Fishing Licenses Fees

What Do I Need to Fish in Montana?

A valid Fishing License (see license requirements table above) is required for all types of fishing on state waters. To fish in Montana, most anglersneed a Conservation License and a Fishing License, and also an AIS Prevention Pass, see table above. You must have your Fishing License inyour possession while fishing. A license on your smart phone is acceptable.

A Conservation License is needed before you can buy any fishing or hunting license. Conservation License applicants are required to provide thelast four digits of their social security number in addition to the information usually requested. A valid driver’s license or a valid photo ID isrequired to purchase a license.

A Fishing License allows a person to fish for and possess any fish or aquatic invertebrate authorized by the state’s fishing regulations. It isnontransferable and nonrefundable. The license enables one to fish from March 1 through the end of February of the following year.

The AIS Prevention Pass is required for individuals 16 and over who fish in Montana.

Resident Licenses: To qualify for a resident license, a person must meet the criteria set out in MCA 87-2-102 and 202. To be a legal resident eligible to purchase a resident Fishing License, you must have physically been living in Montana for at least 180 consecutive days (sixmonths) immediately before purchasing any resident license; you must file Montana state income tax returns as a resident, if you are required tofile; you must have registered your vehicles in Montana; if you are registered to vote, you must be registered in Montana; and you may notpossess or apply for any resident hunting, fishing or trapping privileges in another state or country. At the time of purchase, a person mustpresent a valid Montana driver’s license, a valid Montana driver’s examiner’s identification card, or a tribal identification card. If unsure ofyour residency status, contact a regional FWP office.

Paddlefish: All anglers must purchase a paddlefish tag to fish for paddlefish. To purchase a tag, all anglers must have a valid Conservation License,an AIS Prevention Pass and a Fishing License. Limit of one paddlefish tag (one fish) per person: Resident - $6.50 each Nonresident - $15 each

Paddlefish harvest only tags will be available via lottery draw ($5 drawing fee) for the Upper Missouri River paddlefish season (White Tag) only.Anglers need to apply individually or as a party (up to five people) before 5 p.m. March 22, 2025. See page 76 for specifics on the Upper Missouripaddlefish drawing.

Bull Trout: Lake Koocanusa, Hungry Horse Reservoir, and part of the South Fork Flathead River are open for a regulated and experimental bulltrout angling season. When fishing for bull trout, each angler must have in possession a valid bull trout Catch Card for the specific water he/sheis fishing. Anglers may select only one of the following areas: A) Lake Koocanusa, or B) Hungry Horse Reservoir and South Fork Flathead River.All other waters are closed to intentional angling for bull trout year around.

Catch Cards are free of charge and are available at the FWP Region 1 office in Kalispell and at the U.S. Forest Service Spotted Bear RangerStation. Applications for a catch card are available at the FWP Region 1 office or online at fwp.mt.gov/fish/license/. Completed applications mustbe presented at the regional headquarters or mailed to FWP Bull Trout Permit, 490 North Meridian, Kalispell MT 59901.

Free Fishing Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Weekends

May 10-11 and June 14-15, 2025

By Montana law, each year on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day weekends any person (resident or nonresident) may fish for any fish within thisstate without obtaining a Fishing License as long as they abide by the seasons, restrictions, and bag limits listed in these Fishing Regulations.The two exceptions to this are paddlefish and bull trout fishing, both of which require the purchase of a Conservation, Fishing, and AIS Prevention Licenses. Fishing for paddlefish also requires a paddlefish tag. A catch card is required to fish for bull trout.

Montana Resident With Disability: Montana FWP seeks to ensure that its programs, services, and activities are accessible to persons withdisabilities. Montana FWP provides many representative recreational opportunities. To learn more or to request modifications oraccommodations relative to a disability, contact FWP at 406-444-2449.

• Resident Person With a Disability must purchase a Conservation License - $8, an AIS Prevention Pass - $2 and a Fishing License - $10.50. Toqualify, a person must be permanently and substantially disabled. Applications are available on the FWP website, however, they can only becertified at a regional FWP office or by mail.
• Lifetime Fishing License for the Blind - $10 plus an annual $2 AIS Prevention Pass. Visit the FWP website for an application.

Veterans Administration Patients: Permits are available for patients residing at VA hospitals and residents of state institutions, except the statepenitentiary. These free permits are available on-site at the VA hospital or state institution. Contact Enforcement at 406-444-2452.

Legion of Valor: A Conservation License allows both residents and nonresidents, regardless of age, to fish. Legion of Valor membership cardrequired to qualify. Available only at FWP offices.

Care Facility: The manager or director of an eligible facility licensed in Montana may apply for permission to take supervised residents fishing during activities approved by the facility. Licensed facilities include long-term care, personal care, home for persons with developmentaldisabilities, and home for persons with severe disabilities. Contact Enforcement 406-444-2452.

Education Exemptions: Free Fishing License exemptions are available for qualified educational events and fishing clinics. For informationon these free educational exemptions, call 406-444-9943.

Purple Heart: Residents who have been awarded a Purple Heart, regardless of age, may fish and hunt upland game birds with a ConservationLicense issued by the department.

• Nonresidents who have been awarded a Purple Heart, regardless of age, may fish and hunt upland game birds with a Conservation Licenseissued by the Department during expeditions arranged by a nonprofit organization that uses fishing and hunting as part of rehabilitation.
• Verification of Purple Heart and DD 214 Form required to qualify. Residents only available at FWP offices. Nonresidents only available at FWP Headquarters in Helena.

Other Statewide Permit Requirements

State School Trust Lands: Your Conservation License provides anglers, hunters, and trappers access to legally accessible State School TrustLands for fishing and hunting. Other recreational activities such as hiking and bird watching still require a Conservation License. Additionalinformation regarding the rules, regulations, and restrictions governing these activities is available or contact the DNRC at 406-444-2074.

• Overnight use must not exceed the following limits: two consecutive days on leased land, 16 consecutive days within designated campgrounds or on unleased land.
• Motorized travel is only allowed on public roads or on designated roads.
• No open fires are allowed except in designated campground fire pits. Contained mechanical heat sources are allowed.

Aquatic Invertebrates - Crayfish/Mussels: A valid Fishing License is required to harvest crayfish for personal use (see “License/PermitRequirements” for specific license requirements). Crayfish may be taken in traps no larger than 24x12x12 inches. Freshwater mussel harvestor possession is prohibited in the Western and Central Fishing Districts. Mussels may be harvested for personal use in the Eastern Fishing Districtonly. No Fishing License is required to harvest mussels.

Commercial Collection of Aquatic Invertebrates and Mussels: Persons wishing to collect aquatic invertebrates (such as leeches and aquatic insects) for sale or commercial distribution should contact their regional FWP office for information. In accordance with theAdministrative Rules of Montana, Section 12.2.501, it is unlawful to take or possess freshwater mussels or their shells for sale or commercialdistribution.

Commercial Fishing Licenses

Bait Fish Seining: Commercial Harvest, $10 Fee

• Contact regional FWP offices for a Bait Fish Seining License and a list of waters open to commercial seining: $10 fee per year.
• A Bait Fish Seining License is required:
  • For persons 15 years of age or older to seine for or trap and transport bait fish for commercial purposes in Montana;
  • For any person who seines or traps for or has in his/her possession more than 24 dozen nongame bait fish.
• Nongame bait fish (fathead minnow, flathead chub, western silvery minnow, plains minnow, emerald shiner, longnose dace, lake chub, creek chub, longnose sucker, and white sucker) may be harvested commercially and transported in accordance with Administrative Rules of Montana (ARM) Section 12.7.201-12.7.206. See pages 87-88 for live bait fish identification. Live bait fish or leeches may not be imported into Montana for commercial or other purposes unless authorized by FWP. Bait fish may not be exported without FWP authorization. Call 406‑452‑6181 or go online at fwp.mt.gov for more information.

Commercial Whitefish Fishing: A permit is required to sell whitefish.

• Hook and Line Permits: Whitefish may be taken by hook and line for sale in the following waters-Flathead Lake north of the Flathead Reservation boundary, Flathead River north of Flathead Lake, Fisher River, Kootenai River, and Whitefish Lake.
• Net/Seine Permits: Whitefish may be taken from the Kootenai River and tributaries (within 1 mile of the Kootenai River). Application required; fee is $200 plus a $1,000 bond per year.

Fishing Contests: A permit from FWP is required for most fishing contests. Contact your local FWP office for information and an application ordownload an application from the FWP website.

Hoop Net Fishing Permit: A permit is required to use hoop nets. Permits are only available in the Eastern Fishing District. Contact FWP officesin Billings, Glasgow, or Miles City for information.

Import Permits for Fish: A permit is required to import live fish into Montana. Contact the FWP Fish Health Lab in Great Falls at 406-452-6181 ordownload an application from the FWP website.

Indian Reservations and Tribal Lands: Certain waters on Indian reservations and tribal lands may have special rules and permits. Specific information should be obtained from Reservation headquarters.

• The State of Montana and Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes have entered into a cooperative agreement on the Flathead Reservation. Atribal permit is required to fish on waters within the exterior boundary of the reservation. Call tribal headquarters at 406-675-2700 for information.
• The State of Montana and the Fort Peck Tribes have entered into a cooperative agreement on the Fort Peck Reservation. A tribal permit isrequired to fish on waters within the exterior boundary of the reservation. Call tribal headquarters at 406-768-5305 for information.
• A State of Montana Fishing License is required to fish on the Bighorn River inside the boundaries of the Crow Reservation. A tribal permitis not required.

National Parks: Certain waters within National Parks have special rules. Specific information may be obtained from the park headquarters. ForGlacier National Park, call 406-888-7800 and for Yellowstone National Park, call 307-344-7381.

Off–Highway Vehicles (OHVs)

• Residents – OHVs (ATV, UTV, dirtbike) must be registered and display a current off-highway decal to be used for off-road recreation on public lands (trails, frozen lakes, reservoirs) and a two year $20 Resident Trail Pass for use on designated roads and trails. To be used on roads(county, state highways, etc.), an OHV must have a license plate and street-legal modifications. Register your OHV with the county treasurer.
• Nonresidents – OHVs registered in another state must purchase a nonresident permit to operate (anywhere) in Montana. Permits are goodfor one calendar year, cost $35, and can be purchased from local vendors (fwp.mt.gov/activities/ off-highway-vehicles) or online atols.fwp.mt.gov. Contact Montana State Parks OHV Program at 406-444-3750 with questions.

Private Fish Ponds – License Requirements, $10 application fee: A person who owns or lawfully controls a private fish or ornamental pondmay obtain a license from FWP to stock the pond with fish. Only lawfully purchased fish may be planted. Contact your local FWP office for more information and an application or download the application from the FWP website. No Fishing License is required to fish on licensed, privatelystocked fish ponds. Fishing License requirements apply to all other ponds and/or waters on private land.

Koi and Goldfish Ponds: Must be registered with FWP. Registration forms are available online at myfwp.mt.gov/fwpPub/koiPond or from allFWP offices. There is no fee for registering a pond.

Unattended Fishing Devices: Any unattended fishing device (crayfish traps, minnow traps, fish traps, setlines, etc.) must have the angler’s nameand phone number or an individual identifying number issued by the department attached to it.