Upper Missouri River Reservoir Fisheries Plan Meeting Set for March 16

March 3, 2026
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If you're a Montana angler who's also a staunch 2A defender, mark your calendar for March 16—Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) is hosting its annual Upper Missouri River Reservoir Fisheries Plan update at the Montana WILD Education Center in Helena. This isn't just another bureaucratic check-in; it's a deep dive into population trends for walleye, perch, trout, and other game fish across Canyon Ferry, Hauser, and Holter reservoirs, plus the broader Missouri River system. Expect data-driven discussions on spawning success, harvest pressures, and habitat tweaks, with FWP biologists laying out management strategies to keep these fisheries thriving amid droughts, floods, and angling demand. What makes this meeting a must-attend for the 2A community? These reservoirs aren't just fishing holes—they're public-use crown jewels that underpin Montana's outdoor heritage, where concealed carry is as routine as rigging a jig. Robust fish populations mean more rod-and-reel days for families, hunters scouting ducks over decoys, and responsible gun owners honing marksmanship with .22s along the shorelines (all legal under Montana's shall-issue permits and constitutional carry). If FWP's plans falter—say, due to overregulation or ignored angler input—we could see declining stocks leading to access restrictions, bag limits that crimp traditions, or worse, no firearms zones creeping in under environmental pretexts. This meeting is your chance to weigh in, armed with facts, ensuring fisheries management bolsters—not burdens—our rights to bear arms in pursuit of game. The implications ripple outward: healthy fisheries sustain local economies tied to boats, bait shops, and guiding outfits, which in turn support pro-2A lawmakers who know rural voters pack heat responsibly. Show up, ask tough questions about predator control (like pike or mussels threatening natives), and remind FWP that Montanans value self-reliance on the water as much as on the range. It's a small venue for big impacts—your voice could keep the Missouri flowing freely for fish, freedom, and the next generation.

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If you’re a Montana angler who’s also a staunch 2A defender, mark your calendar for March 16—Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) is hosting its annual Upper Missouri River Reservoir Fisheries Plan update at the Montana WILD Education Center in Helena. This isn’t just another bureaucratic check-in; it’s a deep dive into population trends for walleye, perch, trout, and other game fish across Canyon Ferry, Hauser, and Holter reservoirs, plus the broader Missouri River system. Expect data-driven discussions on spawning success, harvest pressures, and habitat tweaks, with FWP biologists laying out management strategies to keep these fisheries thriving amid droughts, floods, and angling demand.

What makes this meeting a must-attend for the 2A community? These reservoirs aren’t just fishing holes—they’re public-use crown jewels that underpin Montana’s outdoor heritage, where concealed carry is as routine as rigging a jig. Robust fish populations mean more rod-and-reel days for families, hunters scouting ducks over decoys, and responsible gun owners honing marksmanship with .22s along the shorelines (all legal under Montana’s shall-issue permits and constitutional carry). If FWP’s plans falter—say, due to overregulation or ignored angler input—we could see declining stocks leading to access restrictions, bag limits that crimp traditions, or worse, no firearms zones creeping in under environmental pretexts. This meeting is your chance to weigh in, armed with facts, ensuring fisheries management bolsters—not burdens—our rights to bear arms in pursuit of game.

The implications ripple outward: healthy fisheries sustain local economies tied to boats, bait shops, and guiding outfits, which in turn support pro-2A lawmakers who know rural voters pack heat responsibly. Show up, ask tough questions about predator control (like pike or mussels threatening natives), and remind FWP that Montanans value self-reliance on the water as much as on the range. It’s a small venue for big impacts—your voice could keep the Missouri flowing freely for fish, freedom, and the next generation.

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