Montana Fishing Spots Anglers Travel the World to Reach

Quick Take

• One Montana river holds a staggering density of wild trout per mile that most anglers wouldn't believe until they see the numbers. See Missouri River trout density →
• You've almost certainly seen one of these fishing spots on the big screen, though you probably had no idea you were looking at a Montana landmark. Explore the Gallatin River →
• One spot on this list can be fished year-round for trophy trout, and the reason why is more counterintuitive than you'd expect. Discover year-round Bighorn fishing →
• The largest natural freshwater lake in the western U.S. sits right in Montana, though it's not one most anglers would name first. Explore Flathead Lake →

With approximately 169,829 miles of rivers and streams, Montana’s cold, clean waterways support a wide variety of fish species. Anglers come from all over the world to fish for rainbow, brown, cutthroat, and brook trout, as well as walleye, northern pike, and bass. With opportunities ranging from fly fishing on world-renowned rivers to shore fishing and boating on large lakes, Montana offers options for anglers of all skill levels. Keep reading to discover some of Montana’s top fishing spots.

1. Yellowstone River

The Yellowstone River is one of North America’s most active wild trout fisheries, best known for rainbow, cutthroat, and brown trout. Spanning nearly 200 free-flowing miles through the state, the Yellowstone is a favorite with fly fishers. Most fishing is done along the banks with little wading, as the river is wide and the currents are fast. Popular sections of the river include Paradise Valley, Yankee Jim Canyon, and Livingston to Big Timber.

2. Madison River

It’s no surprise that the Madison River earned a spot on the list of the best fishing spots in Montana, as it is well-known for year-round trout fishing and easy wading access. The world-class blue-ribbon trout fishery has upper and lower sections full of wild brown and rainbow trout. Access to the upper river can be found at Raynolds Pass, Three Dollar Bridge, Varney Bridge, and Lyons Bridge. Popular access points on the lower river include Black’s Ford, Warm Springs, and Greycliff.

3. Gallatin River

For more world-class trout angling, visit the Gallatin River. If you’ve ever seen the movie “A River Runs Through It,” then you’ve seen the Gallatin River, which stood in for the story’s Blackfoot River. The picturesque area has crystal clear water and is full of rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout. The river is a high-access wade fishery, with roadside access along Highway 191 in Gallatin Canyon south of Bozeman and Big Sky.

4. Missouri River

The Missouri River is a world-class fly-fishing destination, well known for its huge populations of wild rainbow and brown trout. The river is known for having over 3,500 rainbow and 600 brown trout per mile. Holter Dam to Craig is the most popular section in the upper ten miles, and it is easily accessed by walking or drift boat.

5. Bighorn River

The Bighorn River is a popular tailwater fishery, famous for consistently producing trophy-sized trout. The river has large numbers of both wild brown and rainbow trout. Anglers can fish from a boat or from the bank. Due to the cold water from the Yellowtail Dam, the upper part of the river can be fished year-round.

6. Flathead Lake

Spanning around 125,000 acres, Flathead Lake in northwest Montana is the largest natural freshwater lake in the western U.S. The lake is famous worldwide for its huge populations of trophy-sized lake trout (mackinaw). Anglers also target lake whitefish, northern pike, yellow perch, and cutthroat and bull trout. There are several public access sites and fishing areas around the lake that are maintained by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks.

7. Canyon Ferry Reservoir

Canyon Ferry Reservoir spans 33,534 acres on the Missouri River. Located about 20 miles east of Helena, it is well known for walleye, rainbow trout, yellow perch, bass, crappie, catfish, ling, and northern pike. Some of the popular areas on the lake include the Silos and Pond 4, which are believed to be best for walleye and shore-fishing for rainbow trout, and Hellgate and Confederate, where the deeper waters attract active walleye and trout.