GLASGOW ̶ Paddlefish anglers planning to harvest a fish in the Upper Missouri River (between Fort Peck Dam and Fort Benton) need to apply for an Upper Missouri River paddlefish tag by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 22.
For 2024, a total of 1,000 tags are available for the drawing. A 2024 fishing license is necessary before applying, and applications can be submitted online at fwp.mt.gov or at an FWP office. Anglers have the option to apply individually or as a party (up to five people) and have the option to purchase a bonus point at the time of application. There is not an E-Tag available for this license, so it cannot be used with the MyFWP app.
Successful applicants may harvest a fish anytime during the season, which runs from May 1 through June 15. Those anglers not successful in drawing a harvest tag will be issued a snag-and-release license for the Upper Missouri and will not be eligible to purchase any other paddlefish tag. Drawing results will be available in early April.
Additionally, anglers who did not participate in the drawing but would like to participate in snag-and-release, can purchase an Upper Missouri River paddlefish snag-and-release license at any FWP office, online or at any license provider throughout the season.
Anglers may select only one area to fish for paddlefish: Upper Missouri River (White Harvest Tag ̶ 1,000 tags available through the drawing) from May 1 to June 15, Yellowstone River and Missouri River downstream of Fort Peck Dam (Yellow Harvest Tag ̶ 1,000 fish quota) from May 15 to June 30, and the Fort Peck Dredge Cut archery-only season (Blue Harvest Tag) from July 1 to Aug. 31.
All harvested paddlefish must be immediately tagged and reported within 48 hours. Reporting options include: onsite check points where fish was harvested (such as Intake Fishing Access Site), self-reporting stations on the Upper Missouri and Fort Peck Dredge Cuts, calling 1-877-FWP-WILD or 406-444-0356, or online at MyFWP at fwp.mt.gov.
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