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← Montana fishing maps

Bank and shore fishing in Montana

No boat? You still have 73 Montana waters with listed public access, 160 access sites in all, and 5 of those waters have carry-in or walk-in sites where bank fishing is the whole point. Open any water below to see its depth map, the rated spots within reach of each access point, and what to throw this season.

Access sites come from official agency access inventories where the state publishes one, with OpenStreetMap filling gaps. A carry-in site means you park and walk your gear in. We list where public access exists; always respect posted signs on the ground.

What the Montana access records show

The current roster links 160 documented public-access sites to 73 waters. 29 waters have more than one listed access option, while 5 have at least one site explicitly described as carry-in, walk-in or shore-oriented. The largest attached site counts are Missouri River (10), Yellowstone River (10) and Bitterroot River (9). A larger count can offer more launch choices, but it does not make unlisted shoreline public.

Map quality is independent of access quality: 63 charts use measured bathymetry and 10 use labeled approximations. Use the table to shortlist a legal entry point, then open the water page to compare that point with contour breaks and rated fishing spots. Confirm parking, fees, opening hours, seasonal closures and bank-fishing rules with the managing agency before leaving; an access inventory is planning evidence, not a guarantee that every technique is allowed at every site.

WaterAccess sitesCarry-inChart
Missouri River103modeled
Bootjack Lake (Flathead)11 survey
Gartside Reservoir11 survey
Skyles Lake11 survey
Bitterroot River91modeled
Canyon Ferry Reservoir9— survey
Clark Canyon Reservoir4— survey
Flathead Lake4— survey
Salmon Lake4— survey
Seeley Lake4— survey
Hebgen Lake3— survey
Lake Elmo3— survey
Ashley Lake2— survey
Gibson Reservoir2— survey
Lake Alva2— survey
Lake Helena2— survey
Lake Mary Ronan2— survey
Placid Lake2— survey
Rainbow Lake (Sanders)2— survey
Swan Lake2— survey
Thompson Lake, Middle2— survey
Van Lake2— survey
Whitefish Lake2— survey
Yellowtail Afterbay Reservoir2— survey
Bailey Reservoir1— survey
Beaver Lake1— survey
Beavertail Pond1— survey
Blanchard Lake1— survey
Boxelder Lake1— survey
Brownes Lake1— survey
Browns Lake1— survey
Bull Lake (Lincoln)1— survey
Crystal Lake (Fergus)1— survey
Crystal Lake (Lincoln)1— survey
Dailey Lake1— survey
Dickey Lake (Lincoln)1— survey
Echo Lake (Flathead)1— survey
Georgetown Lake1— survey
Glen Lake1— survey
Harpers Lake1— survey
Hauser Lake1— survey
Horseshoe Lake (Lake)1— survey
Island Lake1— survey
Kilbrennan Lake1— survey
Lake Five (Flathead)1— survey
Lake Frances1— survey
Lindbergh Lake1— survey
Loon Lake (Lake)1— survey
Loon Lake (Lincoln)1— survey
Mcdonald Lake1— survey
Mcgregor Lake1— survey
Mussigbrod Lake1— survey
Newlan Reservoir1— survey
Pishkun Reservoir1— survey
Quake Lake1— survey
Sophie Lake1— survey
South Sandstone Reservoir1— survey
Sylvia Lake1— survey
Tepee Lake1— survey
Tetrault Lake1— survey
Thompson Lake, Lower1— survey
Thompson Lake, Upper1— survey
Upper Whitefish Lake1— survey
Upsata Lake1— survey
Willow Creek Reservoir1— survey
Yellowstone River10—modeled
Madison River8—modeled
Beaverhead River7—modeled
Blackfoot River5—modeled
Bighorn Lake3—modeled
Bighorn River3—modeled
Gallatin River3—modeled
Kootenai River3—modeled

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