Mountain whitefish in Montana
Mountain whitefish in Montana: standard chart lines, water exceptions and record entries.
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What FWP prints about Mountain whitefish
In the 2026 booklet, mountain whitefish appear on 3 chart lines (Central, Eastern and Western). Across 103 Montana water pages, FWP's MFISH layer or the 2026 plant report names it; 33 use the word common or abundant.
FWP prints 11 exception headings naming it, Bitterroot River (note: river flows south to north) for example. FWP's record table lists 1 entry for it.
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 23 (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
Montana's district limit lines for mountain whitefish
| District | Chart row as printed | Limit as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Western | Whitefish | 20 daily and 40 in possession. |
| Central | Whitefish | 20 daily and 40 in possession. |
| Eastern | Whitefish | 20 daily and 40 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.
Where a water has its own exception lines, those lines stand in for the chart numbers above.
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 23 (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
Exception headings that name mountain whitefish
| Water as printed | District | Rule lines | Booklet page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitterroot River (note: river flows south to north) | Western | Extended season for northern pike and whitefish and catch-and-release for all trout open Dec. 1 to third Saturday in May. | page 24 |
| Blackfoot River And Tributaries | Western | Extended season for mountain whitefish and catch-and-release for trout open Dec. 1 to third Saturday in May. Tributaries are closed to fishing during the extended season. | page 28 |
| Clark Fork River | Western | Extended season for northern pike and whitefish and catch-and-release for trout open Dec. 1 to third Saturday in May. | page 29 |
| East Fork Bitterroot River Downstream From Star Falls | Western | Extended season for northern pike and whitefish and catch-and-release for trout open Dec. 1 to third Saturday in May with aquatic insects, maggots and/or artificial lures only. | page 31 |
| Flint Creek | Western | Extended season for whitefish and catch-and-release for trout open Dec. 1 to third Saturday in May with artificial lures and/or maggots only. | page 33 |
| Lake Elwell aka Tiber Reservoir | Central | Cisco and whitefish: all fish must be released immediately or killed and counted as part of your limit. It is unlawful to possess live cisco or whitefish for any reason. | page 59 |
| Little Blackfoot River And Tributaries | Western | Extended whitefish season and catch-and-release for trout open Dec. 1 to third Saturday in May with artificial lures and/or maggots only. | page 37 |
| Rock Creek (near Missoula) | Western | Extended season for whitefish and catch-and-release for trout open Dec. 1 to third Saturday in May with artificial lures and/or maggots only. | page 40 |
| Tiber Reservoir aka Lake Elwell | Central | Cisco and whitefish: all fish must be released immediately or killed and counted as part of your limit. It is unlawful to possess live cisco or whitefish for any reason. | page 67 |
| Warm Springs Wildlife Management Area (WMA) | Western | Extended season for northern pike and whitefish and catch-and- release for trout from Dec. 1 to third Saturday in May with aquatic insects, maggots and/or artificial lures only. | page 44 |
| Whitefish River | Western | Open entire year from Whitefish Lake to confluence with Stillwater River. | page 45 |
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 24-90 (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
Montana license and district rules
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| Fish | Weight | Length (inches) | Water | Year | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain whitefish | 5.11 lbs. | 23 | Hauser Reservoir | 2007 | Montana native |
Montana state record fish as FWP lists them (records page), read November 12, 2026.
Water pages on this site mentioning mountain whitefish
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.
- Hebgen LakeMFISH: abundant; Gallatin County
- Kintla LakeMFISH: abundant; Flathead County
- Cliff Lake (Madison County)MFISH: abundant; Madison County
- Dickey Lake (Lincoln County)MFISH: abundant; Lincoln County
- Harrison LakeMFISH: abundant; Flathead County
- Flathead LakeMFISH: common; Lake County
- Hungry Horse ReservoirMFISH: common; Flathead County
- McDonald Lake (Flathead County)MFISH: common; Flathead County
- Clark Canyon ReservoirMFISH: common; Beaverhead County
- Ennis LakeMFISH: common; Madison County
- Holter ReservoirMFISH: common; Lewis and Clark County
- Swan Lake (Lake County)MFISH: common; Lake County
- Hauser ReservoirMFISH: common; Lewis and Clark County
- Lake HelenaMFISH: common; Lewis and Clark County
- Bowman LakeMFISH: common; Flathead County
- McGregor LakeMFISH: common; Flathead County
- Placid LakeMFISH: common; Missoula County
- Logging LakeMFISH: common; Flathead County
- Seeley LakeMFISH: common; Missoula County
- Thompson Falls ReservoirMFISH: common; Sanders County
- Ruby River ReservoirMFISH: common; Madison County
- Lake ComoMFISH: common; Ravalli County
- Quartz LakeMFISH: common; Flathead County
- Lindbergh LakeMFISH: common; Missoula County
- Upper Holter LakeMFISH: common; Lewis and Clark County
- Salmon LakeMFISH: common; Missoula County
- Quake LakeMFISH: common; Madison County
- Painted Rocks ReservoirMFISH: common; Ravalli County
- Holland LakeMFISH: common; Missoula County
- Lake AlvaMFISH: common; Missoula County
FWP MFISH fish distribution layer (ArcGIS service), read November 12, 2026. Presence is mapping data, not a catch report.
Photo of Hebgen Lake: Forest Service Northern Region, CC BY 2.0
Plain replies about Mountain whitefish for Montana trips
What daily number does FWP print for mountain whitefish?
Western district reads 20 daily and 40 in possession.; Central district reads 20 daily and 40 in possession.; Eastern district reads 20 daily and 40 in possession. Each limit comes from the 2026 Montana Fishing Regulations.
Are there named waters with a separate mountain whitefish rule?
FWP prints 11 exception headings naming it, Bitterroot River (note: river flows south to north) for example.
What does the FWP record book show for mountain whitefish?
FWP prints 5.11 lbs., Hauser Reservoir, 2007.
Which pages on this site mention mountain whitefish?
Pages naming it number 103; Hebgen Lake, Kintla Lake and Cliff Lake (Madison County) leads.
Where did hatchery mountain whitefish go in 2026?
FWP logged no planting of it this year.
License needed for a day on mountain whitefish 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 mountain whitefish?
FWP certifies each record with a weighed fish, a biologist's identification and paperwork.
Can I fish for mountain whitefish year-round in Montana?
FWP prints general seasons per district for streams and for lakes, with exceptions for named waters.