Fishing in Montana Might Net More Than Just Trout – Money

I have fished for most of my life, but my experience are mostly small streams.  The occasional drowning of a worm from a ski boat or the shore at Pelican Point, near Cascade has cropped up a few times in those years too.

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And after all those years of living in Montana, I had no idea that certain areas in the state and specific waterways held something besides an epic fight and hopefully a meal for me; cash.  Money, just for fishing, how have I not heard about this?

Fishing in Montana Might Net More Than Just Trout - Money

For the past several years, the Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks (MFWP) have teamed with the Montana State University (MSU) for research into "trout recruitment, health and mortality in the upper Jefferson River basin."  During the research, fish tagging of trout in the Big Hole, Beaverhead, Ruby and lower Madison rivers has occurred.

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MFWP and MSU monitor the tagged fish "for the coming years to better understand how environmental conditions, such as water temperature and flows, influence survival, as well as potential angling effects."  But those tagged fish also could land you some cash if caught.

Two Tags to Land Cash and Prizes with Trout in Montana Waterways this Summer

For Montana anglers, there are two ways that tagged fish in specific rivers could mean money, or more for you.  Fish that are caught featuring a yellow tag and reported are worth $100, and you "substantively contribute to the informed management of these fisheries by helping researchers identify individual fish."

For anglers landing a lunker with a blue tag, MFWP and MSU teamed with Montana Trout Unlimited to "host drawings for guided fishing trips, equipment and other prizes" when reported.  To learn more, visit the reporting website here.