Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has approved the following open water fishing contests for 2014. Participants must comply with state fishing regulations, including daily and possession limits. Most contests require catch-and-release fishing and participants in these contests may not keep any fish.
Here are the locations and dates of contests approved for 2014.
Northwestern Montana, Region 1
- ABA West; April 19-20
- ABA West; June 7-8
- ABA West; July 26-27
- B.A.S.S. Nation Western Divisional; May 21-23
- Fall Mack Days; Sept. 27 – Nov. 17
- Father’s Day Family Fishing Festival; June 14-15
- Great MT MacAttack/Whitefish Jigfest; Aug. 23-24
- Koocanusa Resort & Marina Trout/Salmon; May 17-18
- MT BASS Fed Nation Qualifier; Aug. 16-17
- MT BASS Fed Nation Qualifier; Sept. 13-14
- Spring Mack Days; March 29–May 19
- TBF Invitational; May 3-4
- Tri-State Bass Tournament; July 26-27
West-central Montana, Region 2
•Mister Pike Classic; June 7-8
Southwestern Montana, Region 3
•Livingston Firefighters Kids Fish Derby; June 15
North-central Montana, Region 4
- Broadwater Rod & Gun Walleye Derby; July 12
- Camp-Make-A-Dream Walleye Benefit; Aug. 2
- Canyon Ferry Carp Safari; June 7
- Canyon Ferry Walleye Festival; June 28-29
- Father’s Day Fish Derby;White Sulphur June 15
- Fort Benton Spring Classic; May 16-18
- John Arnold Fish Derby; Aug. 9
- MRF Carp Rodeo; Aug. 9
- Tiber Walleye Tournament; July 26-27
South-central Montana, Region 5
- ABA Yellowtail Barry’s Landing; July 12-13
- ABA Yellowtail Ok-A-Beh #1; June 21-22
- ABA Yellowtail Ok-A-Beh #2; Aug. 9-10
- Bighorn River Alliance Carp Festival; June 27
- Catfish Challenge; May 1
- Palace Classic Walleye Tournament; Oct. 4-5
- TBF Invitational; May 31
Northeastern Montana, Region 6
- Fall Classic Walleye Tournament; Aug. 9-10
- Fishin’ For The Cure; Aug. 16
- Fort Peck – Hell Creek; May 31–June 1
- Fresno Challenge; June 14-15
- Hell Creek Ladies’ Fishing Tournament; June 28
- Hell Creek Men’s Tournament; July 26-27
- Milk River Catfish Classic; June 7
- MT Governor’s Cup Walleye Tournament; July 10-12
- Pikemasters Public Tournament; June 21-22
- Rock Creek Walleye Tournament; June 7-8
- TBF Invitational; Sept. 27-28
- Tough Guy Tournament; April 19
- Women’s Walleye Tournament; Aug. 2
Southeastern Montana, Region 7
- Northeast MT Monster Catfish Roundup; July 19
- Savage Volunteer Fire Dept Catfish Tournament; June 14
- Tongue River Marina Cabin Fever Festival; April 26-27
- Tongue River Reservoir Bass Tournament; April 12-13
- Whisker Wrangler Catfish Derby; June 21
- Yellowstone River Rats Jig n Crank Fest; Oct. 11
For contact information on each contests visit FWP’s webpage at http://fwp.mt.gov/fishing/guide/contests/.
(Report by Montana FWP; Feature photo: )