Montana · Northern pike

Northern pike size limit in Montana

You can keep one today — within these limits

Northern pike identification illustration — side view for checking Montana size limits
Northern pike, drawn to show the marks that identify it. It is an illustration, not a photo — where identification decides a fine, FWP is the authority.

Western District (includes Flathead Lake)

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

No daily or possession limit for northern pike on either river.

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 limits in Montana

You also need a Montana fishing license →

Where to try today