Montana Fish

							A close look at a Montana Rainbow Trout

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.

										Native Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout

Yellowstone Cutthroat

The Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout is native to the Yellowstone River drainage of southwest and south-central Montana.

										Montana state fish, the native Westslope Cutthroat Trout

Westslope Cutthroat

A native Montana fish, their historical range is west of the continental divide and the upper Missouri River drainage.

										Rainbow Trout Montana fish species

Rainbow Trout

Native to the Upper Kootenai River drainage, Rainbow Trout were introduced to waters throughout MT starting in 1889.

										Brown Trout are widely distributed across the Montana fly fishing rivers

Brown Trout

Native to Europe and western Asia, Brown Trout were first introduced to Montana in 1889 in the Madison River.

										Mountain Whitefish, a native Montana fish species

Mountain Whitefish

Native to Montana, this game fish species thrives in cold water streams throughout the mountainous regions of the state.

										Native Montana fish of the upper Big Hole River, the Arctic Grayling

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 sized

Smallmouth Bass

A non-native game fish that is occasionally encountered while fly fishing in Montana on the lower Yellowstone River near Big Timber.

										Carp sized

Common Carp

These hard-fighting non-native fish are common in the headwaters of the Missouri River and the lower Yellowstone River

										Brook trout sized

Brook Trout

Brook Trout are a non-native game fish that thrives in small, mountain streams and alpine lakes throughout Montana.

Montana Fishing Reports

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Gallatin River

Last Updated: 01/22/2025

Very cold around Big Sky right now, down in the valley has some slightly warmer weather with temps in the mid twentys. There is light at the end of the...

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Upper Madison

Last Updated: 01/22/2025

Pretty dang cold around Ennis Montana for the rest of the week. Next week is shaping up to be nice with some sun and temps in the mid 30s. Regardless...

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Lower Madison

Last Updated: 01/22/2025

Fishing has slowed on Montana’s Lower Madison River. Tuesday was an icy mess making fishing impossible but temps are rising. Still would expect some floating ice for the remainder of...

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