The Jefferson River near Cardwell, Montana, on June 19, 2024. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)

On Friday afternoon Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks announced it would be closing the entirety of the Jefferson and Big Hole Rivers to fishing beginning midnight Aug. 23.

Low streamflows were to blame for the closure, which will be until further notice, FWP stated in a press release. The Jefferson River has fallen below 280 cubic feet per second and the Big Hole below 100 cfs at Wise River and 150 cfs at Melrose. Once the river falls below those thresholds, the river is closed.

“With no precipitation forecasted for either river, angling closures are a necessary step to protect the fisheries in both rivers,” said Adam Strainer, Fisheries Division Administrator for FWP.

Both rivers were

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