Big Hole River Summary

There are numerous locations on the Big Hole River where landowners have blocked access via barriers and fencing. We have received complaints on Upper North Fork Road, Minor Lake Road, Little Lake Creek Road, Big Swamp Creek Road, Big Lake Creek Road, Twin Lake Road, and Rock Creek Road (see images below).

Since the original complaint, the utility fencing under the bridge at Minor Creek Road has been removed and replaced downstream with a strand of electric wire (unknown if charged) and a PVC fence design that allows boats through. Additionally, anglers were involved in removing barbed wire and taking down fencing on Upper North Fork Road. However, many barbed wire and utility fences remain along access points on the Big Hole.

As of July 2022, Little Lake Creek, Big Swamp Creek, and Twin Lake Roads have seen no changes. Additional fencing has been added and attached to the guardrail at Big Lake Creek. The county has done extensive bridge work at Rock Creek Road, but property owners were recently seen adding fences to the bridge and placing barbed wire across the river.

FWP has been contacted numerous times since 2021 regarding the excessive fencing under and along many bridges on the upper Big Hole River under the guise of keeping cattle contained. In many places, the river is entirely inaccessible. FWP responses are unclear concerning anglers portaging around these barriers in accordance with §§ 23-2-311, MCA, and whether or not they would be ticketed.

UPDATE: June 2023

PLWA followed up with game wardens in the area, but have not heard back on findings or actions taken on the multiple access issues along the upper Big Hole River.

UPDATE: December 2022

PLWA reached out to local FWP authorities and discussed the complexity of the multiple access issues along the Big Hole River and it’s tributaries. PLWA forwarded on the images shown below and we were informed an enforcement officer would be notified, with potential site visits to follow.