The Montana fishing regulations are regionally separated for general catch and keep limits. Numerous waters, trout fisheries especially have specific regs as well. We have a good number of these in our floater guides but anything too small to float will require a look at the current handbook.
Buy a LicenseMontana Fishing License Costs
| Age | Resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| Age 0-11 – No License, Must Observe All Limits and Laws | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Conservation License | $8.00 | $10.00 |
| Annual Fishing – 18-61 | $21.00 | $86.00 |
| Annual Fishing 12-17, 62+ or disabled | $10.50 | $86.00 |
| 2 Day Fishing | $5.00 | $25.00 |
| 10 Day Fishing | NA | $56.00 |
Special License Requirements:
- Paddlefish: All anglers must purchase a paddlefish tag to fish for paddlefish. To purchase a tag: Residents aged 15-61 must have a valid Conservation License and Fishing License. Resident youth 14 and younger and resident anglers over 62 must have a Conservation License. Nonresidents of any age, including youth 14 and younger, must have a valid Conservation License and a Fishing License. Limit of one tag (one fish) per person. Resident – $6.50 each Nonresident – $15 each
- Bull Trout: Hungry Horse Reservoir, Lake Koocanusa and part of the South Fork Flathead River are open for a regulated and experimental bull trout angling season. When fishing for bull trout each angler must have in possession a valid Bull Trout Catch Card for the specific water he/she is fishing. Anglers may select only one of the following areas: A) Lake Koocanusa, or B) Hungry Horse Reservoir and South Fork Flathead River. Swan Lake is open to angling for bull trout without a special permit. All other waters are closed to intentional angling for bull trout year around.
Standard Regulations: Central District
| Species | Daily & Possession Limits |
|---|---|
| Trout Brook trout |
20 daily and in possession |
| Trout Combined Trout includes brown, rainbow, golden, and grayling |
Rivers/Streams: 5 daily and in possession, only 1 over 18 inches. All grayling must be released immediately. Lakes/Reservoirs: 5 daily and 10 in possession, includes cutthroat trout. |
| Trout Cutthroat trout |
Rivers/Streams: all cutthroat trout must be released immediately. Lakes/Reservoirs: included in Combined Trout daily and possession limit. |
| Trout Lake Trout |
3 daily and in possession |
| Bass | 5 daily and in possession |
| Burbot (ling) | 5 daily and in possession. |
| Catfish | 10 daily and 20 in possession |
| Northern Pike | 10 daily and in possession |
| Pallid Sturgeon | 0 – this is an endangered species and all fish must be released immediately. All waters are closed to angling for white sturgeon |
| Salmon (Kokanee & Chinook) | 10 daily and in possession |
| Sauger/Walleye | 5 daily and 10 in possession |
| Shovelnose sturgeon | 5 daily and in possession, none over 40 inches |
| Tiger muskellunge | 1 daily and in possession, must be over 40 inches. |
| Whitefish | 20 daily and 40 in possession |
| General Fishing Season-Central District |
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Standard Regulations: Western District
| Species | Daily & Possession Limits |
|---|---|
| Trout Brook trout |
20 daily and in possession |
| Trout Bull Trout |
All waters are closed to angling for bull trout and all fish must be immediately released unless otherwise authorized in the Western District Exceptions. Note: Federal rules prohibit the attempted take of bull trout unless specifically authorized by state or tribal regulation. |
| Trout Combined Trout includes brown, rainbow, golden, and grayling |
Rivers/Streams: 5 daily and in possession, only 1 over 14 inches. Lakes/Reservoirs: 5 daily and in possession, only 1 over 22 inches daily. |
| Trout Combined Trout in Bob Marshall Wilderness Areas1 & South Fork Flathead includes rainbow, grayling, and cutthroat |
Rivers/Streams: 3 daily and in possession, none over 14 inches. Lakes/Reservoirs: 3 daily and in possession, no size limit.1Applies to all rivers, streams, and lakes in the South Fork Fork Flathead River drainage from Hungry Horse Dam to the wilderness boundary and all waters within the boundaries of the Bob Marshall, Great Bear and Scapegoat wilderness areas, unless otherwise specified. |
| Trout Cutthroat trout |
Rivers/Streams: 3 daily and in possession, none over 10 inches Lakes/Reservoirs: 3 daily and in possession, no size limit. |
| Trout Lake Trout |
10 daily and in possession |
| Bass | 5 daily and in possession, no size limit. Third Saturday in May through June 30:1 daily and in posession, must be over 22 inches |
| Burbot (ling) | 5 daily and in possession. |
| Kokanee Salmon | 20 daily and 40 in possession |
| Northern Pike | 15 daily and in possession |
| White Sturgeon | 0 – this is an endangered species and all fish must be released immediately. All waters are closed to angling for white sturgeon |
| Whitefish | 20 daily and 40 in possession |
| General Fishing Season-Western District |
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Standard Regulations: Eastern District
| Species | Daily & Possession Limits |
|---|---|
| Trout Brook trout |
10 daily and in possession |
| Trout Combined Trout includes brown, rainbow, golden, and grayling |
Rivers/Streams: 5 daily and in possession All grayling must be released immediately.Lakes/Reservoirs: 5 daily and 10 in possession, includes cutthroat trout. |
| Trout Cutthroat trout |
Rivers/Streams: all cutthroat trout must be released immediately. Lakes/Reservoirs: included in Combined Trout daily and possession limit. |
| Trout Lake Trout |
3 daily and in possession |
| Bass | 5 daily and in possession |
| Burbot (ling) | 5 daily and in possession. |
| Catfish | 10 daily and 20 in possession |
| Northern Pike | 10 daily and in possession |
| Pallid Sturgeon | 0 – this is an endangered species and all fish must be released immediately. All waters are closed to angling for white sturgeon |
| Salmon (Kokanee & Chinook) | 5 daily and 10 in possession |
| Sauger/Walleye | 5 daily and 10 in possession |
| Shovelnose sturgeon | 5 daily and in possession, none over 40 inches |
| Tiger muskellunge | 1 daily and in possession, must be over 40 inches. |
| Whitefish | 20 daily and 40 in possession |
| General Fishing Season-Eastern District |
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