Paddlefish in Montana
Everything FWP prints on paddlefish in Montana, dated and sourced line by line.
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Boiling down Paddlefish for Big Sky anglers
Each Montana fishing district that sets a standard for paddlefish gets its own line: 1 in all, Eastern. FWP's MFISH layer places it on 10 water pages built here, rating it common or abundant on 2.
Its rules change on 3 waters printed under District Exceptions, Fort Peck Dredge Cuts (west of Park Grove Bridge and Nelson Dredge) for one. 1 certified record row name it.
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 79 (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
Montana species status: paddlefish
FWP's species status list marks it as species of concern. 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.
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 90 (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
Standard paddlefish numbers in the Montana booklet
| District | Chart row as printed | Limit as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern | Paddlefish | 1 per season and in possession. Tag required. |
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.
Check the exception headings before using a chart number on a named water.
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 79 (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
Rule oddities for paddlefish around Montana
| Water as printed | District | Rule lines | Booklet page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Peck Dredge Cuts (west of Park Grove Bridge and Nelson Dredge) | Eastern | Bow and Arrow: open July 1 through Aug. 31 for paddlefish. 1 per season and in possession. An unused blue paddlefish tag is required to fish for paddlefish. | page 80 |
| Missouri River | Eastern | Snagging: it is unlawful to snag for fish other than paddlefish on the Missouri River downstream from Fort Benton; any fish other than paddlefish must be immediately released alive. | page 82 |
| Yellowstone River | Eastern | Paddlefish snagging is prohibited within entire length (2.0 miles) of the Intake Bypass Channel (closure defined as sections of the bypass channel with streambanks on both sides). | page 83 |
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 24-90 (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
FWP's record book for paddlefish
| Fish | Weight | Length (inches) | Water | Year | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paddlefish | 142.5 lbs. | 77 | Missouri River Near Kipp Park | 1973 | Montana native |
Montana state record fish as FWP lists them (records page), read November 12, 2026.
Montana waters where FWP maps paddlefish
Labels come from FWP's distribution layer, plus stocked where FishMT shows a plant this year; none promises fish on the line.
- Fort Peck Powerhouse TailraceMFISH: abundant; Valley County
- Fort Peck LakeMFISH: common; Valley County
- Fort Peck Dredge CutsMFISH: rare; Valley County
- Yellowstone RiverMFISH: listed; Yellowstone County
- Missouri RiverMFISH: listed; Chouteau County
- Bighorn RiverMFISH: listed; Big Horn County
- Milk RiverMFISH: listed; Valley County
- Marias RiverMFISH: listed; Liberty County
- Tongue RiverMFISH: listed; Custer County
- Powder RiverMFISH: listed; Custer County
FWP MFISH fish distribution layer (ArcGIS service), read November 12, 2026. Presence is mapping data, not a catch report.
Divide-country water near Paddlefish, on camera
Photo: Alkula's, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Mobilus In Mobili, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 2.0
Prep notes ahead of a Paddlefish day on Montana water
Per-angler allowance for paddlefish in Montana?
Eastern district reads 1 per season and in possession. Tag required. Each limit comes from the 2026 Montana Fishing Regulations.
Where does the chart number for paddlefish stop applying?
Its rules change on 3 waters printed under District Exceptions, Fort Peck Dredge Cuts (west of Park Grove Bridge and Nelson Dredge) for one.
What waters turned out the record paddlefish?
FWP lists 142.5 lbs. from Missouri River Near Kipp Park (1973).
Best first stops for paddlefish?
Fort Peck Powerhouse Tailrace, Fort Peck Lake and Fort Peck Dredge Cuts tops a field of 10 pages that mention it.
Does FWP plant paddlefish?
The 2026 FishMT plant report has no row for it.
Must a visitor with no permit buy one for paddlefish?
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.
Is a new record paddlefish possible here?
Montana records need a certified scale, FWP biologist verification and the record form.
Does any Montana water close to paddlefish?
General seasons differ by district and water type; the general season table on the regulations page shows each one, and exception headings can add closures.