What special fishing regulations apply at Tiber Reservoir / Lake Elwell?

Tiber Reservoir / Lake Elwell carries 3 special-regulation overlays that override Montana's statewide 2026 rules, covering Walleye and Northern pike. One of them reads: "Walleye + sauger under the Central District standard (5 / day, only 2 sauger); northern pike 10 / day; AIS-positive water (invasive zebra mussel detection 2016 prompted the FWP AIS Prevention Pass program)." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Tiber Reservoir / Lake Elwell?

Yes. Tiber Reservoir / Lake Elwell 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 Tiber Reservoir / Lake Elwell; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Montana rules.

Do Tiber Reservoir / Lake Elwell's special rules replace Montana's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. Montana's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Tiber Reservoir / Lake Elwell 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 Tiber Reservoir / Lake Elwell?

Walleye and Northern pike have a water-body-specific rule on Tiber Reservoir / Lake Elwell, each linking to its full Montana regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Montana limits.

2026 regulation year

Tiber Reservoir / Lake Elwell 2026 — Montana Fishing Regulations

Montana statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 8, 2026

Tiber Reservoir / Lake Elwell carries 3 special-regulation overlays on top of Montana's 2026 fishing rules — covering Walleye, Northern pike. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

Get change alerts

Watch Tiber Reservoir / Lake Elwell (MT) and we'll email you when a season, bag limit, slot, or closure changes. Free while in beta.

State-level special regulation

Walleye + sauger under the Central District standard (5 / day, only 2 sauger); northern pike 10 / day; AIS-positive water (invasive zebra mussel detection 2016 prompted the FWP AIS Prevention Pass program)
Source: Montana special-water list

Per-species rules on Tiber Reservoir / Lake Elwell

Walleye regulations →
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
Northern pike regulations →
10 / day (Central District); pike alongside the walleye + sauger fishery; AIS-positive water (zebra mussel detection 2016)

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

Browse all water bodies →

Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Tiber Reservoir / Lake Elwell?: Tiber Reservoir / Lake Elwell carries 3 special-regulation overlays that override Montana's statewide 2026 rules, covering Walleye and Northern pike. One of them reads: "Walleye + sauger under the Central District standard (5 / day, only 2 sauger); northern pike 10 / day; AIS-positive water (invasive zebra mussel detection 2016 prompted the FWP AIS Prevention Pass program)." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Tiber Reservoir / Lake Elwell?: Yes. Tiber Reservoir / Lake Elwell 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 Tiber Reservoir / Lake Elwell; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Montana rules.
Do Tiber Reservoir / Lake Elwell's special rules replace Montana's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Montana's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Tiber Reservoir / Lake Elwell 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 Tiber Reservoir / Lake Elwell?: Walleye and Northern pike have a water-body-specific rule on Tiber Reservoir / Lake Elwell, each linking to its full Montana regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Montana limits.

← Back to Montana regulations overview