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Montana · Northern pike

Can you keep a northern pike in Montana?

Yes, with limits

Western District (includes Flathead Lake)

Open year-round
Size
No size limit stated
total length
Daily bag
15
per person per day
Possession
15
total you may hold

No minimum size, fifteen a day.

FWP source page

Central District (Bighorn River, Yellowstone River)

Open year-round
Size
No size limit stated
total length
Daily bag
10
per person per day
Possession
10
total you may hold

No minimum size, ten a day — Montana actively wants pike pressure kept high on most Central District trout water, since pike are not native there.

FWP source page

Gallatin River, Madison River (entire rivers)

Open year-round
Size
No size limit stated
total length
Daily bag
per person per day

No cap at all — even more aggressive than the Central District's already-generous 10-fish standard, aimed at removing pike from these trout fisheries entirely.

FWP source page

What we left out on purpose

Other species in Montana

You also need a Montana fishing license →

Where to try today