The 2022 Paddlefish Season Application Deadline Near

Paddlefish anglers planning to harvest a fish in the Upper Missouri River (from Fort Peck Dam to Fort Benton) need to apply for an Upper Missouri River paddlefish tag by 5 p.m. Friday, March 25.

For 2022, a total of 1,000 tags are available for the drawing. Applicants have the option to purchase a bonus point for this opportunity, similar to big game, at the time of application. There is not an e-tag available for this license, so it cannot be used with new myFWP phone app.

Successful applicants may harvest a fish anytime during the season, 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. Notification of results will be available in early April.

Additionally, anglers that did not participate in the tag drawing, but would like to participate in the snag and release fishery, can purchase an Upper Missouri River paddlefish snag and release license at any FWP office, online, or at any license provider throughout the season.

As in the past, anglers may select only one area to fish for paddlefish in Montana: Upper Missouri River (white harvest tag - 1,000 tags available through the drawing) May 1 through June 15, Yellowstone River and Missouri River downstream of Fort Peck Dam (yellow harvest tag - 1,000-fish quota) from May 15 through June 30, and the Fort Peck Dredge Cut archery- only season (blue harvest tag) from July 1 through Aug. 31.

Remember that all harvested paddlefish must be immediately tagged and reported within 48 hours. Reporting options include: on-site where fish were harvested (at check points like Intake Fishing Access Site), self-reporting stations on the Upper Missouri and Fort Peck Dredge Cuts, on the phone hotline at 1-877-FWPWILD or 406-444-0356, or online at MyFWP at fwp. mt.gov.