What special fishing regulations apply at Fort Peck Reservoir?

Fort Peck Reservoir carries 5 special-regulation overlays that override Montana's statewide 2026 rules, covering Smallmouth bass, Walleye, Lake trout (Mackinaw), and Northern pike. One of them reads: "Eastern District limits — sauger/walleye 5 / day, 10 in possession (no statewide size minimum); bass 5 / day; salmon (kokanee + chinook combined) 5 / day, 10 in possession (FWP + Fort Peck Tribes Hatchery chinook program — one of few inland US lakes with stocked chinook outside the Great Lakes); northern pike 10 / day; lake trout 3 / day, 6 in possession; channel catfish 10 / day, 20 in possession; paddlefish 1 per season (tag required)." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Fort Peck Reservoir?

Yes. Fort Peck Reservoir is in Montana, so a valid Montana fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP). The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Fort Peck Reservoir; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Montana rules.

Do Fort Peck Reservoir's special rules replace Montana's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. Montana's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Fort Peck Reservoir by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.

Which species have special rules on Fort Peck Reservoir?

Smallmouth bass, Walleye, Lake trout (Mackinaw), and Northern pike have a water-body-specific rule on Fort Peck Reservoir, each linking to its full Montana regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Montana limits.

2026 regulation year

Fort Peck Reservoir 2026 — Montana Fishing Regulations

Montana statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 8, 2026

Fort Peck Reservoir carries 5 special-regulation overlays on top of Montana's 2026 fishing rules — covering Smallmouth bass, Walleye, Lake trout (Mackinaw), Northern pike. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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State-level special regulation

Eastern District limits — sauger/walleye 5 / day, 10 in possession (no statewide size minimum); bass 5 / day; salmon (kokanee + chinook combined) 5 / day, 10 in possession (FWP + Fort Peck Tribes Hatchery chinook program — one of few inland US lakes with stocked chinook outside the Great Lakes); northern pike 10 / day; lake trout 3 / day, 6 in possession; channel catfish 10 / day, 20 in possession; paddlefish 1 per season (tag required)
Source: Montana special-water list

Per-species rules on Fort Peck Reservoir

Smallmouth bass regulations →
Eastern District 5 / day, no size limit; MT state-record smallmouth 7 lb 12 oz Fort Peck Reservoir 1995; developing smallmouth fishery alongside the walleye + sauger + chinook salmon tier
Walleye regulations →
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
Lake trout (Mackinaw) regulations →
3 / day + 6 in possession (Eastern District); lake trout alongside the walleye + sauger + chinook salmon + northern pike fishery
Northern pike regulations →
10 / day (Eastern District); Montana's flagship trophy pike water — 15-20 lb fish from the Big Dry + Pines + Hell Creek arms

Official source

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) publishes the authoritative 2026 Montana fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.

Visit official Montana fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

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

Other special-regulation waters in Montana

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Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Fort Peck Reservoir?: Fort Peck Reservoir carries 5 special-regulation overlays that override Montana's statewide 2026 rules, covering Smallmouth bass, Walleye, Lake trout (Mackinaw), and Northern pike. One of them reads: "Eastern District limits — sauger/walleye 5 / day, 10 in possession (no statewide size minimum); bass 5 / day; salmon (kokanee + chinook combined) 5 / day, 10 in possession (FWP + Fort Peck Tribes Hatchery chinook program — one of few inland US lakes with stocked chinook outside the Great Lakes); northern pike 10 / day; lake trout 3 / day, 6 in possession; channel catfish 10 / day, 20 in possession; paddlefish 1 per season (tag required)." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Fort Peck Reservoir?: Yes. Fort Peck Reservoir is in Montana, so a valid Montana fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP). The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Fort Peck Reservoir; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Montana rules.
Do Fort Peck Reservoir's special rules replace Montana's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Montana's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Fort Peck Reservoir by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
Which species have special rules on Fort Peck Reservoir?: Smallmouth bass, Walleye, Lake trout (Mackinaw), and Northern pike have a water-body-specific rule on Fort Peck Reservoir, each linking to its full Montana regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Montana limits.

← Back to Montana regulations overview