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United States · MT
Montana
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP)
Rules change by area and can change mid-season. We explain what the rules mean and always link you to the official source — we never copy a limit table and call it current.
Licences — what you need
- • A fishing licence plus a conservation licence are both required; an Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Pass is also mandatory for anglers.
- • Paddlefish are managed by a separate tag drawing, completely apart from the general licence.
How the rules are organized
- • Rules are organized into Western, Central and Eastern fishing districts, each with district-wide standards plus stream-by-stream exceptions — Montana's river rules are famously water-specific.
- • Many famous trout rivers have their own seasons, gear rules and section closures within the district framework.
Good to know — common mistakes
- • Artificial-lures-only and catch-and-release stretches are common on blue-ribbon trout water — read the exact stream section, not just the district rules.
- • Live baitfish are prohibited in the western district and restricted elsewhere — the bait rules flip by district.
- • Hoot-owl restrictions (afternoon closures for warm water temperatures) are imposed on trout rivers in hot summers and change week to week.
- • Boat inspection for aquatic invasive species is mandatory — expect to stop at check stations with any watercraft.
Official links
Fishing locations covered in this guide
This page is a plain-language summary, not the law. Regulations change — including in-season by official notice — and if anything here disagrees with the official source, the official source governs.
AnglerPlan is an information service, not a regulator. If anything here disagrees with an official source, the official source wins — and please tell us so we can fix it.