Montana Fishing Areas
Montana is a paradise for anglers with its abundant rivers, lakes, and streams. Some of the popular fishing destinations in the state include the Yellowstone River, Missouri River, Bighorn River, Gallatin River, and Madison River. These rivers offer opportunities to catch trout, whitefish, bass, and pike.
The best time to fish in Montana depends on the season. The spring and fall offer good fishing opportunities with cooler temperatures, while summer is a popular time for fly fishing. The average temperature in the summer is around 70-80°F. Winter fishing is also possible in some areas, but anglers should be prepared for icy conditions.
Fly fishing is a popular method for catching trout in Montana, and anglers can use a variety of flies such as dry flies, nymphs, and streamers. Spin fishing with baits such as worms, salmon eggs, and lures is also effective.
Montana is home to some impressive fishing facts. The state's Trout Capital is West Yellowstone, and the world-record brown trout, weighing in at over 40 pounds, was caught in Montana's Beaverhead River. The state also has a law that requires anglers to release any fish caught with a hook smaller than size 10.
In summary, Montana offers some of the best angling opportunities in the country, with various species of fish and fishing techniques available. Whether you prefer fly fishing or spin fishing, there is something for everyone in this beautiful state.
Location | State | Fish Habitat |
---|---|---|
Abbot Creek
|
Montana | Brook Trout, Bull Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Mountain Whitefish |
Abbot Lake
|
Montana | Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Northern Pikeminnow |
Absaroka
|
Montana | |
Ackley Lake Feeder Canal
|
Montana | |
Albino Lake
|
Montana | Cutthroat Trout |
Aldous Lake
|
Montana | |
Alice Creek
|
Montana | Shorthead Redhorse, Silver Redhorse, Brook Trout, Bull Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout |
Almeda Lake
|
Montana | Cutthroat Trout |
Als Coulee Reservoir
|
Montana | Rainbow Trout |
Alvord Lake
|
Montana | Largemouth Bass, Black Bullhead, Yellow Perch, Pumpkinseed Sunfish |
Anita Reservoir
|
Montana | Largemouth Bass, Bigmouth Buffalo, Burbot, Common Carp, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, Shorthead Redhorse, Silver Redhorse, Pumpkinseed Sunfish |
Anvil Lake
|
Montana | Cutthroat Trout |
Arapooish Pond
|
Montana | Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Black Bullhead, Common Carp, Shorthead Redhorse, Silver Redhorse, Rainbow Trout |
Arch Lake
|
Montana | Cutthroat Trout |
Arnolds Pond
|
Montana | Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout |
Arrastra Creek
|
Montana | Silver Redhorse, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Bull Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Mountain Whitefish |
Ashley Creek
|
Montana | |
Ashley Lake
|
Montana | Yellow Perch, Sockeye Salmon, Cutthroat Trout |
Asteroid Lake
|
Montana | Golden Trout |
Axolotl Lake
|
Montana | Cutthroat Trout |
Bad Canyon Creek
|
Montana | Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout |
Badger Bay Fishing Access
|
Montana | |
Bair Reservoir
|
Montana | Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout |
Baldy Lake
|
Montana | Cutthroat Trout |
Baree Lake
|
Montana | Cutthroat Trout |
Basin Creek Lake
|
Montana | Golden Trout |
Bass Creek
|
Montana | Silver Redhorse, Brook Trout, Bull Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout |
Battle Creek
|
Montana | Smallmouth Bass, Black Bullhead, Common Carp, White Perch, Northern Pike, Shorthead Redhorse, Sauger, Tautog, Walleye |
Beaver Lodge
|
Montana | |
Beehive Lake
|
Montana | Cutthroat Trout |
Belmont Creek
|
Montana | Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Bull Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Mountain Whitefish |
Belt Creek
|
Montana | Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout |
Berry Lake
|
Montana | Cutthroat Trout |
Beta Lake
|
Montana | Cutthroat Trout |
Big Elk Creek
|
Montana | Silver Redhorse, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout |
Big Hawk Lake
|
Montana | Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout |
Big Lake
|
Montana | Rainbow Trout |
Big Lake Creek
|
Montana | Burbot, Arctic Grayling, Silver Redhorse, Brook Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Mountain Whitefish |
Big Pipestone Creek
|
Montana | Silver Redhorse, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout |
Big Salmon Creek
|
Montana | Bull Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Mountain Whitefish |
Big Salmon Lake
|
Montana | Bull Trout, Cutthroat Trout |
Big Therriault Lake
|
Montana | Cutthroat Trout |
Big Timber Creek
|
Montana | Common Carp, Silver Redhorse, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Mountain Whitefish |
Bighorn Lake
|
Montana | |
Birch Lake
|
Montana | Cutthroat Trout |
Bison Creek
|
Montana | Silver Redhorse, Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, Mountain Whitefish |
Bitterroot River
|
Montana | Largemouth Bass, Shorthead Redhorse, Silver Redhorse, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Bull Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Mountain Whitefish, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Northern Pikeminnow |
Black Lion Lake
|
Montana | Cutthroat Trout |
Blackfoot Lake
|
Montana | Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout |
Blackfoot River
|
Montana | Yellow Perch, Shorthead Redhorse, Silver Redhorse, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Bull Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Mountain Whitefish, Northern Pikeminnow |
Blacktail Lake
|
Montana | Cutthroat Trout |
Blaine Spring Creek
|
Montana | Shorthead Redhorse, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout |
Blair Lake
|
Montana | Cutthroat Trout |
Blanchard Lake
|
Montana | Yellow Perch, Shorthead Redhorse, Silver Redhorse, Sockeye Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Northern Pikeminnow |
Blodgett Creek
|
Montana | Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Bull Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout |
Blue Danube Lake
|
Montana | Golden Trout |
Blue Joint Creek
|
Montana | Shorthead Redhorse, Brook Trout, Bull Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Mountain Whitefish |
Blue Paradise Lake
|
Montana | Golden Trout, Rainbow Trout |
Bluebird Lake
|
Montana | Cutthroat Trout |
Bluewater Spring
|
Montana | |
Bonanza Lakes
|
Montana | Brook Trout |
Bootjack Lake
|
Montana | Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout |
Boulder Creek
|
Montana | Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Bull Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Mountain Whitefish |
Boulder River
|
Montana | Shorthead Redhorse, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Mountain Whitefish |
Bowback Lake
|
Montana | Cutthroat Trout |
Bowman Creek
|
Montana | Bull Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Mountain Whitefish |
Bozeman Creek
|
Montana | Silver Redhorse, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout |
Brackett Creek
|
Montana | Silver Redhorse, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Mountain Whitefish |
Branham Lakes
|
Montana | Brook Trout |
Brannan Lakes
|
Montana | Rainbow Trout |
Bratten Fishing Access
|
Montana | |
Bridge Lake
|
Montana | Cutthroat Trout |
Bridger
|
Montana | |
Bridger Bend
|
Montana | |
Bridger Creek
|
Montana | Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Mountain Whitefish |
Broadview Pond
|
Montana | Largemouth Bass, Tautog, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout |
Buffalo Jump
|
Montana | |
Buffalo Mirage
|
Montana | |
Bull Springs
|
Montana | |
Bundy Bridge
|
Montana | |
Burnt Fork Bitterroot River
|
Montana | Shorthead Redhorse, Silver Redhorse, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Bull Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Mountain Whitefish, Northern Pikeminnow |
Burnt Fork Lake
|
Montana | Bull Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout |
Campfire Lake
|
Montana | Cutthroat Trout |
Canyon Ferry Lake
|
Montana | Burbot, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Walleye |
Cardwell Bridge Fishing Access Site
|
Montana | |
Cascade Creek
|
Montana | Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, Mountain Whitefish |
Castle Rock
|
Montana | |
Cataract Lake
|
Montana | Cutthroat Trout |
Chilled Lakes
|
Montana | Cutthroat Trout |
Chrome Lake
|
Montana | Arctic Grayling, Cutthroat Trout |
Clarks Fork Yellowstone
|
Montana | |
Cliff Swallow
|
Montana | |
Comers Point Fishing Access
|
Montana | |
Cooney Reservoir
|
Montana | Burbot, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, Shorthead Redhorse, Silver Redhorse, Tautog, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Walleye, Mountain Whitefish |
Cottonwood Creek
|
Montana | Silver Redhorse, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Bull Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Mountain Whitefish |
Courthouse Lake
|
Montana | Cutthroat Trout |
Crazy Lake
|
Montana | Cutthroat Trout |
Crow Creek
|
Montana | Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Mountain Whitefish |
Dailey Lake
|
Montana | Yellow Perch, Silver Redhorse, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Walleye |
Davis Lake
|
Montana | Cutthroat Trout |
Deadmans Basin Reservoir
|
Montana | Smallmouth Bass, Burbot, Common Carp, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Tiger Muskellunge, Shorthead Redhorse, Silver Redhorse, Sockeye Salmon, Green Sunfish, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Lake Whitefish, Mountain Whitefish |
Dearborn River
|
Montana | Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, Mountain Whitefish |
Deep Creek Fishing Access
|
Montana | |
Deep Creek (Upper Missouri Drainage)
|
Montana | |
Delmoe Lake
|
Montana | |
Depuy Spring Creek
|
Montana | |
Dipping Vat Pond
|
Montana | |
Druckmiller Lake
|
Montana | Rainbow Trout |
Dry Creek-Krezelok Reservoir
|
Montana | Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout |
Dry Fork Belt Creek
|
Montana | |
Dry Wolf Creek
|
Montana | |
Dryad Lake
|
Montana | Golden Trout |
Duck Creek
|
Montana | Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Mountain Whitefish |
Duck Creek Bridge
|
Montana | |
Duck Creek (Upper Missouri Drainage)
|
Montana | |
Dude Lake
|
Montana | Cutthroat Trout |
Eagles Nest Day Use Area
|
Montana | |
East Bridge
|
Montana | |
East Fork Boulder River
|
Montana | |
East Fork Cottonwood Creek
|
Montana | |
East Fork Hyalite Creek
|
Montana | |
East Fork Spring Creek
|
Montana | |
East Gallatin River
|
Montana | |
East Rosebud Creek
|
Montana | |
Emerald Lake Fishing Access
|
Montana | |
Ennis Fishing Access
|
Montana | |
Fairy Lake
|
Montana | Cutthroat Trout |
Fairy Pond
|
Montana | |
Fireman's Point
|
Montana | |
Fish And Game Headquarters Pond 1
|
Montana | |
Flagstaff Reservoir
|
Montana | |
Glenwood Lake
|
Montana | Cutthroat Trout |
Green Canyon Creek
|
Montana | Brook Trout, Bull Trout, Cutthroat Trout |
Grey Bear
|
Montana | |
Gritty Stone
|
Montana | |
Hauser Reservoir
|
Montana | |
Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir
|
Montana | |
Hells Canyon Creek
|
Montana | Silver Redhorse, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout |
Highwood Creek
|
Montana | |
Holmgren Ranch
|
Montana | |
Homestead Isle
|
Montana | |
Horse Creek
|
Montana | |
Horsethief Station
|
Montana | |
Hot Springs Creek
|
Montana | |
Hound Creek
|
Montana | |
Hyalite Creek
|
Montana | Arctic Grayling, Silver Redhorse, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Mountain Whitefish |
Indian Creek
|
Montana | Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout |
Indian Fort
|
Montana | |
Jackson Creek
|
Montana | |
Jakes Reservoir
|
Montana | |
Jefferson Creek
|
Montana | |
Jefferson Slough
|
Montana | |
Jeffrey's Landing
|
Montana | |
Jumping Creek
|
Montana | |
Keyser Creek
|
Montana | |
Lake Abundance
|
Montana | Cutthroat Trout |
Lake Agnes
|
Montana | Arctic Grayling |
Lake Alva
|
Montana | Yellow Perch, Northern Pike, Shorthead Redhorse, Silver Redhorse, Sockeye Salmon, Brook Trout, Bull Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Lake Trout, Mountain Whitefish, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Northern Pikeminnow |
Lake Blaine
|
Montana | Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Shorthead Redhorse, Sockeye Salmon, Brook Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Northern Pikeminnow |
Leslie Lake
|
Montana | Cutthroat Trout |
Little Boulder River
|
Montana | |
Little Pipestone Creek
|
Montana | Brook Trout |
Little Prickly Pear Creek
|
Montana | |
Little Whitetail Creek
|
Montana | Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout |
Logging Creek
|
Montana | |
Lost Fork
|
Montana | |
Lower Hansen Reservoir
|
Montana | |
Mayor's Landing
|
Montana | |
Mccartney Creek
|
Montana | |
Middle Fork Judith River
|
Montana | |
Missouri River Fishing Access Site
|
Montana | |
Moraine
|
Montana | |
Mountain Goat Lake
|
Montana | |
Musselshell River
|
Montana | |
Newlan Creek
|
Montana | |
Newlan Reservoir
|
Montana | Rainbow Trout |
North Fork Musselshell River
|
Montana | |
North Fork Smith River
|
Montana | |
Panton Coulee Reservoir
|
Montana | |
Park Lake
|
Montana | |
Petty Creek Fishing Access
|
Montana | |
Prickly Pear Creek
|
Montana | Silver Redhorse, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Walleye, Apache Trout |
Rattlesnake Creek
|
Montana | Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout |
Red Bridge Fishing Access
|
Montana | |
Reservoir Number 161
|
Montana | |
River Junction Fishing Access
|
Montana | |
Rock Creek (Smith Drainage)
|
Montana | |
Rosebud Isle
|
Montana | |
Ruby River
|
Montana | |
Running Wolf Creek
|
Montana | |
Sage Creek (Judith Drainage)
|
Montana | |
Sheep Creek (Smith Drainage)
|
Montana | |
Shonkin Creek
|
Montana | |
Silver Creek
|
Montana | |
South Hills
|
Montana | |
Spotted Bear Compound Day Use Site Fishing Site
|
Montana | |
Spring Meadow Lake
|
Montana | |
St. John's Fishing Access Site
|
Montana | |
Stewart Lake Picnic Area
|
Montana | |
Sun River Slope Canal
|
Montana |
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