10 Must Dos After Boating or Fishing in Montana
1. Put Your Fish on Ice
If you’re transporting your fish home to eat it, put it on ice right away so it will taste better and last longer. Plus, it’s illegal to transport standing water in boats, so you’ll need to drain your live well and promptly store your fish on ice.
2. Don’t Be a Ramp Hog!
Move quickly to be courteous to other boaters and anglers. Back your trailer down, load your boat, and then move out of the way. Always check the boat and trailer for weeds and mud to ensure you aren’t transporting any invasive mussels or other species.
3. Caught A Big One? Get It Certified Right Away
If you think you’ve caught a record-breaking fish, put it on ice and go to a grocery or hardware store to have it weighed. Then go to the FWP office to fill out the record form. (But remember: never transport live fish from one waterbody to another.)
4. Get Inspected – and Clean, Drain and Dry
If you approach a watercraft inspection station, you must stop – and if your watercraft is already clean, drained and dry when you pull into the station, your inspection will be much quicker. Your watercraft must be inspected if you’re coming into Montana from out of state, even if you’re not launching in Montana
5. Inventory Your Gear
Replace your hooks, lures, bobbers and sinkers, and clean your reel and fishing line. If you do this right away and replace anything you need, your next trip will be much easier.
6. Check Your Trailer
Make sure your coupler is working properly, and check everything from your lights and tires to your safety chains for rust or damage.
7. Clean Your Waders and Boots
Tiny invasive species can hide in your gear, particularly felt waders. Use a scrub brush and thoroughly clean and dry everything you wore. The Invasive Species Action Network has boot cleaning stations all around the state.
8. Pick Up Your Trash
Never leave any garbage behind – especially fishing line that can harm wildlife. You can find monofilament recycle tubes at many fishing access sites.
9. Dispose of Live Bait Properly
Dispose of unwanted bait, worms, and fish parts in the trash. Never dump live bait into the water, because you could introduce invasive species that will harm native populations.
10. Thank the Landowner
If you access fishing or boating sites through private land, be sure to thank the owners. Pick up trash, leave gates as you found them and drive on the road. Always remember to be courteous!
For more information about the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Aquatic Invasive Species Program, visit CleanDrainDryMT.com or call 406- 444-2440.