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Fishing in Montana

Find fishing spots near you with Fishbrain's interactive crowd-sourced map

Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks

Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks

Montana's state conservation agency

Phone: 406-577-7900

Email: fwprg3@mt.gov
Montana FWP
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Want trophy-size catches? These Montana spots deliver

About Montana fishing

Montana is world-famous for trout fly fishing in rivers and streams. Lakes provide pike, bass, and walleye, offering scenic, challenging, and diverse freshwater fishing experiences.

Montana fishing license

Montana requires a fishing license for anglers 12+. Licenses include resident and non-resident, annual and short-term, purchasable online or at license vendors statewide.

Get license

Top fish species caught in Montana

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Biggest catches in Montana

Explore your local leaderboard—see the top catches in the app.

State records of caught fish in Montana

SpeciesWeightNorthern pike37.5 lbsRainbow trout33.1 lbsBrown trout32.4 lbsLargemouth bass9.6 lbsSmallmouth bass8.4 lbs

Latest Montana fishing reports

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Brown trout

Missouri River (MT)

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Rainbow trout

Missouri River (MT)

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Missouri River (MT)

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Rainbow trout

Missouri River (MT)

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Steelhead

Missouri River (MT)

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Rainbow trout

Missouri River (MT)

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Missouri River (MT)

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Rainbow trout

Madison River

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Brown trout

Skalkaho Creek

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Brown trout

Skalkaho Creek

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Fishing regulations in Montana

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in Montana can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Below you will see fishing regulations for catching Loading... as of Loading.... To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.

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From the Fishbrain blog

Learn where to fish, when to fish, and top tips from our anglers to help you land that personal best

Best destinations for fall fishing

Fishbrain looks at some of the best locations around the country for fall scenery, solitude and fishing opportunities. Hungry fish, migrating species, cool temperatures and bright foliage await your next fishing adventure.

Best destinations for fall fishing
Night fishing during a heatwave

When the summer heatwave halts the bite on your favorite water, don't give up. It's time to go nocturnal. Learn why night fishing during a heatwave can not only be productive but a chance for some rare fishing solitude during the busy season.

Night fishing during a heatwave
Safe fish handling this Summer

Summer is here and we asked our fisheries biologist Ryan Hearn how you can handle fish safely during the summer heat.

Safe fish handling this Summer
See related posts
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FAQ about Montana fishing

Fishing regulations in Montana, United States vary by location and species, covering size limits, bag limits, and open seasons. To stay up to date and avoid guesswork, use the for the latest rules on every fish and body of water.
Anglers in Montana, United States most often target Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, and Brown trout. For more detailed insights, the shows exactly which species are biting in each lake, river, and coastline.
Popular waters in Montana, United States include Missouri River (MT), Yellowstone River, and Flathead Lake. With the , you can zoom in on any area to discover the best spots and see what other anglers are catching there.