Montana Fish Species
43 Montana fish with district limits from the 2026 regulations, exception waters, FWP state records and the waters MFISH maps them in.
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Photo of Flathead Lake: Barbara Ann Spengler, CC BY 2.0
Montana species, A through Z
A
B
C
F
G
K
L
M
N
P
R
S
T
W
Y
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How many fish species earn a page?
43 species: each with a district chart row, an FWP state record or a place on enough MFISH lake and river lists.
Which regulations set these limits?
The 2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, valid March 1, 2026 through the end of February 2027; FWP has published no 2027 booklet.
Can a single water carry its own limit?
Yes. Exception headings replace the district standard items they list, and each species page notes where they apply.
Do the three fishing districts have the same limits?
No. The Western, Central and Eastern district charts differ, so each species page prints the rows district by district.
Do the Montana record rows name the angler?
Weight or length, water and year come from the FWP record table; angler names are left off.
Why does a fish have no limit row?
The charts print a limit only for listed species; for any other fish the booklet says there is no limit, so those pages say so as printed.
Which fish are protected?
2 listed natives (bull trout and pallid sturgeon) have a shared page; bull trout can be fished only in the Western District catch card waters.
Why is there no page for a Montana fish I chase?
It needs a district chart row, an FWP state record or a place on enough MFISH lake and river lists first.
FWP rules and Montana directories beside the species list
- Every Montana fishing page, A to Zreservoirs, streams, counties, towns and fish together
- Montana license prices and district rulesFWP fees, general seasons and the three fishing districts
- Western District standard limitschart rows and every exception water printed there
- Central District standard limitschart rows and every exception water printed there
- Eastern District standard limitschart rows and every exception water printed there
- Montana reservation and national park waterswhere tribal or Park Service rules come on top
- Montana ice fishing conteststhe FWP-approved winter list with dates and waters
- Montana free fishing weekendsMother's Day and Father's Day weekends by law
- Montana state record fishFWP's certified records, weights and lengths
- Montana stocking in 2026the FishMT plant report by water and species
- Montana reservoir levels and stream gaugesUSGS live flow plus dated Corps readings
- Montana boat rampsFWP fishing access sites and state park ramps
- Montana fishing access siteswalk-in, hand launch and bank sites
- Montana bait and tackle shopscounters, fly shops and marinas in four map quadrants
- Montana fishing guideslisted outfitters and guide services with towns and phones
- Montana fishing tournamentsFWP-approved contests and posted results
- Protected fish in Montanabull trout, pallid sturgeon and species of concern