing season Saturday signals the official start of fishing on smaller streams, as well as the start of catch-and-keep fishing for trout on the larger rivers, many of which have been open to catch-and-release trout fishing throughout the year.
The area’s small streams can be wonderful classrooms for young anglers, where they can learn - on a manageable scale - the basics of the sport and the places fish live.
However, the early season isn’t always the best time to take them there, because of the hazards of high flows during spring runoff. Not only do overflowing and silt-laden streams produce less-than-ideal fishing conditions, the swift currents often encountered during runoff can pose a danger for kids, according to Pat Saffel, FWP’s regional fisheries manager in Missoula.
“If you’re going to go out and celebrate the fishing opener,” says Saffel, “some of the ponds and lakes are good places to go with kids.”
The staff at Missoula’s regional FWP office say they also get a lot of queries about fishing license requirements for kids and parents accompanying them.
If kids are fishing in a private fishing pond, no license is needed.
No license is required anywhere for youngsters ages 1 to 11. But they must observe all limits and regulations.
If they’re fishing public waters, children ages 12 to 14 must have a state conservation license only, which is free in 2008. Kids age 15 and over must have a conservation license and a fishing license.
Adults who help kids fish by holding their poles and casting for them are technically required to have a fishing license.
Some of FWP’s designated kids’ fishing ponds are restricted by age, and are posted as such by signs. Others allow adults to fish, too, to encourage parents’ involvement, but may require or recommend adults to practice catch-and-release.
Missoula, Kalispell and Hamilton, as well as several other western Montana communities, have kids’ fishing ponds located right in town, providing an opportunity for children, their friends and families to walk or ride bikes to the local fishin’ hole.
Here are some of FWP’s recommended kids’ fishing waters: (A baited hook under a bobber will work most of the time at all these locations.)
• Silver’s Lagoon, located at McCormick Park in downtown Missoula, is open to fishing for anglers 14 years old and younger from April 1 through Oct. 30. Kids can keep three fish of any species daily and in possession. The Missoula Parks Department reconstructed the pond last year to make it deeper and provide improved cold water conditions for the trout stocked by FWP. The pond is open now and has been good fishing this spring, Saffel says. FWP has stocked Silver’s Lagoon this year with 600 11- to 12-inch rainbow trout and plans to add up to 500 cutthroats 8 to 10 inches long this month. A ditch feeding the lagoon contributes other fish species to the pond, including pumpkinseed sunfish, perch and at least one large pike, according to Saffel. “So,” he adds, “if the trout fishing tails off, there’s a population of other fish to fill in the action.”
• Frenchtown Pond State Park, located off Interstate 90 just west of Frenchtown, is open now and offers kids and adults opportunities to catch largemouth bass, including some lunkers transplanted from the Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge near Stevensville. “I really like Frenchtown Pond for kids’ fishing,” says Saffel. “There are some larger bass in there for sure.” But there are also lots of smaller perch and pumpkinseeds available to keep kids’ poles bent. “They’re real easy to catch with worms and you don’t have to cast very far,” he says. There’s a limit of three bass daily and in possession, none over 12 inches long. Fishing equipment is available for loan.
• Beavertail Pond, a spring-fed gravel pit, is located just north of Interstate 90 off the Beavertail Hill Recreation Area, 27 miles east of Missoula. The pond was purchased by FWP from Missoula construction magnate Dennis Washington in 1990, and has been gaining in popularity as a fishing and swimming hole ever since. The pond provides excellent fishing opportunities for families, kids and adults, for largemouth bass, rainbow and cutthroat trout, perch and sunfish. “We’ve had really good luck with Beavertail,” says Saffel. “A lot of people are using that for fishing. More people keep showing up.” One reason is the lure of big fish. FWP has stocked the pond with retired hatchery brood stock rainbows for several years, including 100 of the bruisers this year, some of which look large enough to eat small dogs. The pond has also received plants of largemouth bass from the Metcalf refuge. Some of those are also trophy-sized, although there’s a limit of three bass daily under 12 inches long. Beavertail was stocked this year with 900 rainbows from 11 to 14 inches long, plus 600 cutthroats up to 15 inches long. Fishing from shore is highly effective. There’s also a boat launch, disabled fishing access platform and latrine, plus good picnic spots.
• Heironymous Pond, located in the town of Hamilton, has been stocked this year with 200 7-inch rainbows and also contains perch to challenge young anglers. The combined trout limit is three daily and in possession, including cutthroat and brook trout.
• Harpers Lake, located three miles north of Clearwater Junction, has been stocked this year with 1,000
7-to-9-inch rainbows, and
900 12-inch-plus rainbows, plus 100 retired brood stock rainbows over 20 inches long from FWP’s Arlee Fish Hatchery. The open shoreline of this small, scenic lake provides ample opportunities for kids and adults to fish from shore with bait or lures. There’s also a boat launch, latrine and disabled fishing access platform.
• Browns Lake and Georgetown Lake, two very popular trout fishing destinations for all anglers, have been added to FWP’s list of recommended kids’ fishing waters this year, according to Saffel. Both are well suited to family fishing opportunities. Browns is located six miles southeast of Ovando. Georgetown is located 18 miles west of Anaconda. “Browns is one of those lakes where everyone can catch fish,” Saffel says. And of Georgetown, he adds, “You can stand on a dock and catch fish there.”
• Warm Springs Kids Pond, located at the Warm Springs Wildlife Management Area headquarters east of Deer Lodge, and Warm Springs Gravel Pit, located adjacent to Highway 48 between Warm Springs and Anaconda, provide good fishing opportunities for youngsters. Both waters are open all year and have been stocked with rainbows by FWP. The kids’ pond is open only to anglers age 14 and younger. The gravel pit is open to adults as well. The trout limit at both sites is two fish daily and in possession.
• Lolo Pond offers kids, families and adults a chance to catch largemouth bass, perch, pike and surprisingly large pumpkinseed sunfish. The pond is located near the Bitterroot River in Lolo. Take Glacier Drive off of Highway 93, then left on Lakeside to the end of the road at the Missoula County park parking area. Go down the stairs and follow the trail to the right.
• Ninepipes Pond, located about five miles south of Ronan off Highway 93, is open to fishing for kids, families and adults. Adults must release their catch. It is stocked with 11- to 14-inch rainbow trout, as well as some retired brood stock monsters, and also contains largemouth bass, perch and possibly brook trout. This pond is used heavily for youth fishing classes and is the site of a kids’ fishing day event sponsored by area sporting goods stores, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and FWP. The pond offers an open, easily accessible shoreline, parking, a handicapped accessible latrine and fishing pier. The pond is a about one-half mile west of the highway on a gravel road across from the Ninepipes Motel and Museum.
In Kalispell
• Dry Bridge Pond is located in Dry Bridge City Park at the corner of 11th Street East and Woodland Avenue. The pond has been stocked with rainbow trout in a variety of sizes. The three-acre pond is open to family fishing, although adults are asked to voluntarily release their catch.
• Shady Lane Pond is located near the Old Steel Bridge Fishing Access Site just east of Kalispell. The bridge is now being removed. Follow a marked trail to the pond and around the construction. The pond is stocked with cutthroat trout.
• Buffalohead Park Pond, located off Grandview Drive just south of Flathead Community College, is ordinarily recommended as a kids’ and family fishing location by FWP. But this spring the pond’s water level is too low and it hasn’t been stocked. It should be open later this year, according to FWP.
• Snappy’s Pond, located at Snappy Sport Center at the junction of Highway 2 and Highway 35, is open only for special kids’ fishing days during the year and is used by FWP’s “Hooked on Fishing” youth classes.
By the book
There are a couple of significant fishing regulation changes that affect anglers in western Montana this year, according to officials of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
• In the Little Blackfoot River and its tributaries, new regulations require catch-and-release fishing only for cutthroat trout. The standard Western District stream limits remain in place on the Little Blackfoot River for rainbow and brown trout: five trout daily and in possession, only one over 14 inches.
• Anglers in FWP’s Western District (Region 1 and Region 2) will be allowed this year to use two lines (rods) with two hooks per line on lakes.
Be sure to check the fishing regulations for every specific body of water you fish.
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