Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres) Fishing
A Montana reservoir of 4,115 acres in Phillips County.
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Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres) by the FWP numbers
In Phillips County, Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres) is listed at 4,115 acres on FishMT. A mapped polygon puts the shoreline around about 4,114 acres of mapped outline. Malta sits roughly 18 miles from the shore on a straight line.
It sits in FWP’s Eastern fishing district, with FWP Region 6, per FishMT. FWP maps no put-in here.
Size as the FWP FishMT page for Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres) prints it (FishMT), read November 12, 2026.
Outline area from the FWP Lakes reference layer (ArcGIS service; mapped polygon area, not an FWP surface-acre figure), read November 12, 2026.
Montana FWP FishMT waterbody page for Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres), read November 12, 2026.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census counts (TIGERweb) and the 2023 Gazetteer, read November 12, 2026.
The FishMT notes for Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres)
The elevation FWP prints for Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres) is 2,225 feet above sea level. FWP's statewide angling pressure estimate for Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres) is 11,775 angler days in 2021 (give or take 2,868).
FWP flags a fish consumption advisory on its FishMT page for Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres); read FWP's current guidance before you keep fish to eat.
Montana FWP FishMT waterbody page for Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres), read November 12, 2026.
The MFISH species list for Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres)
For Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres), FWP's map files each species under a rating word where it has one.
| Species | MFISH rating |
|---|---|
| Black crappie | abundant |
| Bluegill | rare |
| Burbot | common |
| Channel catfish | common |
| Common carp | listed |
| Goldeye | common |
| Lake whitefish | abundant |
| Northern pike | abundant |
| Smallmouth bass | common |
| Walleye | abundant |
| Yellow perch | abundant |
FWP MFISH fish distribution layer (ArcGIS service) (FWP rating dates 2018), read November 12, 2026. Presence is mapping data, not a catch report.
For the crappie herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 The Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres) plant report from FWP
FWP's 2026 grid lists the following plants for Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres).
| Date | Species | Number | Average length |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 29, 2026 | Walleye | 77,300 | 1.51 in. |
| June 29, 2026 | Walleye | 22,500 | 1.76 in. |
FWP FishMT stocking report for 2026, year to date (FishMT plant report), read November 12, 2026.
Putting a boat in at Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres), Montana
FWP shows no put-in at Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres), so a carried boat or a neighboring launch is the way out.
More Montana launches near Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres)
- Cole Ponds Fishing Access Site on Cole Pond NNWCole Pond NNW, 4 miles northeast
Montana bank spots near Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres)
- Bjornberg Bridge Fishing Access Site on Milk RiverMilk River, 15 miles
- Alkali Creek Fishing Access Site on Milk RiverMilk River, 22 miles
Gate times and day-use charges at Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres) are not reproduced here: FWP's fee rows are mostly Conservation License prices.
FWP Fishing Access Sites layer (ArcGIS service) and the FishMT site pages, read November 12, 2026.
How many fish Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres) lets a Montana angler keep
Because the exceptions pages skip Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres), the Eastern chart rows are the ones in force.
| Chart label as printed | Limit as printed |
|---|---|
| Bass | 5 daily and in possession. |
| Burbot (Ling) | 5 daily and in possession. |
| Channel Catfish | 10 daily and 20 in possession. |
| Crappie | 15 daily and 30 in possession. |
| Northern Pike | 10 daily and in possession. |
| Sauger/Walleye | 5 daily and 10 in possession. |
| Whitefish | 20 daily and 40 in possession. |
Printed lake and reservoir season for the district: Open all year.
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.
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.
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
License prices as printed on the FWP fishing license page and in the 2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 12 (the two agree), read November 12, 2026.
The FWP record list and Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres)
| Species | Weight or length | Year | Place as FWP prints it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bigmouth buffalo | 57.75 lbs. | 1994 | Nelson Reservoir |
| Common carp | 40.2 lbs. | 1998 | Nelson Reservoir |
| Goldeye | 3.18 lbs. | 2000 | Nelson Reservoir |
| Smallmouth buffalo | 40 lbs. | 2023 | Nelson Reservoir |
| White sucker | 5.33 lbs. | 1983 | Nelson Reservoir |
Montana state record fish as FWP lists them (records page), read November 12, 2026.
Who holds organized events at Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres)
Find the FWP-approved Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres) events and organizer results on the tournament page.
Sizing Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres) against nearby Montana water
For more room, Fort Peck Lake runs 249,240 acres by FWP's figure.
| Water | Distance | Size | County | Ramps | Fish on FWP list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres) | 4,115 acres | Phillips County | 0 | 11 | |
| Frenchman Reservoir | 20 miles northeast | 573 acres | Phillips County | 0 | 4 |
| Wild Horse Reservoir | 39 miles southwest | 217 acres | Phillips County | 0 | 3 |
| Fort Peck Lake | 56 miles south | 249,240 acres | Valley County | 1 | 26 |
| Fort Peck Dredge Cuts | 60 miles southeast | 542 acres | Valley County | 1 | 24 |
| Fort Peck Powerhouse Tailrace | 61 miles southeast | 1,302 acres | Valley County | 0 | 20 |
FWP FishMT pages, the Fishing Access Sites layer and the FWP Lakes layer; outline sizes are GIS figures. Read November 12, 2026.
Grouped near Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres) on the Montana map
A second lake for day two past Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres)
- Frenchman Reservoir20 miles northeast
- Wild Horse Reservoir39 miles southwest
- Fort Peck Lake56 miles south
- Fort Peck Dredge Cuts60 miles southeast
- Fort Peck Powerhouse Tailrace61 miles southeast
Big Sky rooms and campgrounds handy to Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres)
- Malta18 miles
- Glasgow47 miles
Which Montana county holds Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres)
- Phillips Countyseat: Malta
Piscifun kit to stow in the truck for Montana time at Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres)
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Treasure State fish to recognize at Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres)
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Argyleist, CC BY 2.0
Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres): what Treasure State anglers ask
Which Montana county holds Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres)?
It lies in Phillips County; the nearest Census town, Malta, is about 18 miles away.
How many acres does FWP give Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres)?
4,115 acres, per FWP; the mapped outline is about 4,114 acres of mapped outline.
Where should a first-timer put in at Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres)?
The data hold no ramp for it, and the access band gives the nearest ones.
Does FWP rate trout at Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres)?
Look for black crappie, burbot, channel catfish, goldeye and lake whitefish, per the FWP layer.
Does Montana set size limits at Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres)?
No exception names it, so the Eastern district chart governs; the limits band prints the rows for its fish.
What does Montana ask of anglers at Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres)?
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. Montana requires a license from the twelfth birthday on.
Is bank fishing possible at Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres)?
FWP lists no pier here.
Which counter sells bait around Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres)?
The list has no store inside a 60-mile radius.
When did FWP last stock Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres)?
The newest of 2 stocking rows is 2026-06-29: walleye.
What mark on the record list came out of Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres)?
The record list holds a bigmouth buffalo at 57.75 lbs. from Nelson Reservoir, year 1994.
Which groups hold contests at Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres)?
Club and FWP-approved events are gathered on its event page.
Put Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres) on the Montana calendar
One click leads to the fee schedule and the limit charts.