Fishing in Park County, Montana
County seat: Livingston. Census 2020 residents: 17,191.
- 9lake pages
- 13ramps
- 5river pages
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Earthquake Lake: Phil Price, CC BY-SA 2.0
An overview of the Montana water in Park County
A Census 2020 population of 17,191 makes up Park County, governed from Livingston. The Census measures 2,802 square miles of land and 10.8 square miles of water inside the line. The county carries 9 lakes and reservoirs with write-ups; Cottonwood Reservoir is biggest. Running water with its own page here includes Yellowstone River, Stillwater River (Stillwater County) and Clarks Fork Yellowstone River.
Inside the county line sit 13 ramps and 10 other fishing sites that have no ramp. The 2026 plant report logs 1 deliveries here: 5,040 fish into 1 water. The 2026 book lists exception rules for 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.
Pins for every Montana access site and lake in Park 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 still water inside Park County
| Lake | Size | Access sites | Kind | MFISH lists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cottonwood Reservoir | 239 acres | 0 | reservoir | Yellowstone cutthroat trout |
| Upper Aero Lake | 231 acres | 0 | natural lake | Yellowstone cutthroat trout |
| Dailey Lake | 206 acres | 1 | natural lake | rainbow trout, walleye, yellow perch |
| Lower Aero Lake | 187 acres | 0 | natural lake | brook trout, Yellowstone cutthroat trout |
| Rock Island Lake | 156 acres | 0 | natural lake | brook trout, Yellowstone cutthroat trout |
| Fox Lake | 119 acres | 0 | natural lake | brook trout, rainbow trout |
| Cairn Lake | 116 acres | 0 | natural lake | brook trout |
| Goose Lake (Park County) | 97 acres | 0 | natural lake | Yellowstone cutthroat trout |
| Rough Lake | 90 acres | 0 | natural lake | brook 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 The Montana presence tally for Park County
Bars count lake pages within 60 miles of Livingston where the MFISH layer lists the fish; rainbow trout leads.
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.
Moving Montana water in Park County
- Yellowstone Riverexception rules, 47 access sites, 4 USGS gauges
- Stillwater River (Stillwater County)9 access sites, 1 USGS gauge
- Clarks Fork Yellowstone Riverexception rules, 4 access sites, 2 USGS gauges
- Boulder River (Sweet Grass County)2 access sites, 1 USGS gauge
- Shields Riverexception rules, 1 access site, 2 USGS gauges
Water-level stations inside Park County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Gardner River Near Mammoth, Ynp | 101 cfs, 1.79 ft gage height | Nov 15 3:30 pm |
| Yellowstone River At Corwin Springs Mt | 978 cfs, 1.05 ft gage height | Nov 15 4:00 pm |
| Yellowstone River Near Livingston, Mt | 1,420 cfs, -0.39 ft gage height | Nov 15 3:00 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 launch ramps across Park County
- Brogan's Landing on Yellowstone Riverfishing access site, ramp (gravel), gravel surface, 1 acres; Park County
- Carter's Bridge Fishing Access Site on Yellowstone Riverfishing access site, ramp (gravel), gravel surface, 3 acres; Park County
- Dailey Lake Fishing Access Sitefishing access site, ramp (concrete), dock, concrete surface; Park County
- Emigrant Fishing Access Site on Yellowstone Riverfishing access site, ramp (gravel), gravel surface, 3 acres; Park County
- Grey Owl Fishing Access Site on Yellowstone Riverfishing access site, ramp (concrete), concrete surface, 34 acres; Park County
- Highway 89 Bridge Fishing Access Site on Yellowstone Riverfishing access site, ramp (concrete), concrete surface, 2 acres; Park County
- Loch Leven Fishing Access Site on Yellowstone Riverfishing access site, ramp (concrete), concrete surface, 76 acres; Park County
- Mallard's Rest Fishing Access Site on Yellowstone Riverfishing access site, ramp (concrete), concrete surface, 17 acres; Park County
- Mayor's Landing on Yellowstone Riverfishing access site, ramp (concrete), concrete surface, 3 acres; Park County
- Pine Creek Fishing Access Site on Yellowstone Riverfishing access site, ramp (concrete), concrete surface, 2 acres; Park County
- Point of Rocks Fishing Access Site on Yellowstone Riverfishing access site, ramp (gravel), gravel surface, 59 acres; Park County
- Sheep Mountain Fishing Access Site on Yellowstone Riverfishing access site, ramp (gravel), gravel surface, 7 acres; Park County
- Springdale Bridge Fishing Access Site on Yellowstone Riverfishing access site, ramp (gravel), gravel surface, 14 acres; Park County
Docks and piers in Park County
- Crystal Cross Fishing Access Site on Yellowstone Riverfishing access site, hand launch, 30 acres; Park County
- Dan Bailey Fishing Access Site on Yellowstone Riverfishing access site, no boat facilities, 3 acres; Park County
- Chicory Fishing Access Site on Yellowstone Riverfishing access site, no boat facilities, 2 acres; Park County
- Emigrant West Fishing Access Site on Yellowstone Riverfishing access site, no boat facilities, 72 acres; Park County
- Grannis Fishing Access Site on Shields Riverfishing access site, no boat facilities, 1 acres; Park County
- Jim Posewitz Free River Fishing Access Site on Yellowstone Riverfishing access site, no boat facilities, 13 acres; Park County
- Queen of the Waters Fishing Access Site on Yellowstone Riverfishing access site, no boat facilities, 12 acres; Park County
- Siskin Island Fishing Access Sitefishing access site, no boat facilities; Park County
- Slip & Slide Fishing Access Site on Yellowstone Riverfishing access site, no boat facilities, 14 acres; Park County
- Sunny Brook Springs Fishing Access Sitefishing access site, no boat facilities, 75 acres; Park County
FWP Fishing Access Sites layer (ArcGIS service) and the FishMT site pages, read November 12, 2026.
Little lakes of Park County that carry only a name and outline
- Kersey Lakeabout 115 acres of mapped outline
- Broadwater Lakeabout 59 acres of mapped outline
- Kaufman Lake (Falls Creek Lake)about 44 acres of mapped outline
- Lady Of The Lakeabout 37 acres of mapped outline
- Fizzle Lakeabout 36 acres of mapped outline
- Imelda Lakeabout 35 acres of mapped outline
- Curl Lakeabout 33 acres of mapped outline
- Sodalite Lakeabout 27 acres of mapped outline
- Courthouse Lakeabout 25 acres of mapped outline
- Zimmer Lakeabout 24 acres of mapped outline
- Round Lakeabout 24 acres of mapped outline
- Aquarius Lakeabout 24 acres of mapped outline
- Vernon Lakeabout 19 acres of mapped outline
- Lone Elk Lakeabout 18 acres of mapped outline
- Huckleberry Lakeabout 17 acres of mapped outline
- Looking Glass Lakeabout 16 acres of mapped outline
- Wrong Lakeabout 16 acres of mapped outline
- Glacier Green Lakeabout 16 acres of mapped outline
- Long Lake (Park County)about 16 acres of mapped outline
- Anvil Lakeabout 13 acres of mapped outline
- Bridge Lakeabout 13 acres of mapped outline
- Recruitment Lakeabout 13 acres of mapped outline
- Corner Lakeabout 12 acres of mapped outline
- Lost Lake, Lowerabout 11 acres of mapped outline
- West Boulder Lakeabout 11 acres of mapped outline
- Ovis Lakeabout 11 acres of mapped outline
- Elk Lake (Park County)about 10 acres of mapped outline
- Lake McKnightabout 10 acres of mapped outline
- Speculator Lakeabout 10 acres of mapped outline
- Boyd's Reservoirabout 70 acres of mapped outline
- Merrell Lakeabout 57 acres of mapped outline
- Rock Lakeabout 48 acres of mapped outline
- Lavelle Lakeabout 48 acres of mapped outline
- Wolf Lakeabout 44 acres of mapped outline
- Pear Lakeabout 41 acres of mapped outline
- Campfire Lakeabout 33 acres of mapped outline
- Pine Creek Lakeabout 31 acres of mapped outline
- Abundance Lakeabout 29 acres of mapped outline
- Sky Top Lakesabout 29 acres of mapped outline
- Star Lakeabout 28 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.
Rule changes the book lists for Park 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.
- Clarks Fork Yellowstone RiverHook and Line: 2 lines with 2 hooks per line all year. (CLARKS FORK YELLOWSTONE RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES)
- 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)
- Yellowstone RiverCatch-and-release for cutthroat trout. (YELLOWSTONE RIVER)
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
The 2026 plant report for Park County
| Date | Water as FishMT prints it | Fish | Species |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 19, 2026 | Dailey Lake | 5,040 | Rainbow trout |
FWP FishMT stocking report for 2026, year to date (FishMT plant report), read November 12, 2026.
Where Park County shows up in the FWP record list
| Species | Weight or length as listed | Water | Year | Marked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| River carpsucker | 7.915 lbs | Yellowstone River | 2022 | native |
Montana state record fish as FWP lists them (records page), read November 12, 2026.
Montana tournament dates tied to Park County
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 17, 2026 | Yellowstone River Rats Walleye Tournament | Yellowstone River and tributaries | Yellowstone River Rats |
| Oct. 3, 2026 | Glendive Walleye Tournament | Yellowstone River | Visit Glendive |
| Sept. 12, 2026 | Yellowstone River Classic | Yellowstone River, Tongue River | Miles City Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited |
| July 18, 2026 | Monster Catfish Roundup | Yellowstone River | Montana Catfish Association |
| June 13, 2026 | Savage Volunteer Fire Dept Catfish Tournament | Yellowstone River | Savage Volunteer Fire Department |
| May 16, 2026 | Land of the Giants Tournament | Yellowstone River and tributaries | Visit Glendive |
| May 9, 2026 | 20th Annual Yellowstone Challenge | Yellowstone River | Montana Catfish Association |
Event as listed by the organizer (source), read November 12, 2026.
Gear stores in Park County
Shops the Park County regulars swear by
- Angler's West Fly Fishingfly shop, Emigrant
- Dan Bailey's Fly Shopfly shop, Livingston
- Hatch Finders Fly Shopfly shop, Livingston
- Nelson's Guides and Fliesbait and tackle shop, Livingston
- Spring Creek Specialists Fly Shopfly shop, Livingston
- Yellowstone Anglerbait and tackle shop, Livingston
- Yellowstone Sporting Goodsbait and tackle shop, Livingston
Montana guides listed near Park County
- Bear Paw Outfittersfishing guide, Livingston
- Black Mountain Outfitters, Inc.fishing guide, Emigrant
- Black Otter Guide Servicefishing guide, Pray
- Brant Oswald Fly Fishing Servicefly fishing guide, Livingston, (406) 222-8312
- Elk Creek Outfittersfishing guide, Livingston
- Greater Yellowstone Outfittersfishing guide, Livingston
- Hubbard's Yellowstone Lodgefishing guide, Emigrant, (406) 848-7755
- Lone Wolf Guide Servicefishing guide, Livingston, (406) 223-1108
Yellow Pages, State Parks and operator listings (city of business), read November 12, 2026. Guides are listed as businesses; no licence status is implied.
In Montana close to Park County
Montana places in Park County with town pages
- Livingston2020 count 8,040
Montana neighbors of Park County
- Gallatin County31 miles west
- Sweet Grass County37 miles northeast
- Stillwater County57 miles east
- Madison County68 miles west
Piscifun reels and line to pack for a Montana trip to Park County
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Early light on the water near Park County, Big Sky style
Photo: Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Bureau of Land Management Montana and Dakotas, Public domain
Photo: Jon Parise, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Bureau of Land Management, CC BY 2.0
Fishing inside Park County, Montana: the common asks
Where can I put a boat in the water in Montana's Park County?
13 ramps, each in the access list above.
Which Montana lake is the biggest in Park County?
Cottonwood Reservoir leads with 239 acres.
What fish turn up on FWP pages near Park County?
MFISH names rainbow trout on the most lake pages within 60 miles, then Yellowstone cutthroat trout, brook trout and brown trout; the layer shows presence, not a catch.
Where do Montana anglers in Park County pick up flies and jigs?
7 listings, Angler's West Fly Fishing among them.
What Montana town serves Park County as its seat?
It is Livingston.
What does a Montana fishing license cost for Park 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 Montana counties are closest to Park County?
Nearest first: Gallatin County, Sweet Grass County and Stillwater County.
What limits cover Park County water?
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.
Does the regulation book list exceptions for Park County water?
3 waters with a page here carry their own exception lines, beginning with Clarks Fork Yellowstone River.
Is Montana's Park County on the 2026 plant report?
The 2026 plant report lists 5,040 fish in 1 row across 1 water in the county.
Do organizers run derbies on Park County water?
7 entries on file, none dated ahead.
Which Montana records trace to Park County?
River carpsucker, 7.915 lbs, from Yellowstone River (2022).
A prairie or Rockies morning in Park County
River pages list access sites and live USGS flow.