Montana’s trout species include rainbow, brown, brook, lake, bull and cutthroat trout.
What is the most common fish in Montana?
Montana fly fishing centers around trout. Cutthroat, Brown, Rainbow and Brookie– Montana is world famous for its trout fishing. But whether you’re on the rivers, searching the alpine lakes or checking out the reservoirs and ponds, you’re going to find more than trout swimming in our waters.
What trout can you keep in Montana?
Daily Limits and other Fishing Regulations in Montana
| Species | Daily and Possession Limits |
|---|---|
| Cutthroat Trout | Lakes/Reservoirs: included in the “Combined Trout” daily and possession limit. Rivers/Streams: all Cutthroat Trout must be released immediately |
| Lake Trout | 3 daily and 6 in possession. |
| Bass | 5 daily and in possession. |
Are brook trout native to Montana?
The “brookie” or brook trout was introduced to Montana from eastern North America in 1889. It too, was extensively propagated and stocked in the early half of this century, although seldom so today. Brook trout favor small, cold, headwaters streams and ponds, particularly those that are spring-fed.
Are brown trout native to MT?
The brown trout belongs to a different genus than our native trout species. They evolved in Europe and western Asia and were introduced to North America in 1883 and to Montana in 1889 in the Madison River. Today brown trout are found throughout most of Montana except the northwest and parts of the east.
What is the best fish in Montana?
Fish Species That Should Go Into Your Montana Bucket List
- Trout. You can’t leave Montana without catching some trout since it is home to many trout species.
- Channel catfish.
- Freshwater drum.
- Creek chub.
- Fathead minnow.
- Rainbow smelt.
- Rocky mountain sculpin.
- Largemouth Bass.
Where is the best trout fishing in Montana?
Top 10 Trout Rivers To Fish In Montana
- Missouri River.
- Madison River.
- Gallatin River.
- Big Hole River.
- Yellowstone River.
- Bighorn River.
- Smith River.
- Clark Fork River.
How many hooks can you have in Montana?
It is important to inquire about certain fishing methods either with your guide, our staff, or using the Montana Fishing Regulation booklet available online or at local fly shops. The Madison River is catch-and-release. Up to 2 barbed hooks are permitted.
Where are the biggest trout in Montana?
Yellowstone River
Fly Fishing on the Yellowstone River is undoubtedly some of the best dry fly trout fishing anywhere in Montana, and some of the largest brown trout that get caught in the state come out of the Yellowstone River.
What do trout eat in Montana?
Small trout typically have a diet that is composed primarily of small aquatic insects. In Montana, large trout key in on crayfish, sculpins, small trout and extra large insects such as large stonefly species.
Is there tiger trout in Montana?
“I don’t know anyone that’s caught one around Montana – they’re just incredibly rare.” A tiger trout is the sterile hybrid of a brook trout and brown trout. While they are bred in hatcheries in other parts of the country, natural occurrences are few and far between. “It’s not common.
Are lake trout native to Montana?
Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) are native to Canada, Alaska, the Great Lakes, New England, and parts of Montana.
When did rainbow trout enter Montana?
The rainbow trout is Montana’s number one game fish. Rainbow trout were introduced from numerous hatchery stocks into virtually every suitable habitat in the state, beginning in 1889. Scientists believe that only the rainbow trout of the upper Kootenai River drainage are native to this state.
Is a 20 inch brown trout big?
Brown Trout Size
Adult stream-dwelling (fluvial) brown trout usually grow to between 15 and 22 inches in length and between 1 and 5 pounds, depending on a variety of factors mostly related to habitat and genetics. Twenty-plus-inch brown trout are commonly considered a trophy catch for anglers.
Where are the biggest brown trout in Montana?
Robbie Dockter of Conrad holds the new Montana state record brown trout caught March 3 on the Marias River. The fish weighed 32.42 pounds and measured 37 inches long. “I’ve fished this stretch a lot on it’s a very good fishery and some very big trout,” Dockter said Friday evening.
Are there brown trout in Yellowstone?
The brown trout (Salmo trutta) is the only nonnative fish species in Yellowstone that is not native to North America. This European species was introduced to Yellowstone in the later part of the 19th century, and was recorded as two different species—the Von Behr and the Loch Leven brown trout.
What river in Montana has the biggest trout?
Some of the largest brown trout caught every year in Montana come out of the Yellowstone River, from the many deep holes and cutbanks found along every bend. If our fly fishing guides had to pick one river to fish in Montana for the rest of their lives, the answer is the Yellowstone River every time.
What is the best time of year to trout fish in Montana?
Spring Season (April – Mid May)
Starting around April and continuing through mid May, spring hits Southwestern Montana. Water temperatures start to warm up and both the trout and the insect life start to get active. The rainbow trout are beginning to spawn and opportunities for dry fly fishing increase.
What’s the biggest fish caught in Montana?
Montana Record Table
| Fish | Length (inches) | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Trout | 42.5 | 42.69 lbs. |
| Lake Whitefish | 27 | 10.46 lbs. |
| Largemouth Bass | 22.5 | 9.58 lbs. |
| * Largescale Sucker | 23.1 | 6.16 lbs. |
Is trout fishing good in Montana?
Montana trout fishing is some of the best in the country – they don’t call it the “Treasure State” for no reason. There are many famous rivers all over the state with esteemed trout fishing, but we’ve selected our top five to give you a starting place.
Is there salmon in Montana?
One of two Pacific salmon species in Montana, the chinook salmon, was introduced into Fort Peck Reservoir during the 1980s in an effort to produce a trophy fishery. Like all Pacific salmon species, the chinook dies after spawning.