Bluegill in Montana
Bluegill in Montana: standard chart lines, water exceptions and record entries.
Pick for bluegillPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Bluegill: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
What FWP prints about Bluegill
FWP's district charts do not name bluegill. Across 21 Montana water pages, FWP's MFISH layer or the 2026 plant report names it; 5 use the word common or abundant.
FWP's record table lists 1 entry for it. The FishMT plant report for 2026 lists 14 planting rows across 14 waters.
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 23 (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
For the bluegill herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Origins of the record bluegill
| Fish | Weight | Length (inches) | Water | Year | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 2.64 lbs. | 11 | Peterson's Stock Dam | 1983 |
Montana state record fish as FWP lists them (records page), read November 12, 2026.
Water pages on this site mentioning bluegill
The word after each water is FWP's own MFISH rating (abundant, common or rare), listed when FWP rates none, or stocked from a 2026 plant row; it is not a catch report.
- Fort Peck Dredge CutsMFISH: common; Valley County
- Castle Rock ReservoirMFISH: common; Rosebud County
- Gartside ReservoirMFISH: common; Richland County
- Upper Carters PondMFISH: common; Fergus County
- Carters PondMFISH: common; Fergus County
- Fort Peck LakeMFISH: rare; Valley County
- Canyon Ferry LakeMFISH: rare; Broadwater County
- Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres)MFISH: rare; Phillips County
- Tongue River ReservoirMFISH: rare; Big Horn County
- Bighorn Lake (Big Horn County)MFISH: listed; Big Horn County
- Lake MasonMFISH: listed; Musselshell County
- Sophie LakeMFISH: listed; Lincoln County
- Yellowstone RiverMFISH: listed; Yellowstone County
- Tetrault LakeMFISH: listed; Lincoln County
- Lake ElmoMFISH: listed; Yellowstone County
- Bighorn RiverMFISH: listed; Big Horn County
- Spotted Eagle LakeMFISH: listed; Custer County
- Lake Josephine (Yellowstone County)MFISH: listed; Yellowstone County
- Milk RiverMFISH: listed; Valley County
- Three Forks PondMFISH: listed; Gallatin County
- Clearwater RiverMFISH: listed; Missoula County
FWP MFISH fish distribution layer (ArcGIS service), read November 12, 2026. Presence is mapping data, not a catch report.
Blue-ribbon creeks, canyon lakes and wide rivers around Bluegill, pictured
Photo: Forest Service Northern Region, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: TravelingOtter, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Alkula's, CC BY 2.0
Plain replies about Bluegill for Montana trips
What daily number does FWP print for bluegill?
FWP's district charts do not name bluegill. Each limit comes from the 2026 Montana Fishing Regulations.
Are there named waters with a separate bluegill rule?
It has no exception line.
What does the FWP record book show for bluegill?
FWP prints 2.64 lbs., Peterson's Stock Dam, 1983.
Which pages on this site mention bluegill?
Pages naming it number 21; Fort Peck Dredge Cuts, Castle Rock Reservoir and Gartside Reservoir leads.
Where did hatchery bluegill go in 2026?
The FishMT plant report for 2026 lists 14 planting rows across 14 waters.
License needed for a day on bluegill water?
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.
How does FWP accept a record bluegill?
FWP certifies each record with a weighed fish, a biologist's identification and paperwork.
Can I fish for bluegill year-round in Montana?
FWP prints general seasons per district for streams and for lakes, with exceptions for named waters.