Golden trout in Montana
Where golden trout sit in the Montana booklet, the record table and the FWP distribution layer.
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Golden trout: the Treasure State summary
Montana's district charts hold 3 lines naming golden trout: Central, Eastern and Western. It is not on any built page's MFISH list.
The record table has 1 row for it.
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 23 (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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
A water listed under District Exceptions replaces the chart line for the fish its rules name.
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 23 (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
Montana waters that produced record golden trout
| Fish | Weight | Length (inches) | Water | Year | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden trout | 5.43 lbs. | 23.5 | Cave Lake | 2000 |
Montana state record fish as FWP lists them (records page), read November 12, 2026.
Early light on the water near Golden trout, Big Sky style
Photo: Forest Service Northern Region, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: David Schott, CC BY 2.0
Chasing Golden trout across Big Sky country, answered
Keeper count for golden trout under the Montana chart?
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.
Do Montana streams or lakes deviate from the chart for golden trout?
The booklet prints no water exception for it.
Which Montana water gave up the top golden trout?
It stands at 5.43 lbs., taken at Cave Lake in 2000.
Where does the distribution layer put golden trout?
So far no built page carries it.
Which Montana waters got golden trout this year?
The 2026 FishMT plant report has no row for it.
What does FWP charge before I cast for golden trout?
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.
Steps for filing a golden trout as a state record?
Records go through FWP Fisheries: certified scale, biologist ID, and the record form.
When is golden trout season open in Montana?
See the district season table; a water's exception lines can open or close a season on their own.