Montana Fishing
On the Big Blackfoot River above the mouth of Belmont
Creek the banks are fringed by large Ponderosa pines. In
the slanting sun of late afternoon the shadows of great
branches reached across the river, and the trees took the
river in their arms.
- From A River
Runs Through It by Norman Maclean
Missoula,
the setting of A
River Runs through It , is
home to some of the most exciting fishing waters in the
country: the Bitterroot, Blackfoot and Clark
Fork Rivers, Rock Creek and the Little Blackfoot.
If you head a little further north out of town, you
will reach Flathead Lake, the largest natural lake in the
West. The Flathead Lake is a favorite of bass anglers. You
will find the voracious bull trout which can reach up to
29 pounds (although in recent years many fishermen are reporting
bass of lower weights), and in the cold depths of the Lake
there are Dolly Varden.
The best time for trout fishing on the rivers, is June and July for the salmon fly, stonefly and Green Drake hatches, or fish through July and August for hopper time. The brown, rainbow and cutthroat trout all make eating a major priority when there is so much protein floating above.
For one of the best trout streams in the Rockies,
head to the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
and Yellowtail Dam. The clear waters are constantly cold,
so the rainbow trout and brown trout thrive. You may fish
from powerboats above the dam, rafts, canoes, and dories,
but motors are prohibited.
More trout fishing can be found on a peaceful morning along the banks of the
Yellowstone River. As you fish for the cutthroat
trout, you will be relaxed by the serenity of the Parks
natural beauty.
In the southwest region of Montana, you will find a number of places known
for their abundance of trout. The Red Rocks River
empties into the Clark Canyon Reservoir and enters the dam
as the
Beaverhead River which is one
of the state’s premier
trout fishing paradise.
Just past Dillon, Montana is the Big Hole River. Here you will find
trout as well as a rare population of the Arctic grayling.
The 1 mile wide and 20 miles long Swan Lake in Big Fork is one of Montana’s leading fishing areas. During the spring you can catch northern pike and the in the summer and fall you will find Kokanee Salmon and bull trout.
Glendive’s Yellowstone River is home to the rare spatula-nosed paddlefish which can only be found from mid-May to mid-June.
For walleye and rainbow trout, visit the Cooney Reservoir State Park in Boyd.
Also available in this area is boating, birding and wildlife
viewing.
Montana License & Fishing Regulations:
Game Fish: All species of trout, salmon, walleye,
whitefish, grayling, sauger, paddlefish, sturgeon, pike,
bass, and channel fish.
Non-resident: $50 annual or $25 for 2 day consecutive
license
Non-fee permit needed for Glacier and Yellowstone
$7 conservation license is required
Other great fishing locations are:
- Georgetown Lake in Anaconda
- Columbia Falls/north fork of the Flathead River
- Belly River in Glacier National Park
- Deadman’s Basin in Harlowton
- Ft. Peck Dam & Lake or the Hell Creek State Park in
Glasgow
- Big Creek Spring in Lewiston—one of America’s top rainbow
trout streams
- Kootenai National Forest in Libby
Photo Credits: First three photos by Bug
Eaters; Bottom fly fishing picture by Seamus Murray
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