Montana’s Free Fishing Weekend Is June 20-21: What You Need to Know

Father’s Day weekend — June 20th and 21st — every Montanan fishes for free. No license required. That’s about as good a reason as any to get off the couch and find a stretch of water.

Honestly, if you’ve been on the fence about introducing a kid or a first-timer to fishing, this is the weekend to do it. The free fishing days are a low-stakes entry point, and June on a Montana river beats just about anything else I can think of. The water’s up, the fish are moving, and it beats sitting in the backyard sweating through a Father’s Day barbecue.

Just because the license requirement is waived doesn’t mean the rulebook gets shelved. All standard fishing regulations remain in full effect both days — size limits, gear restrictions, the works. Don’t assume “free fishing” means anything-goes fishing. Check your regs before you go.

June also means runoff, and some rivers and streams will have restrictions in place. Before you load up the truck, check the current waterbody closures at fwp.mt.gov/news/current-closures-restrictions/waterbody-closures. The Clark Fork, the Blackfoot, the Yellowstone — they can all run fast and cold this time of year. Respect that.

If you’re putting any kind of watercraft on the water — raft, kayak, jon boat, doesn’t matter — you’re required to stop at all Aquatic Invasive Species inspection stations. No exceptions, no shortcuts. AIS is one of those things where everyone’s compliance actually matters. Zebra mussels don’t belong in Montana, and keeping them out is on all of us. Find your nearest inspection station and get more information at www.cleandraindrymt.com.

For water and boating safety tips, head to fwp.mt.gov, click the Recreation tab, and pick your activity. June water is no joke — cold, fast, and unforgiving if something goes wrong. Wear a life jacket. Tell someone where you’re going. The fish will still be there if you take five minutes to be smart about it.

Get out there and make something of the weekend.