240 Lakes · 52 Rivers · 56 Counties · 69 TownsMontana state record fish
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Montana reference

Montana State Record Fish

FWP-certified state record fish, species by species, with weights, lengths, waters and years.

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Photo of Flathead Lake: Barbara Ann Spengler, CC BY 2.0

Record book

Montana state record fish certified by FWP

Records are certified by FWP Fisheries Division (certified-scale weight, biologist identification, Fish Record Form).

The table lists 69 species records. Angler names are not printed here, and a star in FWP’s table marks a Montana native, shown below as Montana native.

69record rows
28natives
142.5 lbs.Paddlefish

Montana state record fish as FWP lists them (records page), read November 12, 2026.

Earthquake Lake
A Montana water in the record book: Earthquake Lake.

Photo of Earthquake Lake: Phil Price, CC BY-SA 2.0

Every record

The full Montana record table, species by species

FishWeightLength (inches)WaterYearNote
Arctic grayling3.63 lbs.20Washtub Lake2003
Bigmouth buffalo57.75 lbs.40.7Nelson Reservoir1994Montana native
Black bullhead2.60 lbs.14.37Smiley Slough2009
Black crappie3.45 lbs.17.7Tongue River Reservoir2026
Blue sucker13.29 lbs.34.56Marias River2019
Bluegill2.64 lbs.11Peterson's Stock Dam1983
Bluegill-green sunfish hybrid0.92 lbs.10.06Gartside Reservoir2026
Brook trout9.06 lbs.–Lower Two Medicine Lake1940
Brown trout32.42 lbs.37Marias River2021
Bull trout25.63 lbs.37not printed1916Montana native
Burbot17.08 lbs.39Missouri River Wolf Point1989Montana native
Channel catfish35.18 lbs.38.75Colstrip Surge Pond2019Montana native
Chinook salmon32.65 lbs.38Fort Peck Reservoir2024
Cisco2.08 lbs.18.2Missouri River2014
Coho salmon4.88 lbs.25.5Fort Peck Reservoir Face of Dam1973
Common carp40.2 lbs.38Nelson Reservoir1998
Creek chub0.52 lbs.11Harbaugh Bass Pond2013
Cutthroat trout16 lbs–Red Eagle Lake1955Montana native
Emerald shiner0.01 lbs.3.43Park Grove Bridge2006
Fathead minnow.01 lbs.2.7Dollar Lake2014
Flathead chub0.59 lbs.11.2Thornton Pond2001Montana native
Freshwater drum21.59 lbs.29.5Fort Peck- Ghost Coulee2003Montana native
Golden shiner0.39 lbs.8.875Lake Josephine2025
Golden trout5.43 lbs.23.5Cave Lake2000
Goldeye3.18 lbs.–Nelson Reservoir2000Montana native
Green sunfish0.56 lbs.8.6Castle Rock Reservoir1991
Kokanee salmon7.85 lbs.26.8Hauser Lake2003
Lake chub0.075 lbs.5.9Corner Lake2010Montana native
Lake trout42.69 lbs.42.5Flathead Lake2004
Lake whitefish10.46 lbs.27Flathead Lake2006
Largemouth bass9.58 lbs.22.5Lake Elmo2021
Largescale sucker6.86 lbs.24.5Salmon Lake2026Montana native
Longnose dace0.01 lbs2.1Prickly Pear Creek2025
Longnose sucker4.78 lbs.22.25Hauser Reservoir2022Montana native
Mountain sucker1.60 oz.6.2Beaver Creek Reservoir2001Montana native
Mountain whitefish5.11 lbs.23Hauser Reservoir2007Montana native
Northern pike37.5 lbs.–Tongue River Reservoir1971
Northern pikeminnow7.88 lbs.27.125Noxon Rapids Reservoir1991Montana native
Paddlefish142.5 lbs.77Missouri River Near Kipp Park1973Montana native
Pallid sturgeon60 lbs.–Yellowstone River Near Sidney1979Montana native
Peamouth1.52 lbs.16 1/8Clark Fork River2007Montana native
Pumpkinseed1.23 lbs.10.04Echo Lake2026
Pygmy whitefish0.36 lbs.9.84Little Bitterroot Lake2010
Rainbow smelt0.08 lbs.7.1Fort Peck Dredge Cuts2020
Rainbow trout33.1 lbs.38.62Kootenai River David Thompson Bridge1997
Rainbow-cutthroat hybrid trout30.25 lbs.35.75Ashely Lake1982
Redside shiner0.10 lbs.6.5Lost Lake2001Montana native
River carpsucker7.915 lbs26.1875Yellowstone River2022Montana native
Rock bass1.31 lbs.10.8Lower Crazy Head Springs Pond2014
Rocky mountain sculpin0.063 lbs.5.0Yellowstone Co. Canal2022Montana native
Sauger8.805 lbs.28.2Fort Peck Reservoir1994Montana native
Saugeye15.66 lbs.–Fort Peck Reservoir Squaw Creek1995
Shorthead redhorse4.68 lbs.20.25Marias River Near Loma1985Montana native
Shortnose gar7.41 lbs.35Fort Peck Dredge Cuts2013Montana native
Shovelnose sturgeon14.125 lbs.39.75Missouri River2010Montana native
Smallmouth bass8.4 lbs.22.4Fort Peck Reservoir2024
Smallmouth buffalo40 lbs.42-2/8Nelson Reservoir2023Montana native
Spottail shiner0.02 lbs.3Tiber Reservoir2010
Stonecat0.54 lbs.10Milk River1996Montana native
Tiger muskellunge38.75 lbs.50Deadman's Basin Reservoir2011
Tiger trout4.04 lbs.20.6Bear Lake1997
Utah chub2.39 lbs.15.9Canyon Ferry Reservoir2022
Walleye18.02 lbs.32.25Holter Lake2021
White bass2.8 lbs.17Missouri River South of Bainville2007
White crappie3.68 lbs.18.5Tongue River1996
White sturgeon96 lbs.–Kootenai River1968Montana native
White sucker5.33 lbs.21.625Nelson Reservoir1983Montana native
Yellow bullhead1.910 lbs.15.5Tongue River Reservoir2020
Yellow perch2.39 lbs.14.375Lower Stillwater Lake2006

Montana state record fish as FWP lists them (records page), read November 12, 2026.

Heaviest

The heaviest Montana record fish by weight

  • Paddlefish, 142.5 lbs. weighedcaught at Missouri River Near Kipp Park in 1973
  • White sturgeon, 96 lbs. weighedcaught at Kootenai River in 1968
  • Pallid sturgeon, 60 lbs. weighedcaught at Yellowstone River Near Sidney in 1979
  • Bigmouth buffalo, 57.75 lbs. weighedcaught at Nelson Reservoir in 1994
  • Lake trout, 42.69 lbs. weighedcaught at Flathead Lake in 2004
  • Common carp, 40.2 lbs. weighedcaught at Nelson Reservoir in 1998
  • Smallmouth buffalo, 40 lbs. weighedcaught at Nelson Reservoir in 2023
  • Tiger muskellunge, 38.75 lbs. weighedcaught at Deadman's Basin Reservoir in 2011
  • Northern pike, 37.5 lbs. weighedcaught at Tongue River Reservoir in 1971
  • Channel catfish, 35.18 lbs. weighedcaught at Colstrip Surge Pond in 2019
  • Rainbow trout, 33.1 lbs. weighedcaught at Kootenai River David Thompson Bridge in 1997
  • Chinook salmon, 32.65 lbs. weighedcaught at Fort Peck Reservoir in 2024
Fish photos

Pictures matching the fish recorded at Montana State Record Fish

Arctic grayling, Montana
Arctic grayling
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, CC BY 2.0
Black bullhead, Montana
Black bullhead
Photo: George Chernilevsky, CC BY-SA 4.0
Brown trout, Montana
Brown trout
Photo: Paul Asman and Jill Lenoble, CC BY 2.0
Burbot, Montana
Burbot
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Chinook salmon, Montana
Chinook salmon
Photo: gailhampshire, CC BY 2.0
Coho salmon, Montana
Coho salmon
Photo: California Sea Grant, CC BY 2.0
Freshwater drum, Montana
Freshwater drum
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Goldeye, Montana
Goldeye
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Answers

Montana record fish, answered

Who keeps the Montana fish records?

Records are certified by FWP Fisheries Division (certified-scale weight, biologist identification, Fish Record Form).

How many species have a Montana record?

69 rows in the FWP table.

What is the heaviest record on the table?

Paddlefish, 142.5 lbs., from Missouri River Near Kipp Park (1973).

What does the star in the FWP table mean?

It marks a Montana native fish.

Are angler names listed?

Not on this site; the FWP table names them and this page leaves them out.

How does an angler submit a record?

Through the FWP records page, with a certified-scale weight, a biologist’s identification and the Fish Record Form.

Why do some records show a length only?

FWP prints the columns it has; a blank weight or length means the table printed none.

Can the records change?

Yes, whenever FWP certifies a new fish; this page was read November 12, 2026.