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Upper Salmon River Chinook Fishery update: 7.15.25
The Upper Salmon River Chinook fishery remains open through the weekend, with next week’s numbers deciding what’s next…
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Save Wild Trout Releases First-Of-Its-Kind Scientific Reports on Jefferson Basin
“Water-quality monitoring conducted by Save Wild Trout in the Jefferson River basin during 2023 and 2024 identified notable patterns of thermal and oxygen-related stress in three of the four rivers evaluated. Free-flowing systems, including the Big Hole and Jefferson rivers, exhibited widespread impacts with water temperature and dissolved oxygen exceeding thresholds suitable for juvenile or…
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Massive lake trout sets new state record
Aaron Goettsche is no stranger to monster Lake Trout. An avid angler, fishing rod maker, and longtime veteran on Utah’s/Wyoming’s famous Flaming Gorge Reservoir – a world-renowned fishery known for producing Lake Trout over 30 pounds and occasional giants up to 60 – Aaron knows what a trophy looks like.
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FWP responds to brown trout detection in Flathead River
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has confirmed the detection of a Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has confirmed the detection of a non-native brown trout in the Flathead River upstream of Pressentine Fishing Access Site near Evergreen, and anglers are encouraged to submit any additional brown trout caught within the drainage.
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Day One Leaders for Montana Governor’s Cup Walleye Tournament
Strong winds and strong weights out of Fort Peck Reservoir today, where 173 teams competed for the 2025 Montana Governor’s Cup Walleye Tournament. The first place prize is $15,000. Click here to see your Day 1 leaders!
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FWP collects golden trout eggs from Sylvan Lake to be reared in hatchery
Montana is a trout fishing mecca, home to pristine trout waters and 16 members of the salmonid fish family. Among these 16 species is the golden trout – a stunning, high-alpine specialist species native only to the Kern River drainage of California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. Golden trout can be found in some of Montana’s remote…
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Fish marking strategy helps biologists differentiate between wild trout and hatchery trout
While an adipose fin may seem unnecessary for a fish, FWP biologists can find it helpful in distinguishing a wild trout from a hatchery trout or, in Holter Lake, between two strains of hatchery fish.
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Gov. Gianforte Announces Agreement To Improve Instream Flows in Clark Fork River
Governor Greg Gianforte announced an agreement between the State of Montana and Butte-Silver Bow (BSB) that secures water releases from Silver Lake to improve instream flows in the Clark Fork River.
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Upper Salmon River Chinook Fishery update 7.9.25
Angler effort surged over the holiday week on the Upper Salmon River…
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The Fish That Are Not Welcome at Lake Lowell
What started as one surprise catch has turned into a full-blown invasion…
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Salmon Slayer is Slaying on Fort Peck
Salmon are biting and walleye teams are pre-fishing—lake action is heating up just in time for the Governor’s Cup!
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Kit’s Tackle’s Trevor Johnson Showing How Catch & Release Is Done
Check out this awesome catch and release by Kit’s Tackle’s Trevor Johnson!
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10 Year Old Catches Nice Fort Peck Walleye
At just 10 years old, Cooper Green hooked a walleye worth bragging about at Fort Peck!
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Canyon Ferry Walleye Festival Final Results; a Tie For First Place
60 teams competed in the Canyon Ferry Walleye Festival Friday and Saturday, with two teams tying for first place!
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Owls Are Hooting Early
When Montana’s rivers heat up, Hoot Owl rules kick in to give trout a break—and anglers a reason to rise early. More from Montana Grant here!
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Warm water temperatures and low river flows prompt fishing closures on select rivers after 2 p.m. in Yellowstone National Park
Effective Thursday, June 19, 2025, select Yellowstone National Park rivers and streams will close to fishing daily from 2 p.m. to sunrise the following day due […]
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The Rise of Tiber–the Walleye Giant
Tiber Reservoir is evolving and is now a full-blown walleye heavyweight…
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A Father’s Day Catch That’ll Be Tough To Top
When a 6’1”, 225-pound man says a fish made him look small—you know that is one heck of a catch!
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Upper Salmon River Chinook update – 6.12.25
Chinook update: A bigger stretch of river may open—if the numbers hold….
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Upper Salmon River Chinook update 6.9.25
Just when it looked like Chinook season was a no-go on the upper Salmon, a late surge of tagged fish has turned the tide—and a fishery proposal is now on the table.
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IDFG Upper Salmon Chinook Update 5.29.25
Chinook hopes are hanging by a tag—fewer fish than forecast, but there’s still a chance for a late surge….
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Upper Salmon River Chinook Update – 5/22/2025
Chinook returns are trickling in below forecast, and with the next two weeks critical, it’s still too early to say whether they’ll see a summer fishery on the upper Salmon.
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Angler Dubs Catch “Unofficial State Record”–You Won’t Believe From Where
It might not be official, but it’s unforgettable—Steve Miller’s massive pike has anglers wondering what else is lurking in that lake….
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Breaking the Dam Barrier in a Fishing Boat
Sometimes, to find the fish, you have to outsmart the beaver…
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Fishing Local
Why chase distant waters when the best fishing lessons—and fish—might be five minutes from home? Read more from Montana Grant here…
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I Can’t Catch 55
Think you can catch 100 trout in a day? Try hitting 55 first—turns out, it’s harder than you think. Read more from Montana Grant here…
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Reel Innovation with Gadgets that Make Fishing Smarter
Think you’ve got all the fishing gear you need? Think again — the future of angling is way cooler than you might think…
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Not All Record Fish Make the Record Books
It’s one of the biggest bass ever caught in Oregon—but the record books won’t touch it.
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Tired of the Fly Fishing Crowds?
Tired of elbow-to-elbow casting? Discover Montana’s overlooked fly-fishing gems where the trout are big and the crowds are small….
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Hooked On Fun–Take a Kid Fishing (No License Required)
Reel in the weekend right—free fishing, fresh bait, and hot food are all on the hook for Mother’s Day in Montana at Tongue River Marina!
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Celebrate Mother’s Day with free fishing
Skip the flowers—take Mom fishing for free this Mother’s Day and reel in some memories instead.
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2025 Spring Mack Days – Week 8 Update
The 100-fish limit was no match for Mack Days anglers on Flathead Lake, as records tumbled and lines stayed tight in a crazy weekend of nonstop lake trout action…
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Bridges Over Trout Water
They say that if you built a bridge in a desert, you would find anglers fishing around it. ..read more from Montana Grant here.
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On the Fly?
Fly fishing isn’t just about catching fish—it’s a lifelong journey of beauty, knowledge, connection, and soul-restoring peace. Read more from Montana Grant…
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Who Speaks for the Trout?
Montana’s trout are in trouble — if we don’t protect their waters and rethink our fishing habits, future generations may only hear stories about the wild trout we once had…Read more from Montana Grant here.
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Stay Sharpie
Who knew a humble Sharpie could be your secret fishing weapon? From marking depths to counting catches—and even turning one into a lure—this little pen packs a punch on the water. More from Montana Grant here….
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Something Borrowed, Something Blue, Something Big with Teeth Too
While most brides are throwing bouquets, this one was reeling in a monster–during her wedding photo shoot!
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Rock Creek Fishing Report 4.20.25
Spring fishing is back on Rock Creek, with Skwalas, mayflies, and nymphs all in play—just be ready to adapt, because Montana’s weather is as wild as the trout…
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31 Inches of Trout
A twin’s unforgettable 31-inch trout catch in Montana proves that taking a kid fishing can lead to some truly big moments…
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Big Hole River Foundation Joins Forces with Save Wild Trout
BHRF officially joins forces with Save Wild Trout – an exciting merger that will allow for the expansion of BHRF’s highly respected water quality monitoring program to all four rivers of the Jefferson Basin – the Big Hole, Beaverhead, Ruby, and Jefferson Rivers.
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2025 Fort Peck Walleye Spawn Update II, April 11th
Warming waters in Fort Peck’s Big Dry Arm have jumpstarted walleye spawning, helping biologists collect over 9 million eggs ahead of a looming cold front.
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FWP’s Helena Area Reservoirs Fishing Report 4.14.25
You’re in luck if you’re after rainbows in the Helena area reservoirs…
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When You Can’t Take Your Little One Fishing Anymore….
This little guy was a little confused on how this worked….
