Musselshell River
Tributary of Missouri River.
(River Mile: 0 to 342)
Launch Interactive Map
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 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
