Northern pike in Montana
District limits, water rules, records and FWP ratings for northern pike in Montana.
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Rulebook and range notes for Montana Northern pike
Count 3 district chart lines for northern pike in the Montana booklet, covering Central, Eastern and Western. The FWP distribution data ties it to 92 pages on this site (42 common or abundant).
29 exception headings in the 2026 booklet mention it, Bitterroot River (note: river flows south to north) among them. The Montana record table carries it 1 time. 4 2026 stocking rows, 4 waters, appear in FishMT.
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 | Northern Pike | 15 daily, no possession limit. All waters are open for spearing through the ice and in open water by a person swimming or submerged or as otherwise noted in District Exceptions. |
| Central | Northern Pike | 10 daily and in possession. |
| Eastern | Northern Pike | 10 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.
Exceptions to Standard Regulations override a chart line for the species they list.
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 23 (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
Exception listings for northern pike in Montana
| Water as printed | District | Rule lines | Booklet page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arod Lakes aka Eyraud Lakes | Central | Spearing: open for northern pike and nongame fish through the ice only. | page 51 |
| 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 |
| Canyon Ferry Reservoir | Central | Northern pike: no limit. Spearing: open for northern pike through the ice. | page 55 |
| Clark Fork River | Western | Northern pike: no limit. 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 |
| East Fork Reservoir (near Lewistown) | Central | Spearing: open for nongame fish and northern pike through the ice and by persons swimming or submerged. | page 57 |
| East Gallatin River | Central | Northern pike: no limit. | page 57 |
| Eyraud Lakes aka Arod Lakes | Central | Spearing: open for northern pike and nongame fish through the ice only. | page 57 |
| Gallatin River | Central | Northern pike: no limit. | page 57 |
| Hauser Reservoir | Central | Northern pike: no limit. Spearing: open for northern pike through the ice. | page 58 |
| Holter Reservoir | Central | Northern pike: no limit. Spearing: open for northern pike through the ice. | page 58 |
| Horseshoe Lake (Thompson Chain of Lakes) | Western | Tiger muskie : 1 daily and in possession, must be over 40 inches. There are no northern pike in the lake. | page 34 |
| Jefferson River | Central | Northern pike: no limit. | page 59 |
| Lake Alva | Western | Northern pike: no limit. Spearing: open for northern pike. | page 35 |
| Lake Elwell aka Tiber Reservoir | Central | Spearing: open for nongame fish, northern pike, and walleye through the ice and by persons swimming or submerged. | page 59 |
| Lake Frances | Central | Spearing: open for nongame fish, northern pike, and walleye through the ice. | page 59 |
| Lake Helena | Central | Northern pike: no limit. | page 59 |
| Lake Inez | Western | Northern pike: no limit. Spearing: open for northern pike. | page 36 |
| Madison River | Central | Northern pike: no limit. | page 60 |
| Missouri River | Central | Northern pike: no limit. Northern pike: no limit. Spearing allowed through the ice only. Northern pike: no limit. Northern pike: no limit. Spearing allowed through the ice only. Northern pike: no limit. Northern pike: no limit. Northern pike: no limit. Spearing: open for northern pike through the ice. Northern pike: no limit. | page 62 |
| Pishkun Reservoir | Central | Spearing: open for northern pike through the ice only. | page 64 |
| Placid Lake | Western | Northern pike: no limit. All northern pike and smallmouth bass caught must be killed immediately, kept and the entire fish presented to FWP. Anglers who catch northern pike in Placid Lake are required to report the catch to FWP within 24 hours (406-542-5500). Anglers must provide their full name, ALS Number, phone number, date and time of | page 39 |
| Salmon Lake | Western | Northern pike: no limit. Spearing: open for northern pike. | page 40 |
| Seeley Lake | Western | Northern pike: no limit. Spearing: open for northern pike. | page 40 |
| Split Rock Lake | Central | Spearing: open for northern pike through the ice only. | page 67 |
| Tiber Reservoir aka Lake Elwell | Central | Spearing: open for nongame fish, northern pike, and walleye through the ice and by persons swimming or submerged. | page 67 |
| Upsata Lake | Western | Northern pike: no limit. Spearing: open for northern pike. | page 42 |
| 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 |
| for individual lakes elsewhere) | Western | Northern pike: no limit. Northern pike: no limit. | page 30 |
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 24-90 (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
The certified Montana record northern pike
| Fish | Weight | Length (inches) | Water | Year | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern pike | 37.5 lbs. | – | Tongue River Reservoir | 1971 |
Montana state record fish as FWP lists them (records page), read November 12, 2026.
Picking water for northern pike in Montana
MFISH writes abundant, common or rare beside each fish, and those words are copied here; stocked marks a 2026 FishMT planting.
- Fort Peck LakeMFISH: abundant; Valley County
- Tiber ReservoirMFISH: abundant; Liberty County
- Noxon Rapids ReservoirMFISH: abundant; Sanders County
- Nelson Reservoir (Phillips County, about 4,114 acres)MFISH: abundant; Phillips County
- Lake FrancesMFISH: abundant; Pondera County
- Whitefish LakeMFISH: abundant; Flathead County
- Fresno ReservoirMFISH: abundant; Hill County
- Cabinet Gorge ReservoirMFISH: abundant; Sanders County
- Tongue River ReservoirMFISH: abundant; Big Horn County
- Pishkun ReservoirMFISH: abundant; Teton County
- Fort Peck Powerhouse TailraceMFISH: abundant; Valley County
- Seeley LakeMFISH: abundant; Missoula County
- Echo Lake (Flathead County)MFISH: abundant; Flathead County
- Salmon LakeMFISH: abundant; Missoula County
- Upper Stillwater LakeMFISH: abundant; Flathead County
- Smith LakeMFISH: abundant; Flathead County
- Lower Stillwater LakeMFISH: abundant; Flathead County
- Egan SloughMFISH: abundant; Flathead County
- Fennon SloughMFISH: abundant; Flathead County
- Blanchard LakeMFISH: abundant; Flathead County
- Peterson LakeMFISH: abundant; Flathead County
- Bailey ReservoirMFISH: abundant; Hill County
- Lion LakeMFISH: abundant; Flathead County
- Medicine Lake (Sheridan County)MFISH: common; Sheridan County
- Swan Lake (Lake County)MFISH: common; Lake County
- Tally LakeMFISH: common; Flathead County
- Thompson Falls ReservoirMFISH: common; Sanders County
- Middle Thompson LakeMFISH: common; Lincoln County
- Fort Peck Dredge CutsMFISH: common; Valley County
- Petrolia ReservoirMFISH: common; Petroleum 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
Northern pike from the Hi-Line to the Bitterroot, answered
Does the Montana booklet set a plain limit on northern pike?
Western district reads 15 daily, no possession limit. All waters are open for spearing through the ice and in open water by a person swimming or submerged or as otherwise noted in District Exceptions.; Central district reads 10 daily and in possession.; Eastern district reads 10 daily and in possession. Each limit comes from the 2026 Montana Fishing Regulations.
Which exception headings in the Montana booklet touch northern pike?
29 exception headings in the 2026 booklet mention it, Bitterroot River (note: river flows south to north) among them.
Has FWP certified a record northern pike?
37.5 lbs., from Tongue River Reservoir, 1971.
Where do northern pike appear in the FWP lists?
Waters led by Fort Peck Lake, Tiber Reservoir and Noxon Rapids Reservoir account for the 92 pages that name it.
Is northern pike stocked in Montana?
4 2026 stocking rows, 4 waters, appear in FishMT.
Price of the license for chasing northern pike?
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.
Who gets a northern pike record claim?
The program asks for a certified weight, a biologist's identification and a filled-out form.
What are the Montana seasons for northern pike?
The 2026 booklet gives each district a stream season and a lake season, and named exceptions may differ.