Tiger muskellunge in Montana
Tiger muskellunge in Montana: standard chart lines, water exceptions and record entries.
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What FWP prints about Tiger muskellunge
In the 2026 booklet, tiger muskellunge appear on 2 chart lines (Central and Eastern). Across 12 Montana water pages, FWP's MFISH layer or the 2026 plant report names it; 5 use the word common or abundant.
FWP prints 1 exception headings naming it, Horseshoe Lake (Thompson Chain of Lakes) for example. FWP's record table lists 1 entry for it. The FishMT plant report for 2026 lists 12 planting rows across 11 waters.
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 49 (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 |
|---|---|---|
| Central | Tiger Muskie | 1 daily and in possession, must be over 40 inches. |
| Eastern | Tiger Muskie | 1 daily and in possession, must be over 40 inches. |
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. 49 (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
Exception headings that name tiger muskellunge
| Water as printed | District | Rule lines | Booklet page |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 24-90 (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026.
Origins of the record tiger muskellunge
| Fish | Weight | Length (inches) | Water | Year | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiger muskellunge | 38.75 lbs. | 50 | Deadman's Basin Reservoir | 2011 |
Montana state record fish as FWP lists them (records page), read November 12, 2026.
Water pages on this site mentioning tiger muskellunge
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.
- Deadmans Basin ReservoirMFISH: common; Wheatland County
- Lebo LakeMFISH: common; Wheatland County
- Ackley LakeMFISH: common; Judith Basin County
- Lake ElmoMFISH: common; Yellowstone County
- Lake Josephine (Yellowstone County)MFISH: common; Yellowstone County
- Lower Glaston LakeMFISH: rare; Sweet Grass County
- Yellow Water ReservoirMFISH: rare; Petroleum County
- Horseshoe Lake (Lincoln County)MFISH: rare; Lincoln County
- Gartside ReservoirMFISH: rare; Richland County
- Big Casino Creek ReservoirMFISH: rare; Fergus County
- Yellowstone RiverMFISH: listed; Yellowstone County
- Ostle ReservoirMFISH: listed; Teton County
FWP MFISH fish distribution layer (ArcGIS service), read November 12, 2026. Presence is mapping data, not a catch report.
Blue-ribbon creeks, canyon lakes and wide rivers around Tiger muskellunge, pictured
Photo: Forest Service Northern Region, CC BY 2.0
Photo: TravelingOtter, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Alkula's, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Jon Parise, CC BY-SA 2.0
Plain replies about Tiger muskellunge for Montana trips
What daily number does FWP print for tiger muskellunge?
Central district reads 1 daily and in possession, must be over 40 inches.; Eastern district reads 1 daily and in possession, must be over 40 inches. Each limit comes from the 2026 Montana Fishing Regulations.
Are there named waters with a separate tiger muskellunge rule?
FWP prints 1 exception headings naming it, Horseshoe Lake (Thompson Chain of Lakes) for example.
What does the FWP record book show for tiger muskellunge?
FWP prints 38.75 lbs., Deadman's Basin Reservoir, 2011.
Which pages on this site mention tiger muskellunge?
Pages naming it number 12; Deadmans Basin Reservoir, Lebo Lake and Ackley Lake leads.
Where did hatchery tiger muskellunge go in 2026?
The FishMT plant report for 2026 lists 12 planting rows across 11 waters.
License needed for a day on tiger muskellunge 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 tiger muskellunge?
FWP certifies each record with a weighed fish, a biologist's identification and paperwork.
Can I fish for tiger muskellunge year-round in Montana?
FWP prints general seasons per district for streams and for lakes, with exceptions for named waters.