Montana Fly Fishing Fish Species
Montana is a large and diverse state with myriad water types, including natural lakes and freestone rivers. Reservoirs were created throughout the 1900s for irrigation storage and hydroelectric generation. The waters of Montana support a wide array of both native and non-native fish species.
Trout are the primary game fish species for anglers fly fishing in Montana. Rainbow and Brown Trout were introduced throughout Montana rivers and are widely dispersed today. Brook Trout are common in small, mountain streams and alpine lakes, rarely encountered in the larger rivers.
Mountain Whitefish and Cutthroat Trout are native species and continue to thrive in Montana. A small population of fluvial Arctic Grayling still exists in the upper Big Hole River. Rainbow Trout are native to a small portion of northwest Montana and have adapted well to the rivers across the state.
Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks has a comprehensive online guide to help anglers fishing in Montana to better understand the distribution of the varied fish species found in the state.
Yellowstone Cutthroat
The Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout is native to the Yellowstone River drainage of southwest and south-central Montana.
Westslope Cutthroat
A native Montana fish, their historical range is west of the continental divide and the upper Missouri River drainage.
Rainbow Trout
Native to the Upper Kootenai River drainage, Rainbow Trout were introduced to waters throughout MT starting in 1889.
Brown Trout
Native to Europe and western Asia, Brown Trout were first introduced to Montana in 1889 in the Madison River.
Mountain Whitefish
Native to Montana, this game fish species thrives in cold water streams throughout the mountainous regions of the state.
Arctic Grayling
Native to a small section of western Montana, the last native population of fluvial Grayling in the state are found in the upper Big Hole River.
Smallmouth Bass
A non-native game fish that is occasionally encountered while fly fishing in Montana on the lower Yellowstone River near Big Timber.
Common Carp
These hard-fighting non-native fish are common in the headwaters of the Missouri River and the lower Yellowstone River
Brook Trout
Brook Trout are a non-native game fish that thrives in small, mountain streams and alpine lakes throughout Montana.
Montana Fishing Reports
Gallatin River
Last Updated: 07/25/2024
Summer heat and low flows have the Gallatin River fishing slowing down in the Gallatin Valley sections. The Gallatin Canyon and Yellowstone National Park stretches, however, continue to fish well...
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Upper Madison
Last Updated: 07/23/2024
The upper Madison River continues to have some of the best fly fishing near Bozeman these days. Cooler water coming out of Quake Lake keeps the fish active throughout the...
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Lower Madison
Last Updated: 07/24/2024
With the recent heat wave, the lower Madison river from Ennis Dam to the headwaters of the Missouri River has been placed on Hoot-Owl, this means that fishing is closed starting at...
See Full Report