Fishing near Great Falls, Montana
City, Cascade County. Census 2020 residents: 60,442.
- 4 milesWadsworth Lake
- 8ramps within 40 mi
- 2rivers within 45 mi
Pick for rainbow troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: V Smoothe, CC BY 2.0
Montana fishing options near Great Falls
Montana's Cascade County includes Great Falls, a city that tallied 60,442 in the 2020 count. Montana's Cascade County runs its government from here. Of every lake page in Montana, Wadsworth Lake sits nearest, 4 miles west. Freezeout Lake, at 2,596 acres, is the widest water within a Montana drive.
Count on 5 miles to reach Giant Springs Boat Launch Area, the nearest ramp. Stream anglers start with Sun River, listed 2 miles out. Bank anglers can try White Bear Fishing Access Site, 5 miles out.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census counts (TIGERweb) and the 2023 Gazetteer, read November 12, 2026. Straight-line miles from the Census place point.
Montana lakes an easy drive out of Great Falls
| Lake | From Great Falls | Size | Access sites | Kind | MFISH lists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wadsworth Lake | 4 miles west | about 43 acres of mapped outline | 0 | natural lake | largemouth bass, rainbow trout, walleye |
| Freezeout Lake | 37 miles west | 2,596 acres | 0 | natural lake | common carp, rainbow trout, yellow perch |
| Hound Creek Reservoir | 39 miles southwest | about 23 acres of mapped outline | 0 | reservoir | brook trout, rainbow trout, Westslope cutthroat trout |
| Kolar Reservoir 2 | 41 miles east | about 14 acres of mapped outline | 0 | reservoir | largemouth bass, rainbow trout, Westslope cutthroat trout |
| Priest Butte Lake | 42 miles northwest | 476 acres | 0 | natural lake | common carp, yellow perch |
Size as the FWP FishMT page for this water prints it (FishMT), read November 12, 2026. Waters with no FishMT size print their mapped outline instead. Montana FWP Lakes reference layer (ArcGIS service) and the MFISH fish distribution layers, read November 12, 2026.
For the rainbow trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Montana rivers and creeks near Great Falls
- Sun River2 miles, 3 access sites, 4 USGS gauges
- Smith River12 miles, exception rules, 3 access sites, 3 USGS gauges
USGS Montana readings near Great Falls
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri River Near Ulm Mt | 3,480 cfs, 3.13 ft gage height | Nov 15 3:30 pm |
| Sun River Near Vaughn Mt | 430 cfs, 2.34 ft gage height | Nov 15 4:00 pm |
| Muddy Creek At Vaughn Mt | 75 cfs, 3.13 ft gage height | Nov 15 3:30 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 15, 2026 4:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Montana FWP MFISH stream layers (ArcGIS service) for this river, read November 12, 2026. USGS Water Data for the Nation, live through the site, retrieved on page view.
Montana lakes, rivers and ramps by Great Falls, mapped
FWP Fishing Access Sites layer (ArcGIS service) and the FishMT site pages, read November 12, 2026. Census place point.
Treasure State trailer launches around Great Falls
- Giant Springs Boat Launch Area5 miles, water not named, state park boat ramp
- Big Bend Fishing Access Site on Missouri River8 miles, Missouri River, fishing access site, ramp (concrete), concrete surface, 17 acres
- Ulm Bridge Fishing Access Site on Missouri River11 miles, Missouri River, fishing access site, ramp (concrete), concrete surface, 171 acres
- Widow Coulee Fishing Access Site on Missouri River15 miles, Missouri River, fishing access site, ramp (concrete), concrete surface, 3 acres
- Smith River Improved/Eden Bridge Take-out Boat Ramp19 miles, water not named, state park boat ramp
- Carter Ferry Fishing Access Site on Missouri River26 miles, Missouri River, fishing access site, ramp (gravel), gravel surface, 20 acres
- Pelican Point Fishing Access Site on Missouri River31 miles, Missouri River, fishing access site, ramp (concrete), concrete surface, 94 acres
- Prewett Creek Fishing Access Site on Missouri River34 miles, Missouri River, fishing access site, ramp (concrete), concrete surface, 2 acres
Bank and walk-in sites near Great Falls
- White Bear Fishing Access Site5 miles, water not named, fishing access site, no boat facilities, 41 acres
- Cottonwood Grove Fishing Access Site on Missouri River7 miles, Missouri River, fishing access site, no boat facilities, 4 acres
- Lower Smith River Fishing Access Site10 miles, Smith River, fishing access site, no boat facilities, 4 acres
- Truly Bridge Fishing Access Site on Smith River12 miles, Smith River, fishing access site, no boat facilities
- Dunes Fishing Access Site on Missouri River13 miles, Missouri River, fishing access site, hand launch, 61 acres
- Largent's Bend Fishing Access Site on Sun River16 miles, Sun River, fishing access site, no boat facilities, 169 acres
FWP Fishing Access Sites layer (ArcGIS service) and the FishMT site pages, read November 12, 2026.
Fresh plant-report entries near Great Falls
| Lake | From Great Falls | Date | Species | Fish | Average length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wadsworth Lake | 4 miles | September 9, 2026 | Rainbow trout | 2,500 | 7.81 in. |
| Wadsworth Lake | 4 miles | August 12, 2026 | Largemouth bass | 5,500 | 2.32 in. |
| Wadsworth Lake | 4 miles | July 8, 2026 | Yellow perch | 2,000 | 1.84 in. |
| Kolar Reservoir 2 | 41 miles | August 12, 2026 | Largemouth bass | 2,000 | 2.49 in. |
FWP FishMT stocking report for 2026, year to date (FishMT plant report), read November 12, 2026.
Montana rules for water near Great Falls
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. Anglers based in Great Falls start from the chart for the lake or stream they fish, then read any exception heading. 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.
Western district chart Central district chart Eastern district chart
2026 Montana Fishing Regulations (valid March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027; FWP PDF), read November 12, 2026. License prices as printed on the FWP fishing license page and in the 2026 Montana Fishing Regulations, p. 12 (the two agree), read November 12, 2026.
Montana record water near Great Falls
| Species | Weight or length as listed | Water | Year | Marked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 18.02 lbs. | Holter Reservoir | 2021 | not marked native |
| Blue sucker | 13.29 lbs. | Marias River | 2019 | not marked native |
| Brown trout | 32.42 lbs. | Marias River | 2021 | not marked native |
| Spottail shiner | 0.02 lbs. | Tiber Reservoir | 2010 | not marked native |
| Kokanee salmon | 7.85 lbs. | Hauser Reservoir | 2003 | not marked native |
Montana state record fish as FWP lists them (records page), read November 12, 2026. Record waters within 120 miles.
Big Sky weigh-ins on water near Great Falls
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 23, 2027 | Western Bar Fishing Derby | Willow Creek Reservoir | Western Bar |
| July 11, 2026 | Augusta Kids Fishing Derby | Willow Creek Reservoir | Augusta Area Chamber of Commerice |
| May 29, 2026 | Tiber Tournament | Tiber Reservoir | Great Falls Walleyes Unlimited |
| May 29, 2026 | Tiber Walleye Tournament (2026) (result) | Tiber Reservoir | Tiber Walleye Tournament |
| June 13, 2025 | Tiber Walleye Tournament (2025) (result) | Tiber Reservoir | Tiber Walleye Tournament |
Event as listed by the organizer (source), read November 12, 2026.
Where anglers in Great Falls buy bait
Restocking leaders and line for Great Falls
- Scheels, 1200 10th Ave S Ste 92bait and tackle shop, Great Falls, under a mile
- Mystic Watersbait and tackle shop, Great Falls, under a mile
Montana outfitters who run trips to Great Falls
- Montana River Outfittersfishing guide, Great Falls
Yellow Pages, State Parks and operator listings; miles only where the listing has an exact address point, read November 12, 2026. No guide is called licensed.
Grouped near Great Falls on the Montana map
Montana communities a short drive from Great Falls
- Malmstrom AFB5 miles, 2020 count 4,131
- Fort Benton38 miles, 2020 count 1,449
- Choteau46 miles, 2020 count 1,721
- Conrad55 miles, 2020 count 2,318
- Helena Valley Northeast63 miles, 2020 count 3,813
A second lake for day two past Great Falls
- Wadsworth Lake4 miles
- Freezeout Lake37 miles
- Hound Creek Reservoir39 miles
- Kolar Reservoir 241 miles
- Cascade Countycounty page
Piscifun kit to stow in the truck for Montana time at Great Falls
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Early light on the water near Great Falls, Big Sky style
Photo: Shawn Michael, CC BY 2.0
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Bureau of Land Management Montana and Dakotas, Public domain
Plotting Montana casts from a motel bed in Great Falls
Which lake is closest to Great Falls, Montana?
Wadsworth Lake, about 4 miles west.
Which Montana ramp is closest to Great Falls?
Giant Springs Boat Launch Area, 5 miles away, on water not named.
Where is FWP bank access near Great Falls?
White Bear Fishing Access Site, 5 miles away (fishing access site, no boat facilities, 41 acres).
Where do Montana anglers in Great Falls buy flies and jigs?
Scheels, 1200 10th Ave S Ste 92, one of 2 listings nearby.
What Montana county includes Great Falls?
Cascade County. It is the Montana county seat as well.
What licenses do anglers around Great Falls carry?
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.
Which Montana towns are near Great Falls?
Malmstrom AFB (5 miles), Fort Benton (38 miles) and Choteau (46 miles).
How many trout can I keep in Montana near Great Falls?
Limits depend on the FWP fishing district and on any exception heading printed for the water; the Western, Central and Eastern district pages on this site give the charts. 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 can I fish Montana moving water near Great Falls?
The closest river page is Sun River, 2 miles from the town point.
Has FWP stocked a lake near Great Falls lately?
FishMT lists rainbow trout at Wadsworth Lake on September 9, 2026, 4 miles from town.
Do clubs fish near Great Falls?
Western Bar Fishing Derby on Willow Creek Reservoir, Jan. 23, 2027.
Hook up the trailer in Great Falls for Montana water
County pages list every mapped access site.