Live wading and fishing conditions for 69 Montana rivers
Every river below is monitored through its USGS streamflow gauges, refreshed every 15 minutes and rated in plain language for wading safety. Select a river for the live dashboard with current flow, trend, weather and community reports.
Madison River
Montana's iconic 'Fifty Mile Riffle' — a broad, fast, boulder-strewn wild-trout river from Hebgen Lake down through the valley to Ennis and the Bear Trap Canyon. The upper river is a wade-and-float classic controlled at the top by Hebgen Dam releases; below Ennis Lake it becomes a tailwater canyon. Salmonfly chaos in late June/early July, blizzard hatches all summer.
Region: Southwest · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Madison River Bl Hebgen Lake Nr Grayling Mt, Madison River At Kirby Ranch Nr Cameron Mt, Madison River At Ennis, Mt
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Missouri River (Upper)
Montana's premier trout tailwater — the 'Land of Giants' below Holter Dam through Craig and Cascade, a broad, weedy, spring-creek-like river packed with big, selective wild rainbows and browns. Flows are dam-controlled and remarkably stable; blanket hatches (BWOs, PMDs, caddis, tricos) make it a technical dry-fly and nymph paradise. A big river best floated, with plenty of wade access.
Region: Upper Missouri · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Missouri River Bl Holter Dam Nr Wolf Cr Mt, Missouri River At Cascade Mt, Missouri River At Toston Mt
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Yellowstone River (Upper)
The longest undammed river in the lower 48 — the upper Yellowstone runs free from the Park boundary at Gardiner through Paradise Valley to Livingston and on toward Big Timber. A float-first trout river that turns wadeable in late summer, holding wild Yellowstone cutthroat, rainbows, and browns. Salmonflies, hoppers, and blue-wing hatches all season.
Region: Yellowstone Country · Fish for: Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Yellowstone River At Corwin Springs Mt, Yellowstone River Near Livingston, Mt, Yellowstone River At Billings Mt
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Bighorn River
One of America's elite trout tailwaters — the cold, weedy, spring-creek-like river below Yellowtail Afterbay Dam near Fort Smith, running through the Crow Reservation past St. Xavier and Hardin. Astonishing numbers of big, wild rainbows and browns feed on blanket hatches (BWOs, PMDs, tricos, sowbugs). Flows are entirely dam- and generation-controlled; a float-first river with excellent wade access on stable flows.
Region: Eastern Plains · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Bighorn R Bl Yellowtail Afterbay Dam Nr St. Xavier, Bighorn River At Bridge, At St. Xavier, Mt, Bighorn River At Two Leggins Bridge, Near Hardin
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Big Hole River
A beloved freestone running through the wide Big Hole valley — home to the last river-dwelling Arctic grayling in the lower 48, plus wild browns, rainbows, and brookies. The salmonfly hatch below Melrose is legendary; the upper river near Wisdom is the grayling stronghold. Late-summer dewatering and heat make its flows a genuine conservation flashpoint.
Region: Southwest · Fish for: Arctic Grayling, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Big Hole River Bl Mudd Cr Nr Wisdom Mt, Big Hole River At Maiden Rock Nr Divide Mt, Big Hole River Near Melrose Mt
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Gallatin River
A wade-first freestone tumbling out of Yellowstone Park through the Gallatin Canyon along US-191, then out into the valley toward Logan. No dams on the stem — it's all snowmelt and rain, running clear and cold over rock. Skinny and technical in late summer, blown brown on the June melt ('mud plugs'), and a dry-fly gem when it drops.
Region: Southwest · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout · USGS gauges: Gallatin River Above Deer Creek, Near Big Sky, Mt, Gallatin River Near Gallatin Gateway, Mt, Gallatin River At Logan Mt
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Beaverhead River
A narrow, brushy, technical tailwater below Clark Canyon Dam near Dillon — cold, weedy, and stuffed with big, hard-to-fool browns and rainbows. Overhanging willows and tight quarters make it a streamer-and-nymph river more than a dry-fly parade; flows are entirely dam- and irrigation-controlled.
Region: Southwest · Fish for: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Beaverhead River At Barretts Mt, Beaverhead River At Dillon Mt, Beaverhead River Near Twin Bridges Mt
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Rock Creek (Clinton)
One of Montana's true blue-ribbon wade streams — a fast, cold freestone tumbling down its own canyon to the Clark Fork near Clinton, holding wild westslope cutthroat, rainbows, browns, brookies, and bull trout. The salmonfly hatch in late spring is a bucket-list event. Miles of public access along the gravel canyon road.
Region: Western / Missoula · Fish for: Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Rock Creek Near Clinton Mt, Middle Fork Rock Cr Nr Philipsburg Mt
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Bitterroot River
A classic western-Montana freestone flowing north from Darby through the Bitterroot valley to the Clark Fork at Missoula — braided channels, log jams, and side channels holding wild cutthroat, rainbows, and browns. Famous for the early-season Skwala stonefly hatch, when dry-fly fishing kicks off in March while snow still lingers.
Region: Western / Missoula · Fish for: Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Bitterroot River Near Darby Mt, Bitterroot River At Bell Crossing Nr Victor Mt, Bitterroot River Near Missoula Mt
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Smith River
Montana's crown-jewel permitted float — a 59-mile limestone-canyon wilderness trip from Camp Baker to Eden, drawn by lottery each year. Towering white cliffs, wild browns and rainbows, and no road access make it a bucket-list multi-day drift. Rafts need enough water: too little and you drag, too much and it's dangerous.
Region: Upper Missouri · Fish for: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Smith River Near Ft Logan Mt, Smith River Near Eden Mt
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Flathead River
A huge, cold, clear river system draining Glacier Country — the main-stem Flathead from the forks' confluence near Columbia Falls through Flathead Lake and out past Perma. Native westslope cutthroat and protected bull trout in a river of stunning clarity; a float-first big-water fishery with some wade access up high.
Region: Flathead & Northwest · Fish for: Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Bull Trout · USGS gauges: Flathead River At Columbia Falls Mt, Flathead River Near Polson Mt, Flathead River At Perma Mt
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Blackfoot River
The river of 'A River Runs Through It' — a bouldery freestone dropping through the Ovando and Bonner country to the Clark Fork, holding wild westslope cutthroat, rainbows, browns, and protected bull trout. Big pocket water, canyon runs, and a strong conservation story of recovery from mining and grazing damage.
Region: Western / Missoula · Fish for: Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Blackfoot R Ab Nevada Cr Nr Helmville Mt, Blackfoot River Near Bonner Mt
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Clark Fork River
Montana's largest river by volume — from its recovering superfund headwaters at Deer Lodge, past Missoula, and west toward Idaho. The upper river is a dramatic restoration story turning back into trout water; the middle and lower river is a big, broad brown-and-rainbow float with strong hatches. Wade the upper reaches; float the big water below.
Region: Western / Missoula · Fish for: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Clark Fork At Deer Lodge Mt, Clark Fork Above Missoula Mt, Clark Fork Below Missoula Mt, Clark Fork Near Plains Mt
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Kootenai River
A massive, powerful tailwater below Libby Dam near Libby — cold, clear, and huge, holding wild rainbows (including big Gerrard-strain fish), westslope cutthroat, bull trout, and burbot. Home to spectacular Kootenai Falls. Flows are entirely generation-controlled and can rise fast and dangerous; a float-first big-water fishery with some wade access on low flow.
Region: Flathead & Northwest · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Westslope Cutthroat Trout · USGS gauges: Kootenai River Bl Libby Dam Nr Libby Mt
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Jefferson River
A broad, slow, willow-lined valley river formed where the Beaverhead, Ruby, and Big Hole join near Twin Bridges. Float-first and famously warm and dewatered in late summer — a big-brown streamer river best in spring and fall, and a river that badly needs its late-summer flows.
Region: Southwest · Fish for: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Jefferson River Near Twin Bridges, Mt, Jefferson River At Parsons Bdg Nr Silver Star, Mt, Jefferson River Near Three Forks Mt
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Stillwater River
Despite the name, a fast, rocky, whitewater freestone dropping out of the Beartooths through Nye and Absarokee to the Yellowstone — bouldery pocket water and runs holding wild rainbows, cutthroat, browns, and whitefish. A wade-and-float favorite with a great salmonfly hatch.
Region: Yellowstone Country · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout · USGS gauges: Stillwater River Near Absarokee, Mt
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Yellowstone River (Lower)
Below Billings the Yellowstone becomes a big, warm, braided plains river running past Forsyth, Miles City, and Glendive to the confluence near Sidney — the last stronghold of prairie big-river fish: sauger, channel catfish, shovelnose sturgeon, and the famous paddlefish snag fishery at Intake. A bank-and-boat warmwater river; frame conditions as boat and bank safety.
Region: Eastern Plains · Fish for: Sauger, Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Yellowstone River At Forsyth Mt, Yellowstone River At Miles City, Mt, Yellowstone River At Glendive, Mt, Yellowstone River Near Sidney Mt
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Boulder River (Yellowstone)
A beautiful high-gradient freestone dropping out of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness through McLeod to join the Yellowstone at Big Timber — pocket water, waterfalls, and pools holding wild cutthroat, rainbows, browns, and brookies. Wade-and-float in the lower reach, wade-only up high.
Region: Yellowstone Country · Fish for: Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Boulder River At Big Timber Mt
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East Gallatin River
A small, meandering spring-and-tributary-fed trout stream winding through the Bozeman valley to join the main Gallatin near Manhattan. Brushy, intimate, and easy to overlook, it grows surprisingly large browns in its undercut banks and slow bends.
Region: Southwest · Fish for: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: E Gallatin R Ab Water Reclamation Fa Nr Bozeman Mt
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Missouri River (Lower)
Below Great Falls the Missouri becomes a big, warm, plains river — the Wild and Scenic breaks below Fort Benton down to Fort Peck and beyond, holding sauger, walleye, channel catfish, shovelnose sturgeon, and paddlefish. A bank-and-boat warmwater river, not a wade trout stream; frame conditions as boat and bank safety.
Region: Upper Missouri · Fish for: Sauger, Walleye · USGS gauges: Missouri River At Virgelle Mt, Missouri River Near Landusky Mt, Missouri River Near Wolf Point Mt, Missouri River Near Culbertson Mt
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Ruby River
A small, brushy tailwater below Ruby Reservoir near Alder, famous for growing outsized browns in tight quarters — and for its long-fought stream-access battles with adjacent landowners. Weedy, technical, and intimate; a nymph-and-streamer river where knowing the public access matters.
Region: Southwest · Fish for: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Ruby River Below Reservoir Near Alder, Mt, Ruby River Near Twin Bridges Mt
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Middle Fork Flathead River
A spectacular wild-and-scenic river running along Glacier National Park's southern edge past West Glacier — glacial-clear whitewater and gravel runs holding native westslope cutthroat and protected bull trout. A float-and-wade river of stunning scenery, high and pushy on the melt.
Region: Flathead & Northwest · Fish for: Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Bull Trout · USGS gauges: M F Flathead River Near West Glacier Mt
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Soda Butte Creek
A gorgeous small cutthroat creek flowing out of the Beartooths through Silver Gate and Cooke City into the Lamar Valley — clear, meadowy, and full of eager native Yellowstone cutthroat. A dry-fly dream on summer afternoons, wade-only and intimate.
Region: Yellowstone Country · Fish for: Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout · USGS gauges: Soda Butte Cr At Park Bndry At Silver Gate
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North Fork Flathead River
The wild border river running along Glacier National Park's western edge from Canada down to the confluence near Columbia Falls — remarkably clear, cold, and remote, holding native westslope cutthroat and protected bull trout. A float-and-wade wilderness river with gravel-bar access.
Region: Flathead & Northwest · Fish for: Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Bull Trout · USGS gauges: N F Flathead River Nr Columbia Falls Mt
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Gardner River
A steep, cold Yellowstone Park tributary tumbling past Mammoth to join the Yellowstone at Gardiner — pocket water and plunge pools holding native cutthroat, rainbows, browns, and brookies, plus a famous boiling-river hot-spring reach. Wade-only, technical, and scenic.
Region: Yellowstone Country · Fish for: Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Gardner River Near Mammoth, Ynp
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South Fork Flathead River
A legendary wilderness cutthroat fishery in the Bob Marshall above Hungry Horse Reservoir, then a cold tailwater below Hungry Horse Dam to the confluence near Columbia Falls. The wilderness reach holds some of the purest native westslope cutthroat left; the tailwater is cold and clear.
Region: Flathead & Northwest · Fish for: Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Bull Trout · USGS gauges: S F Flathead R Ab Twin C Nr Hungry Horse Mt, S F Flathead River Nr Columbia Falls Mt
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Marias River
An under-the-radar tailwater below Tiber Dam (Lake Elwell) draining the Rocky Mountain Front's plains to the Missouri near Loma — cold releases up top grow big browns and rainbows, and the lower river holds walleye, sauger, and pike. A quiet float sleeper in wide-open country.
Region: Rocky Mtn Front & Hi-Line · Fish for: Brown Trout, Walleye · USGS gauges: Marias River Near Shelby Mt, Marias River Near Chester Mt, Marias River Near Loma Mt
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Red Rock River
The remote headwater of the Missouri, draining the Centennial Valley and Red Rock Lakes below the Centennial Mountains — a wild, lightly pressured stream holding native Arctic grayling, westslope cutthroat, and browns. Cold, clear, and far from anywhere.
Region: Southwest · Fish for: Arctic Grayling, Westslope Cutthroat Trout · USGS gauges: Red Rock Cr Ab Lakes, Nr Lakeview, Mt, Red Rock R Bl Lima Reservoir Nr Monida Mt
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Rock Creek (Red Lodge)
A steep, cold Beartooth freestone tumbling past Red Lodge to the Clarks Fork — pocket water and plunge pools holding wild rainbows, cutthroat, browns, and brookies. Not to be confused with the blue-ribbon Rock Creek near Clinton; this is the Yellowstone-side stream below the Beartooth Highway.
Region: Yellowstone Country · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout · USGS gauges: Rock Creek Near Red Lodge Mt
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Swan River
A clear, cold river connecting the chain of lakes down the Swan Valley from Swan Lake to Flathead Lake near Bigfork — meadow and canyon runs holding native westslope cutthroat, bull trout, browns, and rainbows in a stunning mountain-valley setting. A wade-and-float river with a famous whitewater gorge at Bigfork.
Region: Flathead & Northwest · Fish for: Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Swan River Near Bigfork, Mt
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Big Spring Creek
A famous limestone spring creek rising from Big Spring near Lewistown — cold, clear, and remarkably stable, holding wild rainbows and browns in weedy, technical, spring-fed water. Fed by one of the largest freshwater springs in the country, it fishes well year-round and stays cool in summer.
Region: Rocky Mtn Front & Hi-Line · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Big Spring Cr At R&B Trading Post Nr Lewistown Mt
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Tongue River
A southeastern-Montana river dropping out of the Wyoming Bighorns through the Tongue River Reservoir to Miles City and the Yellowstone — a cold tailwater below Tongue River Dam grows trout and smallmouth, and the lower river holds sauger, catfish, and walleye. A mixed cold/warmwater river with good tailwater and prairie reaches.
Region: Eastern Plains · Fish for: Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Tongue River At Tongue R Dam Nr Decker Mt, Tongue River At Ashland, Mt, Tongue River At Miles City, Mt
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Clarks Fork Yellowstone River
A rock-lined river dropping out of the Wyoming Beartooths through Belfry and Edgar to join the Yellowstone near Laurel — cottonwood-lined runs and riffles holding wild browns, rainbows, cutthroat, and whitefish. A wade-and-float sleeper in the shadow of the bigger names.
Region: Yellowstone Country · Fish for: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Clarks Fork Yellowstone River Nr Belfry Mt, Clarks Fork Yellowstone River At Edgar Mt
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Boulder River (Jefferson)
A high-gradient freestone dropping through the old mining country between Boulder and the Jefferson valley — not to be confused with the Yellowstone-side Boulder near Big Timber. Small, rocky, and lightly fished, with wild browns, rainbows, and brookies in its pocket water.
Region: Southwest · Fish for: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Boulder River Near Boulder, Mt
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Shields River
A ranch-country tributary of the Yellowstone north of Livingston, draining the Crazy Mountains — brushy meadow water with wild browns, rainbows, and cutthroat up high. Much of it is private, so bridge and public access matter; a quiet alternative when the Yellowstone is crowded or blown.
Region: Yellowstone Country · Fish for: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Shields River Nr Livingston Mt
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Sun River
A Rocky Mountain Front river draining the Bob Marshall Wilderness past Augusta and Simms to the Missouri at Great Falls — canyon and meadow trout water up high below the diversion dam, warming and dewatering across the plains below. Wade the upper reaches; the lower river is a mixed warmwater float.
Region: Upper Missouri · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Sun River Bl Diversion Dam Nr Augusta Mt, Sun River At Simms Mt, Sun River Near Vaughn Mt
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Little Prickly Pear Creek
A pretty little canyon creek dropping through the Wolf Creek gorge to meet the Missouri near Craig — pocket water and undercut banks holding wild browns and rainbows, a favorite quick stop for anglers working the big Missouri tailwater nearby.
Region: Upper Missouri · Fish for: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Little Prickly Pear Cr At Wolf Cr Mt
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Dearborn River
A small, steep freestone dropping off the Rocky Mountain Front to the Missouri near Craig — canyon pocket water and meadow runs holding wild trout, best in the early-season window before it drops too low. A wade-and-short-float sleeper close to the famous Missouri.
Region: Upper Missouri · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Dearborn River Near Craig Mt
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West Fork Bitterroot River
The cold upper fork of the Bitterroot below Painted Rocks Reservoir near Conner — a small, clear tailwater-influenced stream holding wild cutthroat, rainbows, and browns, kept fishable in late summer by reservoir releases when the main valley warms.
Region: Western / Missoula · Fish for: Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: West Fork Bitterroot River Nr Conner Mt
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Milk River
A big, muddy, meandering prairie river arcing across the Hi-Line from the Rocky Mountain Front through Havre, Malta, and Nashua to the Missouri near Fort Peck — turbid warmwater holding walleye, sauger, northern pike, channel catfish, and burbot. A bank-and-boat river, not a wade stream; frame conditions as boat and bank safety.
Region: Rocky Mtn Front & Hi-Line · Fish for: Walleye, Sauger · USGS gauges: Milk River At Havre Mt, Milk River At Malta Mt, Milk River At Nashua Mt
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Prickly Pear Creek
A small trout creek winding down the Helena valley from the Boulder Mountains through Clancy toward Lake Helena — brushy meadow and canyon water holding wild browns, rainbows, and brookies. A close-to-town wade recovering nicely from historic mining impacts.
Region: Upper Missouri · Fish for: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Prickly Pear Creek Near Clancy Mt
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North Fork Blackfoot River
A wild, cold tributary of the Blackfoot dropping out of the Scapegoat Wilderness near Ovando — clear pocket water and pools holding native westslope cutthroat and bull trout, plus rainbows and browns lower down. A scenic, lightly fished wilderness-edge wade.
Region: Western / Missoula · Fish for: Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Bull Trout · USGS gauges: Nf Blackfoot R Ab Dry Gulch Nr Ovando Mt
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Stillwater River (Flathead)
The Flathead-basin Stillwater — a slow, meandering river draining the lakes north of Whitefish through Kalispell to the Flathead — not the fast Beartooth Stillwater near Absarokee. Brushy, weedy water holding browns, rainbows, cutthroat, and northern pike in its slower reaches.
Region: Flathead & Northwest · Fish for: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Stillwater River At Lawrence Park, At Kalispell
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Teton River
A Rocky Mountain Front river draining the Bob Marshall's east face past Choteau to the Missouri near Loma — canyon and meadow trout water up high, warming and dewatering across the plains below. Wade the upper reaches near Choteau; the lower river is a mixed warmwater float.
Region: Rocky Mtn Front & Hi-Line · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Teton River Bl South Fork Nr Choteau Mt, Teton River At Loma Mt
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Judith River
A Judith Basin river draining the Little Belt and Big Snowy Mountains past Utica and Hobson to the Missouri near Winifred — canyon and prairie runs holding wild rainbows, browns, and cutthroat up high, warming below. A quiet, scenic wade-and-float in central Montana ranch country.
Region: Rocky Mtn Front & Hi-Line · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Judith River Above Carr Creek Near Utica Mt, Judith River Nr Mouth, Nr Winifred Mt
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Little Bighorn River
A Crow Reservation river dropping out of the Wyoming Bighorns past the Little Bighorn Battlefield near Crow Agency to the Bighorn at Hardin — cool foothill water up high with trout, warming into a mixed warmwater river below. Reservation reaches require a Crow tribal permit; a historic, lightly fished river.
Region: Eastern Plains · Fish for: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Little Bighorn River At State Line Nr Wyola Mt, Little Bighorn River Nr Crow Agency Mt, Little Bighorn River Near Hardin Mt
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Musselshell River
A long central-Montana river draining the Crazy and Little Belt Mountains east through Harlowton, Roundup, and Mosby to Fort Peck — cooler ranch water up high with trout and mixed fish, warming into a sauger, catfish, and walleye river below. A quiet, lightly pressured prairie float.
Region: Eastern Plains · Fish for: Walleye, Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Musselshell River At Harlowton Mt, Musselshell River Near Roundup Mt, Musselshell River At Mosby Mt
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Belt Creek
A Little Belt Mountains freestone dropping through Sluice Boxes State Park and Monarch toward the Missouri near Great Falls — canyon pocket water and meadow runs holding wild rainbows, browns, and cutthroat. A scenic wade in the Sluice Boxes limestone canyon.
Region: Upper Missouri · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Belt Creek Near Monarch Mt
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West Rosebud Creek
A clear Beartooth creek dropping from Mystic Lake and Emerald Lake through Roscoe toward the Stillwater — cold pocket water and meadow runs holding wild rainbows, cutthroat, and brookies. A scenic, lightly fished wade in the high country.
Region: Yellowstone Country · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout · USGS gauges: West Rosebud Creek Near Roscoe Mt, W Rosebud Cr At Emerald Lk Campground Nr Roscoe
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Flint Creek
A meadow-and-canyon creek draining Georgetown Lake past Philipsburg and Maxville toward the Clark Fork at Drummond — brushy ranch water holding wild browns, rainbows, and brookies. Much is private, so bridge and FAS access matter; a quiet alternative near Rock Creek.
Region: Western / Missoula · Fish for: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Flint Creek At Maxville Mt, Flint Creek Near Drummond Mt
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Two Medicine River
A Blackfeet Nation river dropping off Glacier's southeast corner past Browning toward the Marias — canyon and prairie runs holding wild rainbows, browns, brookies, and cutthroat up high, warming below. Fishing on reservation land requires a Blackfeet tribal permit; a scenic, lightly fished river.
Region: Rocky Mtn Front & Hi-Line · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Two Medicine River Bl South Fork Nr Browning Mt, Two Medicine River Ab Badger Cr, Nr Piegan, Mt
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Swiftcurrent Creek
A stunning glacial creek in Glacier National Park's Many Glacier area — turquoise pools and pocket water below Swiftcurrent and Lake Sherburne holding brook trout and native fish in a jaw-dropping mountain setting. A scenic wade requiring a Glacier Park fishing permit.
Region: Flathead & Northwest · Fish for: Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Swiftcurrent Creek At Many Glacier Mt
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Willow Creek (Harrison)
A small Jefferson-basin trout creek below Willow Creek Reservoir near Harrison — brushy meadow water holding browns and rainbows, quiet and lightly pressured. A modest but pleasant wade close to the Three Forks area.
Region: Southwest · Fish for: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Willow Creek Near Harrison Mt
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Little Blackfoot River
A small foothills freestone draining the Continental Divide past Elliston and Avon to the Clark Fork at Garrison — meadow and canyon water holding wild browns, rainbows, cutthroat, and brookies. A lightly fished wade close to the interstate.
Region: Western / Missoula · Fish for: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Little Blackfoot River Near Garrison Mt
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Thompson River
A remote freestone draining the Thompson Lakes country to the Clark Fork near Thompson Falls — canyon and forest runs holding wild westslope cutthroat, rainbows, browns, and bull trout. A lightly pressured wade-and-float down a scenic gravel-road canyon.
Region: Flathead & Northwest · Fish for: Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Thompson River Near Thompson Falls Mt
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Birch Creek
A Rocky Mountain Front creek forming the Blackfeet Reservation's southern boundary below Swift Reservoir past Valier toward the Marias — cool canyon water up high holding wild trout, warming across the plains below. A scenic, lightly fished front-country stream.
Region: Rocky Mtn Front & Hi-Line · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Birch Cr Bl Heart Butte Road, Nr Heart Butte, Mt, Birch Creek At Robare, Mt, Birch Creek At Bullhead Bridge, Nr Valier, Mt
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Yaak River
A remote, forested freestone in Montana's far northwest corner draining the Purcell Mountains to the Kootenai near Troy — pocket water and pools holding wild westslope cutthroat, rainbows, brookies, and bull trout. A lightly pressured wilderness-edge wade with a scenic waterfall.
Region: Flathead & Northwest · Fish for: Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Yaak River Near Troy Mt
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St. Mary River
A cold, clear Hudson Bay-drainage river below St. Mary Lake on Glacier National Park's east side near Babb — one of the few Montana rivers flowing north to Canada, holding native westslope cutthroat, bull trout, whitefish, and grayling in a spectacular setting. A scenic, lightly fished wade.
Region: Flathead & Northwest · Fish for: Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Bull Trout · USGS gauges: St. Mary River Near Babb Mt
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East Boulder River
A small, clear tributary of the Boulder in the Absaroka-Beartooth country near McLeod — pocket water and meadow runs holding wild cutthroat, rainbows, and brookies. A quiet, lightly fished wade close to the main Boulder.
Region: Yellowstone Country · Fish for: Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: East Boulder River Bl Dry Fork Cr Nr Mcleod, Mt
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Tenmile Creek
A small mountain creek draining the Continental Divide above Rimini into the Helena valley — cold pocket water up high holding wild trout, an intimate close-to-town wade. Historic mining shaped its lower reaches, but the upper creek fishes well.
Region: Upper Missouri · Fish for: Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Tenmile Creek Near Rimini Mt, Tenmile Creek Near Helena Mt
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Fisher River
A Kootenai-basin freestone draining the Cabinet country to the Kootenai near Libby — forested runs and riffles holding wild westslope cutthroat, rainbows, and bull trout. A quiet, lightly fished wade close to Libby.
Region: Flathead & Northwest · Fish for: Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Fisher River Near Libby Mt
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Cut Bank Creek
A Blackfeet-country prairie creek dropping off Glacier's front through Cut Bank toward the Marias — cool canyon water up high with wild trout, warming and slowing across the plains. Reservation reaches require a Blackfeet tribal permit; a lightly fished front-country wade.
Region: Rocky Mtn Front & Hi-Line · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Cut Bank Cr Ab Gillam Coulee, Nr Sundance, Mt, Cut Bank Creek At Cut Bank Mt
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Powder River
The classic 'too thin to plow, too thick to drink' prairie river — a wide, shallow, muddy stream draining Wyoming's plains through Broadus and Moorhead to the Yellowstone near Terry. Turbid and seasonal, it holds sauger, channel catfish, and shovelnose sturgeon in its channel; a true big-sky bank-and-boat warmwater river.
Region: Eastern Plains · Fish for: Sauger, Channel Catfish · USGS gauges: Powder River At Moorhead Mt, Powder River Near Locate Mt
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St. Regis River
A small freestone paralleling I-90 down the St. Regis valley to the Clark Fork near St. Regis — runs and riffles holding wild cutthroat, rainbows, browns, and brookies. An easy-access wade close to the interstate, good when the big rivers are blown.
Region: Flathead & Northwest · Fish for: Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: St. Regis River Near St. Regis, Mt
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Red Lodge Creek
A small prairie-and-foothills creek draining the Beartoots' east face toward Cooney Reservoir near Boyd — cool upper water with wild trout, warming and slowing toward the reservoir. A quiet, lightly pressured wade in the foothills.
Region: Yellowstone Country · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout · USGS gauges: Red Lodge Cr Ab Cooney Re Nr Boyd Mt
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Tobacco River
A small Kootenai-basin river draining the Eureka valley to the Kootenai near the Canadian line — meadow and brushy runs holding wild rainbows, cutthroat, browns, and bull trout. A quiet, lightly fished wade in the far northwest.
Region: Flathead & Northwest · Fish for: Rainbow Trout, Westslope Cutthroat Trout · USGS gauges: Tobacco River At Eureka, Mt
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Rosebud Creek
A southeastern-Montana prairie creek draining the Rosebud country past Lame Deer and the Northern Cheyenne Reservation to the Yellowstone near Forsyth — cottonwood-lined warmwater holding channel catfish, sauger, and the odd smallmouth. Reservation reaches require a tribal permit; a quiet, lightly fished prairie stream.
Region: Eastern Plains · Fish for: Channel Catfish, Sauger · USGS gauges: Rosebud C At Reservation Bndry Nr Kirby Mt, Rosebud C Bel Lame Deer C Nr Lame Deer Mt
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Prospect Creek
A small forested freestone dropping to the Clark Fork at Thompson Falls — pocket water and pools holding wild cutthroat, rainbows, and brookies. A quiet, lightly fished tributary wade near the Clark Fork.
Region: Flathead & Northwest · Fish for: Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout · USGS gauges: Prospect Creek At Thompson Falls Mt
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Poplar River
A northeastern-Montana prairie river draining the Fort Peck Reservation from the Canadian line through Poplar to the Missouri — a muddy, meandering warmwater stream holding northern pike, walleye, sauger, and channel catfish. Reservation reaches require a Fort Peck tribal permit; a remote, lightly fished Hi-Line river.
Region: Eastern Plains · Fish for: Northern Pike, Walleye · USGS gauges: Poplar River Near Poplar Mt
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