Fishing in Montana

Fishing in Montana

PiscaMaps covers 4,698 public fishing venues across Montana in 6 regions — 1,334 lakes and reservoirs and 3,354 rivers. The largest is Fort Peck Lake, at 233,439 acres. Missouri River is the longest mapped river, running 1,060 km. Northwest Montana has the most venues on file, with 1,013. 59 venues are documented trout waters.

The most commonly recorded species across Montana's public waters are Northern Pike, Channel Catfish, Smallmouth Bass, Common Carp, Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Kokanee Salmon and Mountain Whitefish — the exact mix varies by water type and region. 212 venues have a real boat ramp on file, 584 have nearby camping, and 638 have mapped parking — sourced from OpenStreetMap and recreation.gov's federal facilities database (RIDB) where available.

Fishing Regions in Montana

Montana's public fishing venues are spread across 6 regions on PiscaMaps:

Species Recorded in Montana

The most frequently recorded species across Montana's public venues on PiscaMaps:

Fishing Licence in Montana

Anyone 12 or older needs a Montana fishing licence — the resident annual (Conservation License + fishing) is about $34, the non-resident annual about $150, with non-resident 2-day (~$35) and 10-day (~$75) licences also sold. A separate Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) prevention pass fee applies to residents and non-residents alike. Montana residents 62 and older, and legally blind residents, pay a reduced fee. Buy from FWP at fwp.mt.gov. A Montana fishing licence covers this river under the state's stream access law, which grants the public the right to use rivers and streams for recreation up to the ordinary high-water mark on any water capable of recreational use, regardless of who owns the streambed — one of the most angler-friendly access laws in the country.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How many public fishing venues are there in Montana?+
  PiscaMaps covers 4,698 public fishing venues across Montana in 6 regions — 1,334 lakes and reservoirs and 3,354 rivers. The largest is Fort Peck Lake, at 233,439 acres. Missouri River is the longest mapped river, running 1,060 km. Northwest Montana has the most venues on file, with 1,013. 59 venues are documented trout waters.
• Do I need a fishing licence in Montana?+
  Anyone 12 or older needs a Montana fishing licence — the resident annual (Conservation License + fishing) is about $34, the non-resident annual about $150, with non-resident 2-day (~$35) and 10-day (~$75) licences also sold. A separate Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) prevention pass fee applies to residents and non-residents alike. Montana residents 62 and older, and legally blind residents, pay a reduced fee. Buy from FWP at fwp.mt.gov. A Montana fishing licence covers this river under the state's stream access law, which grants the public the right to use rivers and streams for recreation up to the ordinary high-water mark on any water capable of recreational use, regardless of who owns the streambed — one of the most angler-friendly access laws in the country.
• Are there boat ramps and camping near Montana's fishing lakes?+
  212 venues have a mapped boat ramp and 584 have nearby camping on PiscaMaps, sourced from OpenStreetMap and the federal RIDB database.

Notable Lakes & Reservoirs in Montana

Rivers in Montana

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