Protected Fish in Montana
Bull trout, pallid sturgeon and the fish FWP lists as species of concern, with the release rules the 2026 booklet prints.
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Protected fish in Montana: federal listings and FWP species of concern
Montana’s district charts treat two fish as federally listed: bull trout, a threatened species, and pallid sturgeon, which is endangered. Anglers who hook either must release it at once, and bull trout can be fished only on the few waters named in the Western District exceptions.
FWP separately flags 6 native or sport fish as species of concern, among them westslope cutthroat, Yellowstone cutthroat, Arctic grayling, redband trout, sauger and paddlefish. Those fish stay legal in places, with the limits their district chart and exception lines give.
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 90 (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
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Bull trout and pallid sturgeon in Montana waters
All waters are closed to angling for bull trout unless authorized in the Western District Exceptions (Lake Koocanusa, Hungry Horse Reservoir and part of the South Fork Flathead River open with a free Catch Card); see the separate 2026 Bull Trout Regulations.
Pallid sturgeon cannot be kept anywhere in Montana, and the 2026 booklet asks anglers to release any caught right away.
| Fish | FWP status | Rule as printed | Waters naming it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bull trout | threatened (ESA) | All waters are closed to angling for bull trout and all fish must be released, with no delay unless otherwise authorized in the Western District Exceptions. See bull trout on page 13. Note: Federal rules prohibit the attempted take of bull trout unless specifi | 88 |
| Pallid sturgeon | endangered (ESA) | 0 – All waters are closed to angling for sturgeon. Captured sturgeon must be released immediately. | 9 |
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 89 (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
Montana fish FWP flags as species of concern
Species of concern are not closed to fishing by that label. Check each fish page and the exception headings of the water you plan to fish, since many streams carry catch-and-release rules for natives.
| Fish | FWP status | First chart line as printed | Waters naming it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arctic grayling | species of concern | 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. | 40 |
| Columbia River redband trout | species of concern | – | 9 |
| Paddlefish | species of concern | 1 per season and in possession. Tag required. | 11 |
| Sauger | species of concern | 5 daily, only 2 may be sauger. Possession limit is 10, only 4 may be sauger. | 24 |
| Westslope cutthroat trout | species of concern | Lakes/Reservoirs: 3 daily and in possession, no size limit. Rivers/Streams: 3 daily and in possession, none over 12 inches. | 260 |
| Yellowstone cutthroat trout | species of concern | Lakes/Reservoirs: 3 daily and in possession, no size limit. Rivers/Streams: 3 daily and in possession, none over 12 inches. | 118 |
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 90 (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
The bull trout catch card and where it applies in Montana
All waters are closed to angling for bull trout unless authorized in the Western District Exceptions (Lake Koocanusa, Hungry Horse Reservoir and part of the South Fork Flathead River open with a free Catch Card); see the separate 2026 Bull Trout Regulations.
The free 2026 Catch Card lets anglers fish for bull trout on the waters the Western District exceptions name, and the separate 2026 Bull Trout Regulations spell out details.
Western District chart and exception waters
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 89 (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
Why catching a listed Montana fish is a federal matter
Federal rules prohibit the attempted take of bull trout unless a state or tribal regulation authorizes it, which is why the Montana booklet closes every other water to bull trout angling.
Treat any ESA-listed fish as a release-only catch unless the booklet names the exact water that allows otherwise.
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 89 (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
Montana protected fish, answered
Which Montana fish are federally listed?
Bull trout (threatened) and pallid sturgeon (endangered), as FWP lists them in the 2026 Montana Fishing Regulations.
Can I fish for bull trout in Montana?
All waters are closed to angling for bull trout unless authorized in the Western District Exceptions (Lake Koocanusa, Hungry Horse Reservoir and part of the South Fork Flathead River open with a free Catch Card); see the separate 2026 Bull Trout Regulations.
What must I do if I catch a pallid sturgeon?
Release it immediately; it may not be kept anywhere in Montana.
What does species of concern mean on the FWP list?
It is a conservation label, not a closure; the district chart and exception lines for the water decide what you may keep.
Which fish does FWP list as species of concern?
Arctic grayling, Columbia River redband trout, Paddlefish, Sauger, Westslope cutthroat trout and Yellowstone cutthroat trout.
Is paddlefish a species of concern?
FWP lists it so, and it needs its own tag and rules; the paddlefish page has the details.
How many waters name bull trout in the exceptions?
88 waters carry bull trout rule lines in the data on this site.
Do tribal waters follow the same rules?
Not always; reservation waters can have tribal permits and rules on top of FWP’s, so check with the tribe first.