Fishing in Meagher County, Montana
County seat: White Sulphur Springs. Census 2020 residents: 1,927.
- 4lake pages
- 3ramps
- 2river pages
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Canyon Ferry Lake: Shawn Michael, CC BY 2.0
First things to know about fishing Montana's Meagher County
At the 2020 Census Meagher County held 1,927 residents, and its seat is White Sulphur Springs. Inside its borders the Census counts 2,392 square miles of land and 2.9 square miles of water. This site writes up 4 lakes and reservoirs here, and Martinsdale Reservoir is the largest by size. The county's river pages cover Smith River and Shields River.
The Fishing Access Site list holds 3 ramps here, plus 1 other fishing site walk-in or hand-launch sites. Hatchery runs in 2026 put 104,434 fish in 4 county waters (10 rows). Special regulation lines apply to 3 waters in the county.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census counts (TIGERweb) and the 2023 Gazetteer, read November 12, 2026. FWP Fishing Access Sites layer (ArcGIS service) and the FishMT site pages, read November 12, 2026.
The Treasure State water map of Meagher County
FWP Fishing Access Sites layer (ArcGIS service) and the FishMT site pages, read November 12, 2026. Lake pins are the FWP reference point for each water.
Montana lake pages for Meagher County
| Lake | Size | Access sites | Kind | MFISH lists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martinsdale Reservoir | 947 acres | 1 | reservoir | brown trout, rainbow trout, Westslope cutthroat trout |
| Lake Sutherlin | 377 acres | 0 | natural lake | burbot, rainbow trout |
| Newlan Reservoir | 265 acres | 1 | reservoir | burbot, kokanee salmon, rainbow trout |
| Bair Reservoir | 221 acres | 0 | reservoir | rainbow trout, Westslope cutthroat trout |
Size as the FWP FishMT page for this water prints it (FishMT), read November 12, 2026. Waters with no FishMT size print their mapped outline instead. Montana FWP Lakes reference layer (ArcGIS service) and the MFISH fish distribution layers, read November 12, 2026.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Counting MFISH species words near Meagher County
Summing MFISH lists for lakes within 60 miles of White Sulphur Springs, rainbow trout comes first.
FWP MFISH presence layers, counted per lake page within 60 miles; presence in a layer, not a catch survey. FWP MFISH fish distribution layer (ArcGIS service), read November 12, 2026. Presence is mapping data, not a catch report.
Montana rivers to wade in Meagher County
- Smith Riverexception rules, 3 access sites, 3 USGS gauges
- Shields Riverexception rules, 1 access site, 2 USGS gauges
USGS gauges reporting across Montana's Meagher County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Smith River Near Ft Logan Mt | 109 cfs, 2.99 ft gage height | Nov 15 3:30 pm |
| Smith River Bl Eagle Cr Nr Fort Logan Mt | 143 cfs, 3.20 ft gage height | Nov 15 4:15 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 15, 2026 4:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Montana FWP MFISH stream layers (ArcGIS service) for this river, read November 12, 2026. USGS Water Data for the Nation, live through the site, retrieved on page view.
Montana trailer launches around Meagher County
- Martinsdale Reservoir Fishing Access Sitefishing access site, ramp (concrete), concrete surface, 336 acres; Meagher County
- Newlan Creek Reservoir Fishing Access Sitefishing access site, ramp (gravel), gravel surface, 156 acres; Meagher County
- Smith River Improved/Camp Baker Put-in Area Boat Rampstate park boat ramp; Meagher County
FWP fishing access sites in Meagher County
- Fort Logan Fishing Access Site on Smith Riverfishing access site, no boat facilities; Meagher County
FWP Fishing Access Sites layer (ArcGIS service) and the FishMT site pages, read November 12, 2026.
Named basins on the Montana map of Meagher County
- Higgins Reservoirabout 99 acres of mapped outline
- Voldseth Reservoirabout 83 acres of mapped outline
- Wertz Reservoirabout 77 acres of mapped outline
- Jackson Lakeabout 35 acres of mapped outline
- Hanson Reservoirabout 30 acres of mapped outline
- Hamen Reservoirabout 30 acres of mapped outline
- Stoyanoff Reservoirabout 28 acres of mapped outline
- Keep Cool Resevoirabout 26 acres of mapped outline
- Bonanza Reservoirabout 24 acres of mapped outline
- Forest Lakeabout 21 acres of mapped outline
- Grace Lakeabout 17 acres of mapped outline
- Hundred Dollar Bill Pondabout 17 acres of mapped outline
- Alkali Lakeabout 16 acres of mapped outline
- Whitetail Reservoirabout 16 acres of mapped outline
- Ayers Reservoirabout 15 acres of mapped outline
- Schendle Reservoirabout 15 acres of mapped outline
- Flagstaff Reservoirabout 13 acres of mapped outline
- Hidden Lakeabout 12 acres of mapped outline
- Edith Lakeabout 11 acres of mapped outline
Outline area from the FWP Lakes reference layer (ArcGIS service; mapped polygon area, not an FWP surface-acre figure), read November 12, 2026. Names come from the FWP Lakes reference layer; no page and no fish list for these waters.
Montana exception headings that touch Meagher County waters
The rules here are from the 2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, valid March 1, 2026 through the end of February 2027; FWP had published no 2027 booklet when this was checked.
- Lake SutherlinSnagging: open for kokanee salmon Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, 35 daily and 70 in possession. (LAKE SUTHERLIN)
- Shields RiverSmallmouth bass: All smallmouth bass caught must be killed immediately, kept and the entire fish presented to FWP. Anglers who catch smallmouth bass in the Shields River are required to report the catch to FWP within 24 hours (406-577-7900). Anglers will be asked to provide location, date, and time of capture and may be asked to provide their full name, ALS number, and phone number. Anglers are required to present the whole smallmouth bass to a FWP office within 10 days of capture (frozen is allowed) during regular business hours. Edible portions of the fish are returned to the angler upon request. (SHIELDS RIVER)
- Smith RiverOpen third Saturday in May to Nov. 30. (SMITH RIVER)
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
FishMT stocking rows for Meagher County waters
| Date | Water as FishMT prints it | Fish | Species |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 18, 2026 | Newlan Reservoir | 9,812 | Rainbow trout |
| July 2, 2026 | Newlan Reservoir | 12,893 | Rainbow trout |
| June 30, 2026 | Lake Sutherlin | 12,000 | Rainbow trout |
| June 3, 2026 | Bair Reservoir | 5,073 | Rainbow trout |
| June 2, 2026 | Lake Sutherlin | 2,145 | Rainbow trout |
| June 2, 2026 | Lake Sutherlin | 1,247 | Rainbow trout |
| May 28, 2026 | Martinsdale Reservoir | 29,728 | Rainbow trout |
| May 14, 2026 | Martinsdale Reservoir | 25,272 | Rainbow trout |
| May 12, 2026 | Lake Sutherlin | 2,481 | Kokanee salmon |
| May 12, 2026 | Newlan Reservoir | 3,783 | Kokanee salmon |
FWP FishMT stocking report for 2026, year to date (FishMT plant report), read November 12, 2026.
FWP record entries on Meagher County water
| Species | Weight or length as listed | Water | Year | Marked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah chub | 2.39 lbs. | Canyon Ferry Lake | 2022 | not marked native |
| Kokanee salmon | 7.85 lbs. | Hauser Reservoir | 2003 | not marked native |
| Longnose sucker | 4.78 lbs. | Hauser Reservoir | 2022 | native |
| Mountain whitefish | 5.11 lbs. | Hauser Reservoir | 2007 | native |
Montana state record fish as FWP lists them (records page), read November 12, 2026.
Contest days on Meagher County water
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 21, 2026 | Lions Club Father's Day Fish Derby | Newlan Creek Reservoir | White Sulphur Springs Lion Club |
Event as listed by the organizer (source), read November 12, 2026.
Where Montana anglers in Meagher County shop
Tackle counters on the road to Meagher County
- Bears Fishing Suppliesbait and tackle shop, Townsend, 23 miles
- The Silos Marina & Campgroundmarina, Townsend, 33 miles
- Yacht Basin Marinamarina, Helena, 39 miles
- JDR Specialty Tacklebait and tackle shop, Helena, 48 miles
- Sportsman's Warehouse, 2990 N Sanders Stbait and tackle shop, Helena, 53 miles
Montana guide businesses close to Meagher County
- Avalanche Basin Outfittersfishing guide, White Sulphur Springs
Yellow Pages, State Parks and operator listings (city of business), read November 12, 2026. Guides are listed as businesses; no licence status is implied.
A short stretch past Meagher County
Across the Montana county line from Meagher County
- Broadwater County33 miles southwest
- Judith Basin County42 miles northeast
- Wheatland County51 miles east
- Cascade County54 miles north
Piscifun gear a Treasure State angler could bring to Meagher County
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Big Sky shorelines and trout-stream riffles around Meagher County, photographed
Photo: V Smoothe, CC BY 2.0
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Aaron Logan, CC BY 2.0
Lakes, forks and ramps of Meagher County, explained
How many Fishing Access Site ramps does FWP list for Meagher County?
There are 3 ramps in the state access data.
Where is the widest water in Meagher County?
Martinsdale Reservoir, with 947 acres.
What fish does FWP name near Meagher County?
MFISH names rainbow trout on the most lake pages within 60 miles, then brook trout, brown trout and Westslope cutthroat trout; the layer shows presence, not a catch.
Where can I buy bait in Meagher County, Montana?
The closest Montana shops sit outside the county and appear above.
Where does Montana's Meagher County keep its courthouse?
White Sulphur Springs has it.
Which Montana licenses cover fishing in Meagher County?
Anglers 12 and older buy a Conservation License, an aquatic invasive species pass and a fishing license; the 2026 Montana Fishing Regulations prints $8, $2 and $21 for a resident full season and $10, $7.50 and $100 for a nonresident.
What counties surround Meagher County?
Begin with Broadwater County, Judith Basin County and Wheatland County.
How many trout may a Montana angler in Meagher County take home?
Limits depend on the FWP fishing district and on any exception heading printed for the water; the Western, Central and Eastern district pages on this site give the charts. The rules here are from the 2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, valid March 1, 2026 through the end of February 2027; FWP had published no 2027 booklet when this was checked.
Are there special Montana rules on Meagher County lakes?
3 waters with a page here carry their own exception lines, beginning with Lake Sutherlin.
Did FWP hatchery trucks visit Montana's Meagher County this year?
The 2026 plant report lists 104,434 fish in 10 rows across 4 waters in the county.
When is the next Montana weigh-in on Meagher County water?
1 entry on file, none dated ahead.
Set up a Montana fishing weekend in Meagher County
Lake pages carry access sites, MFISH species lists and exception rules.