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Montana Fishing Guide

Missouri River

Missouri River Blue Ribbon StreamRed Ribbon Stream

Tributary of Out-of-state.
(River Mile: 1587 to 2312)
Launch Interactive Map
America's longest river gets it's start in Montana near the town of Three Forks. Right from the start the Missouri is running big and wide on it's long journey across North America to join the Mississippi over 2300 miles away. The swift currents of late spring and summer make it a popular river for floaters. The land the Missouri slides by has substantially the same appearance as when it was explored by the Lewis and Clark expedition over two centuries ago.

Total Length:  726 miles
FWP Region:  Region 3, Region 4, Region 6
Fishing District:  Central Fishing District, Eastern Fishing District



Species Present
Game Fish Opportunities:
Black Crappie, Brown Trout, Burbot, Channel Catfish, Lake Whitefish, Mountain Whitefish, Northern Pike, Paddlefish, Rainbow Trout, Sauger, Shovelnose Sturgeon, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Yellow Perch
All Species Present:
Bigmouth Buffalo, Black Crappie, Blue Sucker, Brassy Minnow, Brook Stickleback, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Burbot, Channel Catfish, Chinook Salmon, Cisco, Common Carp, Emerald Shiner, Fathead Minnow, Flathead Chub, Freshwater Drum, Goldeye, Kokanee, Lake Chub, Lake Trout, Lake Whitefish, Largemouth Bass, Longnose Dace, Longnose Sucker, Minnow, Mottled Sculpin, Mountain Sucker, Mountain Whitefish, Northern Pike, Northern Redbelly Dace, Paddlefish, Pallid Sturgeon, Pumpkinseed, Rainbow Smelt, Rainbow Trout, River Carpsucker, Sand Shiner, Sauger, Sauger X Walleye Hybrid, Sauger/Walleye, Sculpin, Shorthead Redhorse, Shortnose Gar, Shovelnose Sturgeon, Sicklefin Chub, Smallmouth Bass, Smallmouth Buffalo, Spottail Shiner, Stonecat, Sturgeon Chub, Walleye, Western Silvery Minnow, Western Silvery/Plains Minnow, White Crappie, White Sucker, Yellow Perch, Black Bullhead
NOTE: There may be game fish present (including Species of Concern) that are not listed in the game fish category due to low numbers for that fish or special regulations. Until you identify your catch, please handle all fish carefully. Thank you.

Fishing Regulations
Fish Consumption Advisory  Fish Consumption Advisory in effect.
Standard Fishing Regulations for the Central Fishing District, Eastern Fishing District
The standard fishing regulations for the fishing district(s) apply. Please check your copy of the regulations, or visit the site(s) linked above for more information.
Exceptions to Standard Regulations
Entire River
Snagging: it is illegal to snag for fish other than paddlefish on the Missouri River downstream from Fort Benton.
Open entire year.
Catch-and-release for cutthroat trout.
Toston Dam To Canyon Ferry Reservoir
Localized spawning areas closed as posted from March 1 through June 15.
Combined Trout: catch-and-release for brown trout between 18 and 24 inches.
Walleye: 20 daily and 40 in possession.
Upstream From Fort Peck Dam To Fort Benton
Sauger/Walleye: 5 daily, only 1 may be a sauger. Possession limit is 10, only 2 may be sauger.
Paddlefish snagging: open to harvesting paddlefish from May 1 to June 15 (unless closed earlier by FWP) from 6 AM to 9 PM daily. An unused white paddlefish tag is required to harvest a paddlefish. All paddlefish captured must either be tagged and kept, or released immediately. See Eastern District Standard Regulations for additional important paddlefish information.
Catch-and-release snagging for paddlefish is open from May 1 to June 15. Proof of purchase of a white paddlefish tag on your fishing license is required for catch-and-release fishing. All paddlefish must be released immediately and may not be gaffed or lifted out of the water. Captured fish must remain at least partially submerged in water at all times.
Canyon Ferry Reservoir
See Canyon Ferry Reservoir regulations.
Downstream From Fort Peck Dam
Paddlefish snagging: open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays May 15 through June 30 from 6 AM to 9 PM daily, unless closed to harvest earlier by FWP. An unused yellow paddlefish tag is required to fish for paddlefish. The tag must be properly placed on the first paddlefish caught and landed. See Eastern District Standard Regulations for additional important paddlefish information.
Catch-and-release snagging for paddlefish is not permitted.
Downstream From Canyon Ferry Dam To Hauser Reservoir
See Hauser Reservoir regulations.
Fort Peck Dam To The Mouth Of The Milk River
Hook and Line/Setlines: 2 lines with 2 hooks per line on open water and 6 lines with 6 hooks per line through the ice.
Combined Trout: 2 rainbow trout daily and in possession.
Downstream From Fort Peck Dam Near Duck Island As Posted
Closed from March 1 through July 31 to fishing and wading as posted.
Hauser Dam To American Bar Gulch (Approx. 4.6 Miles Downstream From Hauser Dam)
Combined Trout: Standard river/stream limits apply, except catch-and-release for brown trout.
Walleye: 6 daily and in possession, includes 5 under 20 inches and 1 over 28 inches.
Downstream From American Bar Gulch To Holter Reservoir
See Holter Reservoir regulations.
Holter Dam To Mouth Of Dearborn River
Combined Trout: 1 rainbow trout (any size) daily and in possession and 1 brown trout (22-inch minimum) daily and in possession.
Craig Bridge To Sheep Creek Bridge
Spearing: open for up to 5 whitefish daily with rubber or spring-propelled spears by persons swimming or submerged.
Mouth Of Dearborn River To Cascade Bridge
Combined Trout: 3 rainbow trout daily and in possession, only 1 over 16 inches and 1 brown trout daily and in possession, 22-inch minimum.
Morony Dam To Fort Benton
Sauger/Walleye: 5 daily, only 1 may be a sauger. Possession limit is 10, only 2 may be sauger. All fish must be kept whole, gills and entrails may be removed, until you are off the water and done fishing for the day. See Standard Regulations for transport requirements.
Hook and Line/Setlines: 6 lines with 6 hooks per line all year.
Boating Regulations

Standard Boating Regulations for the State of Montana

Exceptions to Standard Boating Regulations by County
*Applies to all rivers & streams
County Regulation Description & Exceptions
Broadwater Closed to motorboats over 10 HP
 Exception: Missouri River down river from Broadwater-Gallatin county line.
Gallatin Closed to all motorboats
Gallatin Closed to motorboats over 10 HP
 Exception: Missouri River down river from Headwaters State Park.

Exceptions to Standard Boating Regulations for Missouri River
Regulation Description & Exceptions
Closed to all motorboats
 Fishing Access Ponds

Fishing Access Sites
Fairweather  River Mile: 2301
The nearest put in site is at Headwaters State Park approx. 8 miles upstream. Toston Dam lies downstream of Fairweather FAS and before you get to Toston FAS. You can portage around the Dam with hand-carry watercraft.   Seasonal. Contact the regional office for open and closure dates.  853 acre(s).
Toston  River Mile: 2285
  Seasonal. Contact the regional office for open and closure dates.  41 acre(s).
Yorks Islands  River Mile: 2276
  Seasonal. Contact the regional office for open and closure dates.  22 acre(s).
Wolf Creek Bridge  River Mile: 2200
  Seasonal. Contact the regional office for open and closure dates. 
Craig  River Mile: 2194
  Seasonal. Contact the regional office for open and closure dates.  3 acre(s).
Stickney Creek  River Mile: 2190
  Seasonal. Contact the regional office for open and closure dates.  1 acre(s).
Spite Hill  River Mile: 2190
Limited access for trailers and RV's.  Seasonal. Contact the regional office for open and closure dates.  13 acre(s).
Dearborn  River Mile: 2188
Carry in boat launch only. Limited access for trailers and RV's. Large RV's not recommended.  Seasonal. Contact the regional office for open and closure dates.  1 acre(s).
Eagle Island  River Mile: 2187
Natural area, island in river, undeveloped.  Seasonal. Contact the regional office for open and closure dates.  22 acre(s).
Mid Canon  River Mile: 2187
  Seasonal. Contact the regional office for open and closure dates.  9 acre(s).
Devils Kitchen  River Mile: 2184
Not signed.  Seasonal. Contact the regional office for open and closure dates. 
Mountain Palace  River Mile: 2181
  Seasonal. Contact the regional office for open and closure dates. 
Hardy Bridge  River Mile: 2180
Access to river requires crossing RR tracks.  Seasonal. Contact the regional office for open and closure dates.  15 acre(s).
Prewett Creek  River Mile: 2179
Limited access for trailers and RV's.  Seasonal. Contact the regional office for open and closure dates.  30 acre(s).
Pelican Point  River Mile: 2176
Gravel boat launch.  Seasonal. Contact the regional office for open and closure dates.  94 acre(s).
Wing Dam  River Mile: 2165
Must cross railroad tracks to access river.  Seasonal. Contact the regional office for open and closure dates.  10 acre(s).
Dunes  River Mile: 2147
  Seasonal. Contact the regional office for open and closure dates.  61 acre(s).
Ulm Bridge  River Mile: 2143
  Seasonal. Contact the regional office for open and closure dates.  163 acre(s).
Big Bend  River Mile: 2123
Limited access for trailers and RV's.  Seasonal. Contact the regional office for open and closure dates.  17 acre(s).
White Bear  River Mile: 2118
Natural area, unsigned, no vehicle access.  Seasonal. Contact the regional office for open and closure dates.  53 acre(s).
Giant Springs State Park River Mile: 2108
Indian Education For All Set aside a whole afternoon at this historic freshwater springs site, discovered by the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1805 and one of the largest freshwater springs in the world, flowing at a measured 156 million gallons of water per day! This day-use park gives you an opportunity to picnic by the Missouri River, visit the fish hatchery and visitor center, walk along the Rivers Edge Trail, view nearby Rainbow Falls overlook, or visit the neighboring Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center operated by the U.S. Forest Service. To learn more about Giant Springs State Park, read Gushing Over Giant Springs, 2005 Montana Outdoors article.  Seasonal. Contact the regional office for open and closure dates.  675 acre(s).
Widow Coulee  River Mile: 2093
  Open all season. 
Carter Ferry  River Mile: 2081
Gravel boat ramp is next to County operated ferry.  Seasonal. Contact the regional office for open and closure dates.  21 acre(s).
School Trust  River Mile: 1760
Limited access for RV's and trailers.  Seasonal. Contact the regional office for open and closure dates.  2 acre(s).
Lewis and Clark  River Mile: 1700
Open 6 am to 10 pm. Overnight camping scheduled to re-open summer 2006.  Seasonal. Contact the regional office for open and closure dates.  40 acre(s).
Culbertson Bridge  River Mile: 1620
  Seasonal. Contact the regional office for open and closure dates.  11 acre(s).
Snowden Bridge  River Mile: 1590
  Seasonal. Contact the regional office for open and closure dates. 
NOTE: All river Fishing Access Sites (FAS) are listed in descending order by river mile from headwaters to mouth. The mouth of a stream is its confluence with another body of water and is considered mile 0.


Fishing Pressure
N Dakota Border to Milk River   (River Mile: 1,587 to 1,762)
Year Days Fished¹ Trips² State Rank³ Regional Rank³
2007 3,290 41 124 7
2005 2,424 44 165 10
2003 2,815 57 153 8
2001 2,017 34 178 12
1999 5,529 123 114 5

Milk River to Fort Peck Dam   (River Mile: 1,680 to 1,762)
Year Days Fished¹ Trips² State Rank³ Regional Rank³
2007 1,794 35 171 9
2005 6,165 110 98 7
2003 1,644 38 208 12
2001 5,200 107 104 5
1999 2,765 71 161 9

Ft Peck Res to Blain/Chout Co Line   (River Mile: 1,893 to 1,973)
Year Days Fished¹ Trips² State Rank³ Regional Rank³
2007 8,456 153 62 5
2005 16,587 378 41 2
2003 19,657 475 33 2
2001 11,740 342 53 2
1999 19,527 496 39 2

Blain/Chout Co Line to Marias River   (River Mile: 1,973 to 2,044)
Year Days Fished¹ Trips² State Rank³ Regional Rank³
2007 6,427 103 85 15
2005 5,723 108 103 19
2003 7,499 181 81 14
2001 6,896 142 83 13
1999 11,491 285 64 10

Marias River to Morony Dam   (River Mile: 2,044 to 2,100)
Year Days Fished¹ Trips² State Rank³ Regional Rank³
2007 7,657 109 68 11
2005 9,022 160 70 10
2003 6,094 135 97 17
2001 16,686 338 38 6
1999 16,861 381 45 7

Marias River to Morony Dam   (River Mile: 2,097 to 2,097)
Year Days Fished¹ Trips² State Rank³ Regional Rank³
2007 501 6 368 60
2005 123 3 873 132
2003 548 13 373 65
2001 535 10 365 60
1999 1,161 25 279 54

Morony Dam to Cascade Bridge   (River Mile: 2,100 to 2,167)
Year Days Fished¹ Trips² State Rank³ Regional Rank³
2007 15,909 240 35 5
2005 18,973 328 37 6
2003 20,368 459 31 5
2001 24,681 476 28 5
1999 26,447 624 27 4

Morony Dam to Cascade Bridge   (River Mile: 2,106 to 2,106)
Year Days Fished¹ Trips² State Rank³ Regional Rank³
2007 113 2 812 119
2001 128 4 844 138

Cascade Bridge to Holter Dam   (River Mile: 2,167 to 2,202)
Year Days Fished¹ Trips² State Rank³ Regional Rank³
2007 78,468 1,144 4 2
2005 93,229 1,610 2 1
2003 106,447 2,245 2 1
2001 123,472 2,500 1 1
1999 111,203 2,527 3 1

Holter Lake to Hauser Dam   (River Mile: 2,207 to 2,229)
Year Days Fished¹ Trips² State Rank³ Regional Rank³
2007 6,033 82 87 16
2005 25,705 360 24 5
2003 22,175 441 30 4
2001 29,959 594 21 4
1999 25,959 598 28 5

Hauser Lake to Canyon Ferry Dam   (River Mile: 2,240 to 2,244)
Year Days Fished¹ Trips² State Rank³ Regional Rank³
2007 285 6 482 81
2005 4,162 98 121 25

Canyon Ferry Res to Toston Dam   (River Mile: 2,270 to 2,289)
Year Days Fished¹ Trips² State Rank³ Regional Rank³
2007 5,187 68 96 23
2005 2,594 50 158 32
2003 7,510 135 79 23
2001 7,159 125 81 20
1999 3,882 91 133 28

Toston Dam to Headwaters   (River Mile: 2,289 to 2,312)
Year Days Fished¹ Trips² State Rank³ Regional Rank³
2007 1,564 17 183 39
2005 1,738 31 199 39
2003 1,413 31 219 47
2001 3,837 47 127 28
1999 2,005 53 199 39

¹  Estimated yearly fishing use in angler days (one angler fishing one body of water in one day for any amount of time).
²  The number of times that a section of water was reported as having been fished (used to estimate the number of "Days Fished").
³  How this section of water ranked among all surveyed sections in the state or region, based on "Days Fished" in a survey year.
 
Stocking Info
Stocking Avg Number
Date Species Length (in) Stocked
Sep, 2007 Pallid Sturgeon 2.1 586
Sep, 2007 Pallid Sturgeon 2.8 7,850
Sep, 2007 Rainbow Trout 9.6 12,000
Aug, 2007 Pallid Sturgeon 1.9 672
Aug, 2007 Pallid Sturgeon 2.7 15,606
Aug, 2007 Rainbow Trout 9.2 4,000
Jul, 2007 Rainbow Trout 8.5 5,000
Apr, 2007 Pallid Sturgeon 8.5 1,121
Apr, 2007 Pallid Sturgeon 9 3,358
Sep, 2006 Walleye 3.5 500
Sep, 2006 Rainbow Trout 8.5 8,096
Aug, 2006 Rainbow Trout 8.5 9,614
Jul, 2006 Pallid Sturgeon 9.1 907
Jul, 2006 Rainbow Trout 7.6 4,400
Jun, 2006 Walleye 1.7 273,366
May, 2006 Pallid Sturgeon 10 717
May, 2006 Pallid Sturgeon 10 347
Apr, 2006 Pallid Sturgeon 6 476
Apr, 2006 Pallid Sturgeon 6.3 1,364
Apr, 2006 Pallid Sturgeon 8 1,734
Apr, 2006 Pallid Sturgeon 5.7 125
Apr, 2006 Pallid Sturgeon 8 1,641
Apr, 2006 Rainbow Trout 6.6 200
Oct, 2005 Pallid Sturgeon 5 4,342
Oct, 2005 Pallid Sturgeon 3.8 1,484
Oct, 2005 Pallid Sturgeon 3 1,264
Sep, 2005 Rainbow Trout 10 9,187
Aug, 2005 Pallid Sturgeon 12.4 69
Aug, 2005 Pallid Sturgeon 12.1 59
Aug, 2005 Pallid Sturgeon 11.9 126
Aug, 2005 Rainbow Trout 6.2 6,000
Jul, 2005 Rainbow Trout 8.6 4,000
May, 2005 Rainbow Trout 7.6 196
Apr, 2005 Pallid Sturgeon 5 537
Apr, 2005 Pallid Sturgeon 5 508
Sep, 2004 Rainbow Trout 10 7,908
Aug, 2004 Pallid Sturgeon 8.4 878
Aug, 2004 Pallid Sturgeon 10 1,500
Aug, 2004 Pallid Sturgeon 10 1,555
Aug, 2004 Rainbow Trout 9.2 4,000
Jul, 2004 Shovelnose Sturgeon .3 22,500
Jul, 2004 Rainbow Trout 8.7 5,000
Jun, 2004 Shovelnose Sturgeon .3 50,000
Apr, 2004 Pallid Sturgeon 3.7 821
Sep, 2003 Rainbow Trout 9.8 10,047
Aug, 2003 Pallid Sturgeon 5.5 1,086
Aug, 2003 Pallid Sturgeon 8.5 2,433
Aug, 2003 Rainbow Trout 9.5 5,153
Jul, 2003 Rainbow Trout 8.4 3,800
Jun, 2003 Sauger 1.4 98,769
Sep, 2002 Rainbow Trout 9.1 11,847
Aug, 2002 Rainbow Trout 9.1 4,000
Jul, 2002 Pallid Sturgeon 8 742
Jul, 2002 Walleye 1.5 9,992
Jul, 2002 Pallid Sturgeon 8 2,061
Jul, 2002 Rainbow Trout 7.9 4,500
Jun, 2002 Sauger 1.6 23,823
Jun, 2002 Arctic Grayling 5.8 5,810
Sep, 2001 Rainbow Trout 9.5 11,038
Aug, 2001 Rainbow Trout 9.4 5,023
Jul, 2001 Brown Trout 4.3 7,476
Jul, 2001 Rainbow Trout 8.5 4,000
Jun, 2001 Walleye 1.3 10,000
Jun, 2001 Sauger 1.5 17,551
Jun, 2001 Rainbow Trout 7.9 1,000
Dec, 2000 Rainbow Trout 11.8 800
Oct, 2000 Pallid Sturgeon 8 248
Sep, 2000 Rainbow Trout 9.4 665
Aug, 2000 Rainbow Trout 8.8 5,000
Jul, 2000 Rainbow Trout 7.9 13,735
Jun, 2000 Brown Trout 4.1 25,020
Jun, 2000 Arctic Grayling 6.8 21,160
Aug, 1999 Smallmouth Bass 1.8 20,000
Jul, 1999 Sauger 2.5 5,024
Jul, 1999 Rainbow Trout 7.5 11,822
Jun, 1999 Walleye 1.7 10,000
Jun, 1999 Rainbow Trout 6.6 1,500
Sep, 1998 Rainbow Trout 9.8 237
Aug, 1998 Pallid Sturgeon 17.7 250
Aug, 1998 Pallid Sturgeon 8 460
Aug, 1998 Pallid Sturgeon 8 230
Aug, 1998 Rainbow Trout 8.8 6,181
Jul, 1998 Largemouth Bass 1.8 486
Jul, 1998 Smallmouth Bass 1.8 20,000
Jul, 1998 Rainbow Trout 8.2 3,500
Jun, 1998 Walleye 1.5 10,000
Jun, 1998 Brown Trout 2.3 36,960
May, 1998 Brown Trout 2 25,312

Gauging Stations
Missouri River at Toston MT
View Data | River Mile: 2,288
CANYON FERRY LAKE NEAR HELENA, MT
View Data | River Mile: 2,244
Missouri River bl Hauser Lake nr Helena MT
View Data | River Mile: 2,229
Missouri River bl Holter Dam nr Wolf Cr MT
View Data | River Mile: 2,202
Missouri River near Ulm MT
View Data | River Mile: 2,132
Missouri River near Great Falls MT
View Data | River Mile: 2,097
Missouri River at Fort Benton MT
View Data | River Mile: 2,065
Missouri River at Virgelle MT
View Data | River Mile: 2,027
Missouri River near Landusky MT
View Data | River Mile: 1,915
Missouri River below Fort Peck Dam MT
View Data | River Mile: 1,760
Missouri River near Wolf Point MT
View Data | River Mile: 1,700
Missouri River near Culbertson MT
View Data | River Mile: 1,620

 
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This page is from the Montana FWP ~ Montana Fishing Guide. [http://fwp.mt.gov/fishing/guide/report.aspx?llid=1039825479786&begmeas=1586.77905273438&endmeas=2312.46704101563]
Tuesday, October 07, 2008 - 5:46:40 PM