When is walleye season in Montana?

Montana keeps walleye open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.

What is the Montana bag limit for walleye?

The Montana daily bag limit for walleye is Western Fishing District: ALL walleye must be killed immediately, kept, and reported to FWP within 24 hours + the whole fish presented within 10 days (invasive-eradication rule). Central District: 5 / day sauger + walleye combined (only 2 may be sauger). Eastern District (Fort Peck): 5 / day, 10 in possession. Canyon Ferry + the Missouri reservoirs: 10 / day, only 1 over 15 in. The possession limit is Central 10 (only 4 sauger); Eastern 10; Canyon Ferry + Missouri reservoirs twice the daily limit. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size walleye can you keep in Montana?

The Montana size rule for walleye is No statewide minimum length; large-fish caps on listed reservoirs (only 1 over 15 in on Canyon Ferry + the Missouri reservoirs; only 1 over 25 in on Hauser + Holter). Trophy rule: MT state-record walleye 17 lb 12 oz Tiber Reservoir 2007; Fort Peck Reservoir country's fifth-largest reservoir by surface area + Montana's flagship walleye fishery (245,000 acres, 134 miles long, 220 ft max depth) — produces 2-6 lb fish routinely with 10+ lb fish landed annually; Yellowstone + Missouri sauger ecotype one of country's premier inland sauger waters; FWP stocks ~5 million walleye fry + fingerlings annually via Miles City + Fort Peck Tribes + Murray Springs State Fish Hatcheries.

Do you need a license to fish for walleye in Montana?

Yes. Montana requires a valid fishing license to fish for walleye, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Montana license — compare resident and non-resident Montana fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for walleye in Montana?

Yes. In Montana, walleye fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted; Spearfishing permitted on listed waters during ice-fishing season; Conservation License + Fishing License required (AIS Prevention Pass required for anglers 16+): $8 res Conservation + $21 res season fishing + $2 res AIS / $10 NR Conservation + $100 NR season fishing + $7.50 NR AIS; Confirm current-year FWP Fishing Regulations for reach-specific exceptions.

Do specific Montana waters have different walleye rules?

Yes. 6 named Montana waters carry rules that override the statewide walleye regulation, including Fort Peck Reservoir, Canyon Ferry Reservoir, Tiber Reservoir / Lake Elwell, and 3 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Montana Walleye 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

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Last updated June 8, 2026

Montana walleye fishery is anchored by Fort Peck Reservoir (245,000-acre Missouri River main-stem reservoir — USACE Omaha District Fort Peck Dam built 1940 — country's fifth-largest reservoir by surface area, 134 miles long, 220 ft maximum depth — McCone / Garfield / Phillips / Petroleum / Valley / Fergus Counties) — Montana's flagship walleye fishery and one of the country's premier inland walleye destinations. Fort Peck walleye runs in April – June pre-spawn through post-spawn produce 2-6 lb fish routinely with 10+ lb fish landed annually. Canyon Ferry Reservoir (35,000-acre Missouri River reservoir — USBR Canyon Ferry Dam 1954 — Broadwater / Lewis and Clark Counties) is Montana's second walleye reservoir — FWP-managed walleye fishery with a 10 / day limit, only 1 over 15 in (possession twice the daily) + AIS-positive water (invasive zebra mussel detection 2016). Tiber Reservoir / Lake Elwell (22,000-acre Marias River reservoir — USBR Tiber Dam 1956 — Liberty / Toole / Hill Counties) carries the third walleye + sauger reservoir tier in Montana — also an AIS-positive water (zebra mussel detection 2016 prompted FWP AIS Prevention Pass program). Tongue River Reservoir (3,900-acre southeastern MT reservoir — Big Horn County) carries a developing walleye + smallmouth + crappie fishery. Yellowtail Reservoir + Bighorn Canyon NRA carries walleye + sauger under the joint MT/WY reciprocal compact. Lake Frances + Hauser Lake + Holter Lake on the Missouri River tier carry secondary walleye fisheries alongside the trout fishery. The lower Yellowstone River + lower Missouri River below Fort Peck Dam through to the MT/ND boundary carries naturally-reproducing wild walleye + sauger + smallmouth fishery — FWP-distinctive sauger fishery is one of country's premier inland sauger waters (Yellowstone + Missouri sauger ecotype). MT state-record walleye 17 lb 12 oz Tiber Reservoir 2007. The FWP walleye stocking program supplies ~5 million walleye fry + fingerlings annually statewide via the Miles City State Fish Hatchery + Fort Peck Tribes Hatchery + Murray Springs State Fish Hatchery. Open year-round statewide.

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Season

Open year-round Open year-round statewide; April – June pre-spawn through post-spawn densest fishing window on Fort Peck + Canyon Ferry + Tiber + Tongue River Reservoir.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: Western Fishing District: ALL walleye must be killed immediately, kept, and reported to FWP within 24 hours + the whole fish presented within 10 days (invasive-eradication rule). Central District: 5 / day sauger + walleye combined (only 2 may be sauger). Eastern District (Fort Peck): 5 / day, 10 in possession. Canyon Ferry + the Missouri reservoirs: 10 / day, only 1 over 15 in
Possession: Central 10 (only 4 sauger); Eastern 10; Canyon Ferry + Missouri reservoirs twice the daily limit

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No statewide minimum length; large-fish caps on listed reservoirs (only 1 over 15 in on Canyon Ferry + the Missouri reservoirs; only 1 over 25 in on Hauser + Holter)
Trophy rule: MT state-record walleye 17 lb 12 oz Tiber Reservoir 2007; Fort Peck Reservoir country's fifth-largest reservoir by surface area + Montana's flagship walleye fishery (245,000 acres, 134 miles long, 220 ft max depth) — produces 2-6 lb fish routinely with 10+ lb fish landed annually; Yellowstone + Missouri sauger ecotype one of country's premier inland sauger waters; FWP stocks ~5 million walleye fry + fingerlings annually via Miles City + Fort Peck Tribes + Murray Springs State Fish Hatcheries

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trolling permitted
Spearfishing permitted on listed waters during ice-fishing season
Conservation License + Fishing License required (AIS Prevention Pass required for anglers 16+): $8 res Conservation + $21 res season fishing + $2 res AIS / $10 NR Conservation + $100 NR season fishing + $7.50 NR AIS
Confirm current-year FWP Fishing Regulations for reach-specific exceptions

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Montana waters:

Fort Peck Reservoir
Eastern District standard — 5 / day, 10 in possession, no size minimum; Montana's flagship walleye fishery; 2-6 lb fish routinely with 10+ lb fish landed annually
Canyon Ferry Reservoir
10 / day, only 1 over 15 in (possession twice the daily limit); brown trout catch-and-release; AIS-positive water (zebra mussel detection 2016)
Tiber Reservoir / Lake Elwell
Central District standard — 5 / day (only 2 sauger), no size minimum; MT state-record walleye 17 lb 12 oz Tiber Reservoir 2007; AIS-positive water
Tongue River Reservoir
Eastern District standard — 5 / day, 10 in possession; developing walleye + smallmouth + crappie fishery
Yellowtail Reservoir + Bighorn Canyon NRA
Bighorn Lake (Yellowtail Reservoir) — sauger/walleye 6 / day (only 3 sauger), 12 in possession; MT/WY joint reciprocal compact on the boundary reservoir
Yellowstone River
5 / day combined walleye + sauger; naturally-reproducing wild walleye + sauger fishery; Yellowstone + Missouri sauger ecotype one of country's premier inland sauger waters

Official source

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) publishes the authoritative 2026 Montanafishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

Visit official Montana fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Walleye closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks's emergency-order feed — check it before any Montana trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is walleye season in Montana?: Montana keeps walleye open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.
What is the Montana bag limit for walleye?: The Montana daily bag limit for walleye is Western Fishing District: ALL walleye must be killed immediately, kept, and reported to FWP within 24 hours + the whole fish presented within 10 days (invasive-eradication rule). Central District: 5 / day sauger + walleye combined (only 2 may be sauger). Eastern District (Fort Peck): 5 / day, 10 in possession. Canyon Ferry + the Missouri reservoirs: 10 / day, only 1 over 15 in. The possession limit is Central 10 (only 4 sauger); Eastern 10; Canyon Ferry + Missouri reservoirs twice the daily limit. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size walleye can you keep in Montana?: The Montana size rule for walleye is No statewide minimum length; large-fish caps on listed reservoirs (only 1 over 15 in on Canyon Ferry + the Missouri reservoirs; only 1 over 25 in on Hauser + Holter). Trophy rule: MT state-record walleye 17 lb 12 oz Tiber Reservoir 2007; Fort Peck Reservoir country's fifth-largest reservoir by surface area + Montana's flagship walleye fishery (245,000 acres, 134 miles long, 220 ft max depth) — produces 2-6 lb fish routinely with 10+ lb fish landed annually; Yellowstone + Missouri sauger ecotype one of country's premier inland sauger waters; FWP stocks ~5 million walleye fry + fingerlings annually via Miles City + Fort Peck Tribes + Murray Springs State Fish Hatcheries.
Do you need a license to fish for walleye in Montana?: Yes. Montana requires a valid fishing license to fish for walleye, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Montana license — compare resident and non-resident Montana fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for walleye in Montana?: Yes. In Montana, walleye fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted; Spearfishing permitted on listed waters during ice-fishing season; Conservation License + Fishing License required (AIS Prevention Pass required for anglers 16+): $8 res Conservation + $21 res season fishing + $2 res AIS / $10 NR Conservation + $100 NR season fishing + $7.50 NR AIS; Confirm current-year FWP Fishing Regulations for reach-specific exceptions.
Do specific Montana waters have different walleye rules?: Yes. 6 named Montana waters carry rules that override the statewide walleye regulation, including Fort Peck Reservoir, Canyon Ferry Reservoir, Tiber Reservoir / Lake Elwell, and 3 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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