Montana Ranchers’ Fees Help Themselves And Fish

Some Montana ranchers who charge anglers for access to fishing say the fees of $65 or so are more than income. They also help control traffic, and that’s good for fisheries, the ranchers say.

“We wouldn’t have a fish left if we turned everyone loose on the river,” said Tom Tamcke, whose family began charging seven years ago for fishing on part of the Red Rock River just above Clark Canyon Reservoir.

Tom and Debbie Tamcke say controlling the number of anglers by charging is good for sportsmen and ranchers alike.

At their ranch, cattle still generate most of the money, but income from sportsmen has “helped us fix up some things that may not have got done before,” Tom Tamcke said.

They began charging after other attempts to control fishermen on the river failed.

Debbie’s father, Bill Staudenmeyer, said that in his family’s early ownership of the ranch, there were times he couldn’t get to some buildings because fishermen’s vehicles blocked the way.

For awhile, the family required sportsmen to get permission cards before entering the ranch, but the system was unsatisfactory.

“The only way we found we could control access was to charge people a trespass fee,” Staudenmeyer said. “Charging is the best thing we’ve ever done.”

The Tamckes have been amazed at the number of fishermen willing to pay. Reservations are taken starting Jan. 1 of each year, and the days in June, July and August are snapped up.

“We’ve never advertised … this whole thing has been spread by word of mouth,” Debbie Tamcke said.

Outfitter Scott Waldie of the Twin Bridges area said that on the Ruby River, fee fishing isn’t just a trend, it is an established system.

“It’s unfortunate that fishing in America has come to this, but it’s just the way it is,” Waldie said. “There’s no changing it.”

He said the going rate in his area is about $50 a day, but “that’s not far away from $100, then $200.” Ranchers who charge to fish the Ruby have no trouble filling their calendars, he said.

There are two sides to fee fishing, said Dick Oswald, a biologist for the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

He said landowners often look for ways to improve fish habitat when they charge. In addition, he said, those able to pay can get some solitude.

On the negative side, superior fishing locations can end up off limits to the general public, Oswald said.

He also said that over the years, public money may have been used for work that contributed to the quality fishing for which ranchers charge.

Oswald added that restricting use of some locations can cause crowding at others.