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Montana Fishing Guide

Musselshell River 

Tributary of Missouri River.
(River Mile: 0 to 342)
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The Musselshell River begins with the headwaters of the North and South forks in the Little Belt, Castle, and Crazy mountains in central Montana. Converging near Martinsdale, Montana, they form the mainstem, which flows east and north through a landscape varying from mountains to rolling plains and badlands. The upper, coldwater region of the Musselshell supports five species of gamefish, including native cutthroat and mountain whitefish. Abundant brush cover, good gravel bars, and clarity characterize the habitat of the South Fork. The North Fork’s excellent willow cover and undercut banks provide favorable habitat for brown, rainbow, and brook trout. Averaging 60 feet wide at the juncture of the forks, the Musselshell draws extra water downstream for irrigation. Three storage reservoirs add to its flows, Bair Reservoir on the North Fork, Martinsdale Reservoir on the South Fork, and Deadman’s Basin, a mainstem diversion. For the 50 miles from Barber to Roundup, the Musselshell widens, a number of irrigation diversions reduce streamflows, and the water becomes warmer. Riparian vegetation is commonly honeysuckle, wild rose, willow, and isolated groves of cottonwood trees. For its last 90 miles, the river broadens to 100 feet, accompanied by a rapid increase in turbidity. Vegetation adjacent to the river thins due to the arid climate, livestock grazing, and unstable and saline soils. However, the warmwater portion of the Musselshell supports a substantial resident fish population and provides spawning areas for sauger and channel catfish from Fort Peck Reservoir. The Musselshell River empties into Fort Peck Reservoir north of Mosby, 342 miles from its sources.

Total Length:  342 miles
FWP Region:  Region 4, Region 5
Fishing District:  Eastern Fishing District



Species Present
Game Fish Opportunities:
Channel Catfish, Sauger, Walleye
All Species Present:
Black Bullhead, Black Crappie, Blue Sucker, Brassy Minnow, Brown Trout, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Emerald Shiner, Flathead Chub, Goldeye, Green Sunfish, Lake Chub, Largemouth Bass, Longnose Dace, Longnose Sucker, Minnow, Mottled Sculpin, Mountain Sucker, Mountain Whitefish, Northern Pike, Northern Redbelly Dace, Plains Minnow, Rainbow Trout, Redbelly X Finescale Dace, River Carpsucker, Sand Shiner, Sauger, Shorthead Redhorse, Smallmouth Bass, Smallmouth Buffalo, Stonecat, Walleye, Western Silvery Minnow, Western Silvery/Plains Minnow, White Sucker, Yellow Perch
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. Until you identify your catch, please handle all fish carefully. Thank you.

Fishing Regulations

View the latest Montana Fishing Regulations.

Boating Regulations

Standard Boating Regulations for the State of Montana


Fishing Access Sites
Selkirk  River Mile: 339
  Seasonal. Contact the regional office for open and closure dates.  265 acre(s).
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
Mouth to Rt 3 Bridge Near Lavina   (River Mile: 8 to 251)
Year Days Fished¹ Trips² State Rank³ Regional Rank³
2007 2,403 26 145 19
2005 1,736 35 200 25
2003 1,249 27 239 32
2001 2,509 55 159 19
1999 2,605 68 166 25

Rt 3 Bridge Near Lavina to Headwaters   (River Mile: 251 to 342)
Year Days Fished¹ Trips² State Rank³ Regional Rank³
2007 822 15 270 35
2005 1,570 31 213 27
2003 568 13 361 45
2001 1,445 40 206 27
1999 3,459 99 142 19

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.
 
Gauging Stations
Musselshell River nr Martinsdale, MT
View Data | River Mile: 340
Musselshell River at Harlowton MT
View Data | River Mile: 307
Musselshell River ab Mud Cr nr Shawmut MT
View Data | River Mile: 273
Musselshell River near Lavina MT
View Data | River Mile: 226
Musselshell River near Roundup MT
View Data | River Mile: 196
Musselshell River at Musselshell MT
View Data | River Mile: 155
Musselshell River at Mosby MT
View Data | River Mile: 71

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