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Fishing in Montana

Click a region to explore top fishing spots, species, and local tips.

Montana is home to some of the finest trout fishing in North America with over 3,200 lakes, 1,500+ miles of blue-ribbon trout streams, and Glacier National Park — which alone contains over 700 lakes. Massive reservoirs like Fort Peck and Canyon Ferry, the largest natural freshwater lake in the West (Flathead Lake), and world-famous rivers like the Madison, Yellowstone, Bighorn, and Missouri make Big Sky Country a world-class fishing destination across five distinct regions.

Topographic map — click to view full size

Western Montana & Flathead Region

Flathead Lake, Glacier NP, Clark Fork River, Kootenai River -- Rainbow Trout, Bull Trout, Lake Trout, Kokanee, Cutthroat

Southwestern Montana

Madison, Gallatin, Big Hole, Jefferson Rivers, Hebgen Lake -- Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat, Brook Trout

Central MT & Missouri Headwaters

Missouri River (Holter), Canyon Ferry, Hauser, Helena -- Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Walleye, Perch, Northern Pike

Eastern Montana & Fort Peck

Fort Peck Reservoir, Missouri Breaks, Milk River -- Walleye, Northern Pike, Sauger, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie

Southeastern MT & Yellowstone Region

Yellowstone River, Bighorn River, Tongue River, Powder River -- Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Channel Catfish