2026 regulation year
Yellowtail Reservoir + Bighorn Canyon NRA 2026 — Montana Fishing Regulations
Montana statewide rules apply unless overridden below.
Last updated
Yellowtail Reservoir + Bighorn Canyon NRA carries 4 special-regulation overlays on top of Montana's 2026 fishing rules — covering Smallmouth bass, Walleye, Lake trout (Mackinaw). Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.
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State-level special regulation
MT/WY joint reciprocal compact on the boundary reservoir (FWP-listed as Bighorn Lake); bass 10 / day; sauger/walleye 6 / day (only 3 sauger), 12 in possession; channel catfish 6 / day; burbot (ling) 3 / day; shovelnose sturgeon 2 / day; no statewide size minimum
Source: Montana special-water list
Per-species rules on Yellowtail Reservoir + Bighorn Canyon NRA
Bighorn Lake bass 10 / day, 20 in possession; MT/WY joint reciprocal compact on the boundary reservoir
Bighorn Lake (Yellowtail Reservoir) — sauger/walleye 6 / day (only 3 sauger), 12 in possession; MT/WY joint reciprocal compact on the boundary reservoir
Lake trout (Mackinaw) regulations →
3 / day (MT general limit outside Flathead Lake); MT/WY joint reciprocal compact on the boundary reservoir
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
Frequently asked questions
- What special fishing regulations apply at Yellowtail Reservoir + Bighorn Canyon NRA?
- Yellowtail Reservoir + Bighorn Canyon NRA carries 4 special-regulation overlays that override Montana's statewide 2026 rules, covering Smallmouth bass, Walleye, and Lake trout (Mackinaw). One of them reads: "MT/WY joint reciprocal compact on the boundary reservoir (FWP-listed as Bighorn Lake); bass 10 / day; sauger/walleye 6 / day (only 3 sauger), 12 in possession; channel catfish 6 / day; burbot (ling) 3 / day; shovelnose sturgeon 2 / day; no statewide size minimum." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
- Do I need a fishing license to fish Yellowtail Reservoir + Bighorn Canyon NRA?
- Yes. Yellowtail Reservoir + Bighorn Canyon NRA 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 Bighorn Lake; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Montana rules.
- Do Yellowtail Reservoir + Bighorn Canyon NRA's special rules replace Montana's statewide limits?
- Only where they conflict. Montana's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Bighorn Lake 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 Bighorn Lake?
- Smallmouth bass, Walleye, and Lake trout (Mackinaw) have a water-body-specific rule on Yellowtail Reservoir + Bighorn Canyon NRA, each linking to its full Montana regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Montana limits.