Burbot in Montana
Burbot: Montana district limits as printed, exception waters, FWP record rows and the waters FWP maps it on.
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Burbot across Big Sky country, at a glance
FWP prints 3 fishing-district chart lines that cover burbot, one for each district where a line applies. MFISH presence lists link it to 53 Montana pages on this site, 23 of them with a common or abundant rating.
Bighorn Lake is one of 4 exception headings whose rule lines name it. FWP certifies 1 record for it.
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 23 (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
How the FWP charts treat burbot
| District | Chart row as printed | Limit as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Western | Burbot (Ling) | 2 daily and in possession. |
| Central | Burbot (Ling) | 5 daily and in possession. |
| Eastern | Burbot (Ling) | 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.
The burbot lines under District Exceptions
| Water as printed | District | Rule lines | Booklet page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bighorn Lake | Central | Burbot (ling): 3 daily and in possession. | page 55 |
| Clark Canyon Reservoir | Central | Burbot (Ling): 3 over 23 inches daily and in possession. | page 56 |
| Lake Sutherlin | Central | Burbot (ling): 3 daily and in possession. Only 1 over 30 inches. | page 60 |
| Newlan Creek Reservoir | Central | Burbot (ling): 3 daily and in possession. Only 1 over 30 inches. | page 64 |
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 24-90 (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
Heaviest burbot in the Montana book
| Fish | Weight | Length (inches) | Water | Year | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burbot | 17.08 lbs. | 39 | Missouri River Wolf Point | 1989 | Montana native |
Montana state record fish as FWP lists them (records page), read November 12, 2026.
Finding burbot in the MFISH layer
Ratings are the MFISH words as FWP assigns them, with stocked added for waters in the 2026 plant report.
- Canyon Ferry LakeMFISH: abundant; Broadwater County
- Clark Canyon ReservoirMFISH: abundant; Beaverhead County
- Holter ReservoirMFISH: abundant; Lewis and Clark County
- Upper Red Rock LakeMFISH: abundant; Beaverhead County
- Lower Red Rock LakeMFISH: abundant; Beaverhead County
- Upper Holter LakeMFISH: abundant; Lewis and Clark County
- Helena Valley Regulating ReservoirMFISH: abundant; Lewis and Clark County
- Elk Lake (Beaverhead County)MFISH: abundant; Beaverhead County
- Mussigbrod LakeMFISH: abundant; Beaverhead County
- Twin LakesMFISH: abundant; Beaverhead County
- Lower Miner LakesMFISH: abundant; Beaverhead County
- Fort Peck LakeMFISH: common; Valley County
- Tiber ReservoirMFISH: common; Liberty County
- Bighorn Lake (Big Horn County)MFISH: common; Big Horn County
- Lima ReservoirMFISH: common; Beaverhead County
- Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres)MFISH: common; Phillips County
- Hauser ReservoirMFISH: common; Lewis and Clark County
- Lake HelenaMFISH: common; Lewis and Clark County
- Fort Peck Powerhouse TailraceMFISH: common; Valley County
- Cooney ReservoirMFISH: common; Carbon County
- Swan Lake (Beaverhead County)MFISH: common; Beaverhead County
- Lake SutherlinMFISH: common; Meagher County
- Newlan ReservoirMFISH: common; Meagher County
- Lake KoocanusaMFISH: rare; Lincoln County
- Lake FrancesMFISH: rare; Pondera County
- Fresno ReservoirMFISH: rare; Hill County
- St. Mary LakeMFISH: listed; Glacier County
- Sherburne LakeMFISH: listed; Glacier County
- Fort Peck Dredge CutsMFISH: listed; Valley County
- Glen LakeMFISH: listed; Lincoln County
FWP MFISH fish distribution layer (ArcGIS service), read November 12, 2026. Presence is mapping data, not a catch report.
Photo of Canyon Ferry Lake: Shawn Michael, CC BY 2.0
What gives Montana anglers pause with Burbot
What do the 2026 charts allow me to take of burbot?
Western district reads 2 daily and in possession.; Central district reads 5 daily and in possession.; Eastern district reads 5 daily and in possession. Each limit comes from the 2026 Montana Fishing Regulations.
Any named-water exceptions for burbot?
Bighorn Lake is one of 4 exception headings whose rule lines name it.
Record-book entry for burbot?
The record is 17.08 lbs., Missouri River Wolf Point, 1989.
Where is burbot rated common by FWP?
Of 53 pages, Canyon Ferry Lake, Clark Canyon Reservoir and Holter Reservoir heads the list.
Did FWP stock burbot in 2026?
FishMT shows no plant for it in 2026.
Which permit lets me fish for burbot?
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 burbot record claim?
FWP's Fisheries Division certifies records by certified scale weight, biologist identification and a record form.
When may I target burbot in Montana?
Each district has a general season for rivers and another for lakes; exceptions may close or shift them for a named water.