Channel catfish in Montana
Montana channel catfish limits by district, exception lines, records and MFISH-listed waters.
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Numbers behind Montana Channel catfish
The 2026 regulations carry 2 district chart lines for channel catfish across Montana. It turns up in the MFISH data for 25 waters with pages here; 8 carry the word common or abundant.
The exceptions pages touch it 2 times; Bighorn Lake comes first alphabetically. Montana keeps 1 record entry for it.
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 49 (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
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| District | Chart row as printed | Limit as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Central | Channel Catfish | 10 daily and in possession. |
| Eastern | Channel Catfish | 10 daily and 20 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.
A district chart number is only the default; exception rules for a specific water come first.
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 49 (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
Big Sky waters carrying a separate channel catfish rule
| Water as printed | District | Rule lines | Booklet page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bighorn Lake | Central | Channel catfish: 6 daily and in possession. | page 55 |
| Musselshell River | Eastern | Channel catfish: 10 daily and in possession. | page 82 |
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 24-90 (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
Record-table rows for channel catfish here
| Fish | Weight | Length (inches) | Water | Year | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Channel catfish | 35.18 lbs. | 38.75 | Colstrip Surge Pond | 2019 | Montana native |
Montana state record fish as FWP lists them (records page), read November 12, 2026.
Reservoirs and streams in the FWP lists for channel catfish
Read each label as FWP prints it in MFISH; stocked flags a FishMT planting this year.
- Fort Peck LakeMFISH: abundant; Valley County
- Tongue River ReservoirMFISH: abundant; Big Horn County
- Fort Peck Powerhouse TailraceMFISH: abundant; Valley County
- Bighorn Lake (Big Horn County)MFISH: common; Big Horn County
- Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres)MFISH: common; Phillips County
- Fort Peck Dredge CutsMFISH: common; Valley County
- Lake ElmoMFISH: common; Yellowstone County
- Lake Josephine (Yellowstone County)MFISH: common; Yellowstone County
- Tiber ReservoirMFISH: rare; Liberty County
- Deadmans Basin ReservoirMFISH: rare; Wheatland County
- Yellowtail Afterbay ReservoirMFISH: rare; Big Horn County
- Castle Rock ReservoirMFISH: listed; Rosebud County
- Yellowstone RiverMFISH: listed; Yellowstone County
- Missouri RiverMFISH: listed; Chouteau County
- Bighorn RiverMFISH: listed; Big Horn County
- Spotted Eagle LakeMFISH: listed; Custer County
- Milk RiverMFISH: listed; Valley County
- Clarks Fork Yellowstone RiverMFISH: listed; Carbon County
- Musselshell RiverMFISH: listed; Musselshell County
- Marias RiverMFISH: listed; Liberty County
- Tongue RiverMFISH: listed; Custer County
- Little Bighorn RiverMFISH: listed; Big Horn County
- Powder RiverMFISH: listed; Custer County
- Judith RiverMFISH: listed; Fergus County
- Poplar RiverMFISH: listed; Roosevelt County
FWP MFISH fish distribution layer (ArcGIS service), read November 12, 2026. Presence is mapping data, not a catch report.
Photo of Fort Peck Lake: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Open questions on Channel catfish from Montana waters
Which chart row governs channel catfish here?
Central district reads 10 daily and in possession.; Eastern district reads 10 daily and 20 in possession. Each limit comes from the 2026 Montana Fishing Regulations.
Does any exception heading rewrite the channel catfish rule?
The exceptions pages touch it 2 times; Bighorn Lake comes first alphabetically.
How heavy is the certified channel catfish record?
35.18 lbs. out of Colstrip Surge Pond in 2019, a certified record.
Which impoundments list channel catfish?
Fort Peck Lake, Tongue River Reservoir and Fort Peck Powerhouse Tailrace comes first among the 25 that name it.
Are channel catfish on the 2026 plant report?
It was not in this year's FishMT rows.
Which FWP license do channel catfish anglers buy?
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.
Which office maintains the channel catfish record list?
A claim needs a certified-scale weight, identification by an FWP biologist and the Fish Record Form.
Does a Montana season limit when I can fish for channel catfish?
Seasons are set by district and by river or lake, and the exception pages can override them.