Rainbow trout in Montana
Where rainbow trout sit in the Montana booklet, the record table and the FWP distribution layer.
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Rainbow trout: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Rainbow trout: the Treasure State summary
Montana's district charts hold 3 lines naming rainbow trout: Central, Eastern and Western. 212 built Montana waters list it in FWP's fish distribution layer, 98 rated common or abundant.
Read Alice Creek (tributary to Blackfoot River) and 38 other exception headings before keeping it. The record table has 1 row for it. FWP's 2026 plant report shows 488 stocking rows at 262 waters.
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 23 (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 The rainbow trout lines in the Montana district charts
| 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.
Where the rainbow trout rule changes in Montana
| Water as printed | District | Rule lines | Booklet page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alice Creek (tributary to Blackfoot River) | Western | Combined trout: 3 daily and in possession, Only 1 rainbow trout over 14 inches, any size brown trout. | page 24 |
| Beaver Creek (tributary to Blackfoot River) | Western | Combined trout: 3 daily and in possession, Only 1 rainbow trout over 14 inches, any size brown trout. | page 24 |
| Beaverhead River | Central | Rainbow trout: Catch-and-release only. | page 51 |
| Belmont Creek (tributary to Blackfoot River) | Western | Combined trout: 3 daily and in possession, Only 1 rainbow trout over 14 inches, any size brown trout. | page 24 |
| Bitterroot River (note: river flows south to north) | Western | Catch-and-release for cutthroat trout and rainbow trout. Catch-and-release for cutthroat trout and rainbow trout. Combined trout: 3 rainbow or brown trout daily and in possession, Rainbow or brown trout only 1 over 14 inches. Combined trout: 3 rainbow or brown trout daily and in possession, Rainbow or brown trout only 1 over 14 inches. | page 24 |
| Blackfoot River And Tributaries | Western | Combined trout: 3 daily and in possession, Only 1 rainbow trout over 14 inches long, any size brown trout. (See Clearwater River Drainage for exception.) | page 28 |
| Chamberlain Creek (tributary to Blackfoot River) | Western | Combined trout: 3 daily and in possession, Only 1 rainbow trout over 14 inches, any size brown trout. | page 28 |
| Copper Creek (tributary to Blackfoot River) | Western | Combined trout: 3 daily and in possession, Only 1 rainbow trout over 14 inches, any size brown trout. | page 30 |
| Cottonwood Creek (tributary to Blackfoot River) | Western | Combined trout: 3 daily and in possession, Only 1 rainbow trout over 14 inches, any size brown trout. | page 30 |
| Dunham Creek (tributary to Monture Creek, Blackfoot drainage) | Western | Combined trout: 3 daily and in possession, Only 1 rainbow trout over 14 inches, any size brown trout. | page 31 |
| East Fork Bitterroot River Downstream From Star Falls | Western | Catch-and-release for rainbow trout and cutthroat trout. | page 31 |
| Fish Creek And Tributaries (Clark Fork River drainage) | Western | Combined trout: 3 daily and in possession, Only 1 rainbow trout over 14 inches, any size brown trout. | page 31 |
| Flathead River | Western | Rainbow trout: 5 daily and in possession. | page 32 |
| Flathead River Sloughs | Western | Rainbow trout: 5 daily and in possession. | page 33 |
| Gold Creek (tributary to Blackfoot River) | Western | Combined trout: 3 daily, Only 1 rainbow trout over 14 inches, any size brown trout. | page 34 |
| Hells Canyon Creek (Jefferson River drainage) | Central | Catch-and-release for rainbow trout. | page 58 |
| Holter Reservoir | Central | Combined trout and kokanee salmon: 5 rainbow trout and kokanee salmon daily in any combination and 10 rainbow trout and kokanee salmon in possession in any combination. | page 58 |
| Jefferson River | Central | Combined trout: 3 daily and in possession, only 1 over 18 inches and only 1 may be a rainbow trout. | page 59 |
| Kootenai River | Western | Rainbow trout: 1 daily and in possession, 28 inch minimum length. Rainbow trout: 4 daily and in possession, includes 3 under 13 inches and only 1 over 18 inches. | page 35 |
| Landers Fork (tributary to Blackfoot River) | Western | Combined trout: 3 daily and in possession, Only 1 rainbow trout over 14 inches, any size brown trout. | page 37 |
| Madison River | Central | Catch-and-release for rainbow trout, except anglers 14 years of age or younger may take 1 rainbow trout daily and in possession, any size. Catch-and-release for rainbow trout, except anglers 14 years of age or younger may take 1 rainbow trout daily and in possession, any size. Catch-and-release for rainbow trout, except anglers 14 years o | page 60 |
| Middle Fork Flathead River | Western | Rainbow trout: 5 daily and in possession. | page 38 |
| Missouri River | Central | Combined trout and kokanee salmon: 5 rainbow trout and kokanee salmon daily in any combination and 10 rainbow trout and kokanee salmon in possession in any combination. | page 62 |
| Monture Creek (tributary to Blackfoot River) | Western | Combined trout: 3 daily and in possession, Only 1 rainbow trout over 14 inches, any size brown trout. | page 38 |
| Nevada Creek (tributary to Blackfoot River) | Western | Combined trout: 3 daily and in possession, Only 1 rainbow trout over 14 inches, any size brown trout. | page 38 |
| North Fork Blackfoot River (tributary to Blackfoot River) | Western | Combined trout: 3 daily and in possession, Only 1 rainbow trout over 14 inches, any size brown trout. | page 38 |
| North Fork Flathead River | Western | Rainbow trout: 5 daily and in possession. | page 39 |
| Petty Creek (tributary to Clark Fork River) | Western | Combined trout: 3 daily and in possession, Only 1 rainbow trout over 14 inches, any size brown trout. | page 39 |
| Rattlesnake Creek And Tributaries (near Missoula) | Western | Combined trout: 3 daily and in possession, Only 1 rainbow trout over 14 inches, any size brown trout. | page 40 |
| Rock Creek (near Missoula) | Western | Combined trout: 3 brown trout daily and in possession. Catch-and- release for rainbow trout and cutthroat trout. | page 40 |
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 24-90 (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
Montana waters that produced record rainbow trout
| Fish | Weight | Length (inches) | Water | Year | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainbow trout | 33.1 lbs. | 38.62 | Kootenai River David Thompson Bridge | 1997 |
Montana state record fish as FWP lists them (records page), read November 12, 2026.
Where FWP's fish layer places rainbow trout
Abundant, common and rare are FWP words from the distribution layer; stocked flags a 2026 plant row.
- Canyon Ferry LakeMFISH: abundant; Broadwater County
- Hebgen LakeMFISH: abundant; Gallatin County
- Clark Canyon ReservoirMFISH: abundant; Beaverhead County
- Ennis LakeMFISH: abundant; Madison County
- Holter ReservoirMFISH: abundant; Lewis and Clark County
- Bynum ReservoirMFISH: abundant; Teton County
- Hauser ReservoirMFISH: abundant; Lewis and Clark County
- Little Bitterroot LakeMFISH: abundant; Flathead County
- Georgetown LakeMFISH: abundant; Deer Lodge County
- Lake HelenaMFISH: abundant; Lewis and Clark County
- Deadmans Basin ReservoirMFISH: abundant; Wheatland County
- Willow Creek Reservoir (Lewis and Clark County)MFISH: abundant; Lewis and Clark County
- Ruby River ReservoirMFISH: abundant; Madison County
- Cooney ReservoirMFISH: abundant; Carbon County
- Upper Holter LakeMFISH: abundant; Lewis and Clark County
- Quake LakeMFISH: abundant; Madison County
- Upper Stillwater LakeMFISH: abundant; Flathead County
- Lodge Grass Storage ReservoirMFISH: abundant; Big Horn County
- Nilan ReservoirMFISH: abundant; Lewis and Clark County
- Hubbart ReservoirMFISH: abundant; Flathead County
- Eureka ReservoirMFISH: abundant; Teton County
- Glen LakeMFISH: abundant; Lincoln County
- Foy LakeMFISH: abundant; Flathead County
- Rainbow Lake (Sanders County)MFISH: abundant; Sanders County
- Dailey LakeMFISH: abundant; Park County
- Beaver LakeMFISH: abundant; Flathead County
- Blue LakeMFISH: abundant; Flathead County
- Tiber ReservoirMFISH: common; Liberty County
- Cabinet Gorge ReservoirMFISH: common; Sanders County
- Pablo ReservoirMFISH: common; Lake County
FWP MFISH fish distribution layer (ArcGIS service), read November 12, 2026. Presence is mapping data, not a catch report.
Photo of Canyon Ferry Lake: Shawn Michael, CC BY 2.0
Chasing Rainbow trout across Big Sky country, answered
Keeper count for rainbow 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 rainbow trout?
Read Alice Creek (tributary to Blackfoot River) and 38 other exception headings before keeping it.
Which Montana water gave up the top rainbow trout?
It stands at 33.1 lbs., taken at Kootenai River David Thompson Bridge in 1997.
Where does the distribution layer put rainbow trout?
The 212 FWP-listed pages open with Canyon Ferry Lake, Hebgen Lake and Clark Canyon Reservoir.
Which Montana waters got rainbow trout this year?
FWP's 2026 plant report shows 488 stocking rows at 262 waters.
What does FWP charge before I cast for rainbow 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 rainbow trout as a state record?
Records go through FWP Fisheries: certified scale, biologist ID, and the record form.
When is rainbow trout season open in Montana?
See the district season table; a water's exception lines can open or close a season on their own.