Montana does not sell a fishing licence. It sells three things you must hold together: a Conservation Licence, an Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Pass, and the fishing licence itself. Quoted alone the season licence looks like twenty-one dollars; what a resident adult actually pays is thirty-one. The Flathead Reservation is a separate jurisdiction with its own tribal licensing, and a state licence does not cover it.
What it costs you
Set your situation and the figure below is the one you will actually pay at checkout.
Every Montana fishing fee
The licence year runs 1 March to the end of February.
| Licence | Who | Length | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| One day | Visitor | 1 day | $14.00 |
| Two days, ages 18-61 | Resident | 2 days | $5.00 |
| Two days, ages 16-17 and 62+ | Resident | 2 days | $5.00 |
| Five days | Visitor | 5 days | $56.00 |
| Season fishing, ages 16-17 and 62+ | Resident | Annual | $10.50 |
| Season fishing, ages 12-15 | Resident | Annual | $10.50 |
| Season fishing, disabled resident 18-61 | Resident | Annual | $10.50 |
| Season fishing, ages 18-61 | Resident | Annual | $21.00 |
| Season fishing | Visitor | Annual | $100.00 |
The Flathead Indian Reservation runs its own licensing through the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes: a state licence does not cover it.
Stamps and add-ons
The base licence is often not the whole ticket. These are the Montana extras, and missing one is the commonest way to get written up with a valid licence in your pocket.
| Add-on | When you need it | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Paddlefish tag | — | $6.50 |
Who fishes free in Montana
- Anglers under 12, who need no licence, conservation licence or invasive species pass.
- Everyone on the state free fishing weekend.
Exemptions are narrower than they sound and the burden of proof is on you. Carry whatever document the exemption rests on.
How to buy it
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks sells online, by phone and through licence agents: tackle shops, sporting goods stores and county offices. Buying online takes about ten minutes and you can print or screenshot the confirmation immediately.
We link the agency and never resell licences. If a site charges you a "processing fee" on top of the state fee, you are not on the state's own system.
Where to use it
We track 26 Montana waters daily, with live flow, tides and conditions. A sample of what your licence covers:
- Madison River — Madison County
- Bighorn River — Yellowstone County
- Gallatin River — Gallatin County
- Fort Peck Lake — Valley County
- Flathead Lake — Lake County
- Rock Creek — Lake County
- Bitterroot River — Missoula County
- Georgetown Lake — Granite County
- Canyon Ferry Lake — Broadwater County
- Clark Fork River (Missoula) — County
- Yellowstone River — Park County
- Blackfoot River — Missoula County
Questions
How much is a fishing licence in Montana?
$31.00 for a resident annual all waters licence and $117.50 for a non-resident. Stamps and endorsements cost extra where the species or water calls for one.
What age do you need a fishing licence in Montana?
From age 12. Anglers under 12 fish without one, though some states still require a catch record card.
Can I buy a Montana fishing licence online?
Yes. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks sells online and through licence agents. Buy before you rig up and keep the confirmation on your phone: wardens check ramps at dawn.
Why does a Montana fishing licence cost more than the listed fee?
Because the licence is only one of three compulsory items. A resident adult pays $21.00 for the licence, $8.00 for the Conservation Licence and $2.00 for the invasive species pass: $31.00 in total. A visitor pays $117.50 the same way.
Does my Montana licence cover Flathead Lake?
Not the reservation waters. The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes license the Flathead Reservation separately, and you need their permit for the southern half of Flathead Lake and the reservation streams.