Fishing in Yellowstone County, Montana
County seat: Billings. Census 2020 residents: 164,731.
- 3lake pages
- 8ramps
- 3river pages
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Planning a first Montana trip in Yellowstone County
The 2020 count for Yellowstone County was 164,731 people, with Billings as the seat. On the Gazetteer, the county spans 2,633 square miles of land and 15.6 square miles of water. Lake Elmo leads the 3 lakes and reservoirs covered in Yellowstone County. Flowing water in the county starts with Yellowstone River, Bighorn River and Clarks Fork Yellowstone River.
Boat anglers get 8 ramps; bank anglers get 4 other fishing sites. Across 4 waters, FWP recorded 33,885 fish planted here in 2026 (17 rows). Montana's regulation book prints special lines for 4 waters of its 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.
Big Sky fishing points marked inside Yellowstone 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.
Lakes spread across Yellowstone County
| Lake | Size | Access sites | Kind | MFISH lists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Elmo | about 62 acres of mapped outline | 0 | natural lake | black crappie, channel catfish, largemouth bass |
| Lake Josephine (Yellowstone County) | about 24 acres of mapped outline | 0 | natural lake | black crappie, channel catfish, green sunfish |
| Broadview Pond | 21 acres | 1 | pond | largemouth bass |
Few lakes inside Yellowstone County have a page, so the nearest ones past the line follow, measured from Billings.
| Lake | From Billings | Size | Access sites | Kind | MFISH lists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooney Reservoir | 40 miles southwest | 733 acres | 0 | reservoir | black crappie, brown trout, burbot |
| Yellowtail Afterbay Reservoir | 45 miles southeast | 143 acres | 0 | reservoir | rainbow trout |
| Bighorn Lake (Big Horn County) | 47 miles southeast | 5,574 acres | 0 | natural lake | black crappie, brown trout, burbot |
| Arapooish Pond | 48 miles east | about 29 acres of mapped outline | 0 | pond | black bullhead, green sunfish, largemouth bass |
| Lake Mason | 52 miles north | 1,220 acres | 0 | natural lake | bluegill, largemouth bass |
| Deadmans Basin Reservoir | 57 miles northwest | 1,954 acres | 1 | reservoir | brown trout, kokanee salmon, rainbow 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.
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Around Billings, out to 60 miles, rainbow trout appears on the most lake lists.
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 stream pages for Yellowstone County
- Yellowstone Riverexception rules, 47 access sites, 4 USGS gauges
- Bighorn Riverexception rules, 7 access sites, 4 USGS gauges
- Clarks Fork Yellowstone Riverexception rules, 4 access sites, 2 USGS gauges
Live creek and river gauges across Yellowstone County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone River At Billings Mt | 2,980 cfs, 2.84 ft gage height | Nov 15 4:00 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 put-ins listed for Yellowstone County
- Broadview Pond Fishing Access Sitefishing access site, ramp (concrete), concrete surface, 53 acres; Yellowstone County
- Buffalo Mirage Fishing Access Site on Yellowstone Riverfishing access site, ramp (gravel), gravel surface, 16 acres; Yellowstone County
- Captain Clark Fishing Access Site on Yellowstone Riverfishing access site, ramp (concrete), concrete surface, 149 acres; Yellowstone County
- Duck Creek Bridge Fishing Access Site on Yellowstone Riverfishing access site, ramp (concrete), concrete surface, 27 acres; Yellowstone County
- East Bridge Fishing Access Site on Yellowstone Riverfishing access site, ramp (concrete), concrete surface, 1 acres; Yellowstone County
- Manuel Lisa Fishing Access Site on Bighorn Riverfishing access site, ramp (concrete), concrete surface, 33 acres; Yellowstone County
- Voyagers Rest Fishing Access Site on Yellowstone Riverfishing access site, ramp (gravel), gravel surface, 20 acres; Yellowstone County
- Lake Elmo State Park Boat Rampstate park boat ramp; Yellowstone County
FWP access sites in Yellowstone County
- Bundy Bridge Fishing Access Site on Yellowstone Riverfishing access site, no boat facilities, 1 acres; Yellowstone County
- Gritty Stone Fishing Access Site on Yellowstone Riverfishing access site, hand launch, 14 acres; Yellowstone County
- Blue Creek Fishing Access Sitefishing access site, no boat facilities; Yellowstone County
- South Hills Fishing Access Site on Yellowstone Riverfishing access site, no boat facilities, 2 acres; Yellowstone County
FWP Fishing Access Sites layer (ArcGIS service) and the FishMT site pages, read November 12, 2026.
Mapped but undocumented FWP-layer lakes in Yellowstone County
- Rattlesnake Reservoirabout 174 acres of mapped outline
- Laurel Pondabout 20 acres of mapped outline
- Anita Reservoirabout 37 acres of mapped outline
- Exxon Wildlife Pond 1about 30 acres of mapped outline
- Alkali Pondabout 28 acres of mapped outline
- Thunder Ridge Pondabout 26 acres of mapped outline
- San Isidore Cattle Co Slough (Pompeys Pilliar Slough)about 25 acres of mapped outline
- Tanglewood Pond Eastabout 16 acres of mapped outline
- Joels Pondabout 14 acres of mapped outline
- KOA Billings Pondabout 10 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.
Waters in Yellowstone County with their own regulation lines
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.
- Bighorn RiverA State of Montana Fishing License is required for all anglers to fish on the Bighorn River within the boundaries of the Crow Reservation. A tribal permit is not required. (BIGHORN RIVER)
- Clarks Fork Yellowstone RiverHook and Line: 2 lines with 2 hooks per line all year. (CLARKS FORK YELLOWSTONE RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES)
- Lake ElmoBow-and-arrow fishing prohibited. (LAKE ELMO)
- 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.
FWP plants logged for Yellowstone County in 2026
| Date | Water as FishMT prints it | Fish | Species |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 14, 2026 | Lake Elmo | 4,838 | Rainbow trout |
| September 2, 2026 | Lake Elmo | 6,500 | Bluegill |
| September 1, 2026 | Laurel Pond | 1,999 | Rainbow trout |
| August 4, 2026 | Broadview Pond (; Boadview Pond) | 4,000 | Largemouth bass |
| August 3, 2026 | Lake Elmo | 200 | Tiger muskellunge |
| August 3, 2026 | Lake Josephine (; River Front Park) | 125 | Tiger muskellunge |
| July 23, 2026 | Laurel Pond | 5,000 | Largemouth bass |
| June 3, 2026 | Lake Elmo | 464 | Rainbow trout |
| June 3, 2026 | Laurel Pond | 464 | Rainbow trout |
| May 5, 2026 | Lake Elmo | 1,410 | Rainbow trout |
FWP FishMT stocking report for 2026, year to date (FishMT plant report), read November 12, 2026.
Montana record fish listed near Yellowstone County
| Species | Weight or length as listed | Water | Year | Marked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden shiner | 0.39 lbs. | Lake Josephine (Yellowstone County) | 2025 | not marked native |
| Largemouth bass | 9.58 lbs. | Lake Elmo | 2021 | not marked native |
| River carpsucker | 7.915 lbs | Yellowstone River | 2022 | native |
Montana state record fish as FWP lists them (records page), read November 12, 2026.
FWP-approved contests fishing Yellowstone 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.
Montana bait counters around Yellowstone County
Bait and fly shops worth a detour before Yellowstone County
- Bass Pro Shops, 4550 King Ave Ebait and tackle shop, Billings
- Big Sky Fly Fishersfly shop, Billings
- Bighorn Fliesbait and tackle shop, Billings
- Bighorn Fly & Tackle Shop, 485 S 24th St W Ste 1fly shop, Billings
- Bugz An Rodzbait and tackle shop, Billings
- Catch Fly Fishingfly shop, Billings
- East Rosebud Fly & Tacklefly shop, Billings
- Pryor Creek Bait Companybait and tackle shop, Yellowstone County
- Scheels, 1121 Shiloh Crossing Blvdbait and tackle shop, Billings
- Tackle With Lovebait and tackle shop, Billings
- Wild Fly Anglerfly shop, Billings
- Yellowstone Fly Goodsfly shop, Billings
Hiring a Montana guide for Yellowstone County
- Eastslope Outfittersfishing guide, Billings
- Reel Therapy Charter Fishingfishing guide, Billings
Yellow Pages, State Parks and operator listings (city of business), read November 12, 2026. Guides are listed as businesses; no licence status is implied.
Along the same valley as Yellowstone County
Montana cities and towns of Yellowstone County
- Billings2020 count 117,116
- Laurel2020 count 7,222
- Lockwood2020 count 7,195
Adjoining Yellowstone County
- Musselshell County40 miles north
- Big Horn County52 miles southeast
- Treasure County52 miles northeast
- Golden Valley County53 miles northwest
Piscifun tackle chosen for a Montana day at Yellowstone County
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Big Sky shorelines and trout-stream riffles around Yellowstone County, photographed
Photo: Bureau of Land Management Montana and Dakotas, Public domain
Photo: Forest Service Northern Region, Public domain
Clearing up Montana myths about fishing Yellowstone County
Which Montana ramps serve Yellowstone County?
8 ramps show up in the access data for the county.
Which lake in Yellowstone County has the most acreage here?
Lake Elmo (about 62 acres of mapped outline).
What species does FWP map around Yellowstone County?
MFISH names rainbow trout on the most lake pages within 60 miles, then brown trout, common carp and largemouth bass; the layer shows presence, not a catch.
Which Montana stores in Yellowstone County sell fishing gear?
Bass Pro Shops, 4550 King Ave E heads a list of 12.
Which town holds the Yellowstone County offices?
That is Billings.
What do I buy before fishing in Yellowstone 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.
Which Montana counties should I check near Yellowstone County?
The closest county pages are Musselshell County, Big Horn County and Treasure County.
What is the trout limit in Yellowstone County?
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.
Which lakes in Montana's Yellowstone County have special limits?
4 waters with a page here carry their own exception lines, beginning with Bighorn River.
How many fish did FWP stock in Yellowstone County in 2026?
The 2026 plant report lists 33,885 fish in 17 rows across 4 waters in the county.
Which events fish Yellowstone County lakes?
7 entries on file, none dated ahead.
Which FWP records tie to Yellowstone County?
Golden shiner, 0.39 lbs., from Lake Josephine (2025).
Plan a Big Sky fishing day in Yellowstone County
Access pages repeat FWP details with directions.