Bull trout fishing is permitted in three Western District waters of Montana, and anglers may select only one area to fish for bull trout:
All other waters in Montana are closed to intentional fishing for bull trout.
When fishing for bull trout in the three designated waters listed above, each angler must have in possession a valid Bull Trout Catch Card for the specific water he/she is fishing. Anglers may select only one of the three areas listed above. These fisheries are very restrictive because bull trout are listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.
Catch cards are free of charge and are available at the FWP Region 1 office in Kalispell and the U.S. Forest Service Spotted Bear Ranger Station. Applications for a catch card are available at the FWP Region 1 office or online (see below).
Completed applications must be presented at the regional headquarters or mailed to:
FWP Bull Trout Permit
490 North Meridian
Kalispell, MT 59901
It is unlawful to possess a live bull trout for any reason. Any bull trout being harvested must be killed immediately; all other bull trout must be released unharmed immediately.
