Arctic grayling in Montana
Arctic grayling: Montana district limits as printed, exception waters, FWP record rows and the waters FWP maps it on.
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Arctic grayling: USFWSAlaska, Public domain
.jpg){kind=link}
Arctic grayling across Big Sky country, at a glance
FWP prints 3 fishing-district chart lines that cover Arctic grayling, one for each district where a line applies. MFISH presence lists link it to 24 Montana pages on this site, 4 of them with a common or abundant rating.
Handkerchief Lake is one of 10 exception headings whose rule lines name it. FWP certifies 1 record for it. FishMT records 1 2026 plants at 1 water.
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 23 (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
Where Arctic grayling stands on the FWP list
FWP's species status list marks it as species of concern. 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.
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 90 (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
How the FWP charts treat Arctic grayling
| District | Chart row as printed | Limit as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Western | Combined Trout includes brown trout, rainbow trout, golden trout, and arctic grayling | Lakes/Reservoirs: 5 daily and 10 in possession, only 1 over 22 inches daily and in possession. Rivers/Streams: 3 daily and in possession, only 1 over 14 inches. |
| Central | Combined Trout includes brown trout, rainbow trout, golden trout, cutthroat trout, and arctic grayling | Lakes/Reservoirs: 5 daily and 10 in possession, includes cutthroat trout. Rivers/Streams: 3 daily and in possession, only 1 over 18 inches, only 1 can be a cutthroat trout. All arctic grayling must be released immediately. |
| Eastern | Combined Trout includes brown trout, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, golden trout, and arctic grayling | Lakes/Reservoirs: 5 daily and 10 in possession. Rivers/Streams: 5 daily and in possession. |
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.
The standard chart gives way to any exception printed for the water you fish.
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 23 (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 The Arctic grayling lines under District Exceptions
| Water as printed | District | Rule lines | Booklet page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axolotl Lakes | Central | Catch-and-release for arctic grayling. | page 51 |
| Big Hole River | Central | Catch-and-release for arctic grayling. | page 53 |
| Diversion Lake (Sun River drainage) | Central | Catch-and-release for arctic grayling. | page 56 |
| Elk Lake (Beaverhead County) | Central | Catch-and-release for lake trout and arctic grayling. | page 57 |
| Gibson Reservoir | Central | Combined trout: 5 daily and in possession. Catch-and-release for arctic grayling. | page 57 |
| Handkerchief Lake | Western | Catch-and-release for arctic grayling. | page 34 |
| Hyalite Reservoir | Central | Catch-and-release for arctic grayling. | page 59 |
| Sunny Slope Canal | Central | Catch-and-release for arctic grayling. | page 67 |
| Tunnel Lake (Teton County) | Central | Combined trout: includes 1 arctic grayling. | page 67 |
| Wise River | Central | Catch-and-release for Arctic grayling. | page 68 |
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 24-90 (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
Heaviest Arctic grayling in the Montana book
| Fish | Weight | Length (inches) | Water | Year | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arctic grayling | 3.63 lbs. | 20 | Washtub Lake | 2003 |
Montana state record fish as FWP lists them (records page), read November 12, 2026.
Finding Arctic grayling in the MFISH layer
Ratings are the MFISH words as FWP assigns them, with stocked added for waters in the 2026 plant report.
- Upper Red Rock LakeMFISH: common; Beaverhead County
- Foy LakeMFISH: common; Flathead County
- Hyalite ReservoirMFISH: common; Gallatin County
- Handkerchief LakeMFISH: common; Flathead County
- Lima ReservoirMFISH: rare; Beaverhead County
- Ennis LakeMFISH: rare; Madison County
- Lower Red Rock LakeMFISH: rare; Beaverhead County
- Pishkun ReservoirMFISH: rare; Teton County
- Gibson ReservoirMFISH: rare; Teton County
- Ruby River ReservoirMFISH: rare; Madison County
- Fox LakeMFISH: rare; Park County
- Hebgen LakeMFISH: listed; Gallatin County
- Rogers LakeMFISH: listed; Flathead County
- Mussigbrod LakeMFISH: listed; Beaverhead County
- Lower Miner LakesMFISH: listed; Beaverhead County
- Madison RiverMFISH: listed; Madison County
- Big Hole RiverMFISH: listed; Deer Lodge County
- Jefferson RiverMFISH: listed; Gallatin County
- Beaverhead RiverMFISH: listed; Beaverhead County
- Ruby RiverMFISH: listed; Madison County
- Sun RiverMFISH: listed; Cascade County
- Tunnel LakeMFISH: listed; Teton County
- Red Rock RiverMFISH: listed; Beaverhead County
- North Fork Flathead RiverMFISH: listed; Flathead County
FWP MFISH fish distribution layer (ArcGIS service), read November 12, 2026. Presence is mapping data, not a catch report.
Big Sky shorelines and trout-stream riffles around Arctic grayling, photographed
Photo: Forest Service Northern Region, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: David Schott, CC BY 2.0
Photo: TravelingOtter, CC BY-SA 2.0
What gives Montana anglers pause with Arctic grayling
What do the 2026 charts allow me to take of Arctic grayling?
Western district reads Lakes/Reservoirs: 5 daily and 10 in possession, only 1 over 22 inches daily and in possession. Rivers/Streams: 3 daily and in possession, only 1 over 14 inches.; Central district reads Lakes/Reservoirs: 5 daily and 10 in possession, includes cutthroat trout. Rivers/Streams: 3 daily and in possession, only 1 over 18 inches, only 1 can be a cutthroat trout. All arctic grayling must be released immediately.; Eastern district reads Lakes/Reservoirs: 5 daily and 10 in possession. Rivers/Streams: 5 daily and in possession. Each limit comes from the 2026 Montana Fishing Regulations.
Any named-water exceptions for Arctic grayling?
Handkerchief Lake is one of 10 exception headings whose rule lines name it.
Record-book entry for Arctic grayling?
The record is 3.63 lbs., Washtub Lake, 2003.
Where is Arctic grayling rated common by FWP?
Of 24 pages, Upper Red Rock Lake, Foy Lake and Hyalite Reservoir heads the list.
Did FWP stock Arctic grayling in 2026?
FishMT records 1 2026 plants at 1 water.
Which permit lets me fish for Arctic grayling?
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 proof backs a Arctic grayling record claim?
FWP's Fisheries Division certifies records by certified scale weight, biologist identification and a record form.
When may I target Arctic grayling in Montana?
Each district has a general season for rivers and another for lakes; exceptions may close or shift them for a named water.