Warm-water species like smallmouth and largemouth bass provide exciting opportunities for anglers during hot summer months
HELENA, Mont., July 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As the heat of summer stretches across Montana, many anglers turn their attention to warm-water fish species like smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and northern pike to help give the state's coveted cold-water species like trout a break from the action.
k5:G 4=2DDlQ!#}0x>365565pDD6E#676C6?46Q :5lQs:GpDD6E!=246w@=56C`QmkAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^>>I]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^>65:2^|$`gg`gea^|@?E2?2\s6A2CE>6?E\@7\r@>>6C46\u@CE\!64<\{2<6];A8n:5l~pafe_eecQ E:E=6lQu@CE !64< {2<6[ 4C65:E |@?E2?2 s6A2CE>6?E @7 r@>>6C46[ G:D:E>E]4@>Q 2=ElQu@CE !64< {2<6[ 4C65:E |@?E2?2 s6A2CE>6?E @7 r@>>6C46[ G:D:E>E]4@>Q ^mk^Amk^5:Gm
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcfb_aef\`U2>Aj9l`_dbag`dh`U2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTau7HA]>E]8@GTau7:D9Tau2?8=:?8s2E2TauC64@C5DU2>Aj2l$E2E6ZC64@C5Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm$E2E6 C64@C5k^2m 32DD H6:89:?8 ?62C=J `_ A@F?5D 92G6 366? 42F89E :? A=246D =:<6 {2<6 t=>@ ?62C q:==:?8Dj }@I@? #6D6CG@:C[ =@42E65 ?62C %9@>AD@? u2==Dj 2?5 u@CE !64< {2<6 :? |@?E2?2VD |:DD@FC: #:G6C r@F?ECJ] %96 4FCC6?E ?@CE96C? A:<6 DE2E6 C64@C5 7:D9 H6:8965 bf]d A@F?5D 2?5 H2D 42F89E :? %@?8F6 #:G6C #6D6CG@:C]k^Am
kAmu@C 2?8=6CD =@@<:?8 E@ 86E E96:C ?2>6D 6E4965 :? E96 DE2E6 C64@C5 3@@<D[ pF8FDE 2?5 $6AE6>36C AC6D6?E 6I46==6?E >@?E9D E@ E2C86E EC@A9J 32DD 2?5 A:<6[ 2D 7665:?8 923:ED :>AC@G6 H96? E96 H2E6C E6>A6C2EFC6 :?4C62D6D 2?5 32DD 364@>6 >@C6 288C6DD:G6]k^Am
kAmQuC@> 62DE E@ H6DE[ |@?E2?2 :D 2 ECF6 2?8=6CVD A2C25:D6[Q D2:5 |2CE2 q6CE@8=:@[ 5:C64E@C 2E E96 |@?E2?2 s6A2CE>6?E @7 r@>>6C46] Q(96E96C J@FVC6 =@@<:?8 E@ =2?5 2 EC@A9J ?@CE96C? A:<6 @C ;FDE E6249:?8 J@FC <:5D 9@H E@ 42E49 E96:C 7:CDE 32DD[ H6 6?4@FC286 6G6CJ@?6 E@ 86E @FED:56 E@ 6IA=@C6 @FC DE2E6VD :?4C65:3=6 7:D96C:6D]QÂ k^Am
kAmv6E 2 766= 7@C E96 G2CJ:?8 EJA6D @7 32DD 7:D9:?8 6IA6C:6?46D :? |@?E2?2 H:E9 E96 D9@CE DF>>2C:6D 36=@Hik^Am
kF= EJA6lQ5:D4Qmk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcfb_aef\`U2>Aj9l`hfcde`ca_U2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTau>J7HA]>E]8@GTau7:D9|%TauH2E6C3@5JTauc`g_gTbuH2E6Cq@5J}2>6Tbs$66=6JTaq{2<6U2>Aj2l$66=6JZ{2<6Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm$66=6J {2<6k^2mi %F4<65 2H2J :? ?@CE9H6DE |@?E2?2[ $66=6J {2<6 :D 9@>6 E@ 8:2?E =2C86>@FE9 32DD[ ?@CE96C? A:<6 2?5 6G6? E96 @442D:@?2= EC@FE]k^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcfb_aef\`U2>Aj9laf_ac_fdd_U2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTau7HA]>E]8@GTauE9@>AD@?\492:?\@7\=2<6DU2>Aj2l%9@>AD@?Zr92:?Z@7Z{2<6DZ$E2E6Z!2C<Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm%9@>AD@? r92:? @7 {2<6D $E2E6 !2C<k^2mi r@G6C:?8 >@C6 E92? b[___ 24C6D 2?5 a_ >:=6D[ %9@>AD@? r92:? @7 {2<6D @776CD EH@ 32DD 7:D9:?8 6IA6C:6?46D] {@H6C %9@>AD@? {2<6 :D <?@H? 7@C :ED H665 365D 2?5 =2C86>@FE9 32DD 7:D9:?8[ 2?5 w@CD6D9@6 {2<6 :D 4@G6E65 7@C D>2==>@FE9 32DD 923:E2E]k^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcfb_aef\`U2>Aj9lbafdeedcabU2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTau>J7HA]>E]8@GTau7:D9|%TauH2E6C3@5JTauD62C49qJxsTbuH2E6Cq@5JxsTbscbc__U2>Aj2l}@I@?Z#6D6CG@:CQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm}@I@? #6D6CG@:Ck^2mi u@C>65 3J 52>>:?8 E96 r=2C< u@C< #:G6C[ }@I@? #6D6CG@:C :D 2 32DD 7:D9:?8 2?5 ?@CE96C? A:<6 9F3 H:E9 >@C6 E92? f[___ 24C6D @7 7:D923=6 H2E6C]k^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcfb_aef\`U2>Aj9lc`d`df_cdcU2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTau>J7HA]>E]8@GTau7:D9|%TauH2E6C3@5JTauD62C49qJxsTbuH2E6Cq@5JxsTbsc`e_dU2>Aj2l%@?8F6Z#:G6CZ#6D6CG@:CQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm%@?8F6 #:G6C #6D6CG@:Ck^2mi {@42E65 :? D@FE962DE |@?E2?2[ E9:D 32DD 7:D96CJ :D 2=D@ 9@>6 E@ 2? 23F?52?46 @7 4C2AA:6[ D@ 4@>6 AC6A2C65 E@ E2C86E 3@E9 DA64:6D]k^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcfb_aef\`U2>Aj9lbaehaadahgU2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTau>J7HA]>E]8@GTau7:D9|%TauH2E6C3@5JTauD62C49qJxsTbuH2E6Cq@5JxsTbsc`hgeU2>Aj2lu@CEZ!64<Z{2<6Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmu@CE !64< {2<6k^2mi (:E9 >@C6 D9@C6=:?6 E92? E96 4@2DE @7 r2=:7@C?:2[ :EVD ?@ DFCAC:D6 E92E E9:D =2<6 AC@5F46D 7:D9\@7\2\=:76E:>6 @AA@CEF?:E:6D]k^=:mk^F=m
kAm!@AF=2C DA:? =FC6D E@ E2C86E 32DD 2?5 ?@CE96C? A:<6 :?4=F56 =2C86 DH:> 32:ED[ 7@@E32== ;:8D[ H@C>D 2?5 >:??@H :>:E2E:@?D] {2C86 2CE:4F=2E65 DEC62>6CD 2?5 E@AH2E6C A@AA6CD 2C6 A@AF=2C @AE:@?D 7@C 7=J 2?8=6CD =@@<:?8 E@ DE:>F=2E6 288C6DD:G6 62ED]k^Am
kAmsFC:?8 pF8FDE[ |@?E2?2 9@DED EH@ >2;@C 32DD 7:D9:?8 E@FC?2>6?EDi E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcfb_aef\`U2>Aj9lfheafhbhcU2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTauHHH]72463@@<]4@>Tau>@?E2?232DDTauU2>Aj2l|@?E2?2Zqp$$Z}2E:@?Z"F2=:7:6CQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm|@?E2?2 qp$$ }2E:@? "F2=:7:6Ck^2m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcfb_aef\`U2>Aj9lbeacdb_aafU2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTau>EE37]4@>TauE@FC?2>6?EDTauU2>Aj2l%96Zq2DDZu656C2E:@?ZsC2HZ$6C:6DZ"F2=:7:6CQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm%96 q2DD u656C2E:@? sC2H $6C:6D "F2=:7:6Ck^2m[ H9:49 3@E9 E2<6 A=246 @? }@I@? #6D6CG@:C] %@ 96=A :?DA:C6 E96 ?6IE 86?6C2E:@? @7 |@?E2?2 32DD 2?8=6CD[ E96 z2=:DA6==\32D65 |@?E2?2 492AE6C @7 %quVD $EF56?E p?8=6C u656C2E:@? 9@DED E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcfb_aef\`U2>Aj9lca_c_cbbbcU2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTauHHH]>@?E2?2@FE5@@C]4@>Tau>E\DEF56?E\2?8=6CD\E9@>AD@?\aTauU2>Aj2l|@?E2?2Z$EF56?EZp?8=6CDQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm|@?E2?2 $EF56?E p?8=6CDk^2m E@FC?2>6?E @? E96 %9@>AD@? r92:? @7 {2<6D @? pF8] `[ a_ae]k^Am
kAmq67@C6 9625:?8 @FE @? E96 H2E6C[ :EVD 2=H2JD :>A@CE2?E E@ 4964< E96 H62E96C[ C6G:6H |@?E2?2 a_ae 7:D9:?8 C68F=2E:@?D 2?5 24BF:C6 2== 2AAC@AC:2E6 7:D9:?8 =:46?D6D]k^Am
kAm{62C? >@C6 23@FE 2== @7 |@?E2?2VD 7:D9:?8 @AA@CEF?:E:6D 3J G:D:E:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcfb_aef\`U2>Aj9l`egcgagghU2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTauG:D:E>E]4@>TauE9:?8D\E@\5@Tau7:D9:?8U2>Aj2lG:D:E>E]4@>TauE9:?8D\E@\5@Tau7:D9:?8Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmG:D:E>E]4@>^E9:?8D\E@\5@^7:D9:?8k^2m]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mkDA2? DEJ=6lQE6IE\564@C2E:@?i F?56C=:?6Qmp3@FE E96 |@?E2?2 s6A2CE>6?E @7 r@>>6C46k^DA2?mk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%96 |@?E2?2 s6A2CE>6?E @7 r@>>6C46 AC@>@E6D |@?E2?2 2D 2 A=246 E@ EC2G6= 2?5 5@ 3FD:?6DD] u@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@? 2?5 E@ A=2? J@FC |@?E2?2 EC:A[ 8@ E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcfb_aef\`U2>Aj9lbegb_`_aeU2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTauG:D:E>E]4@>TauU2>Aj2lG:D:E>E]4@>Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmG:D:E>E]4@>k^2m]k^Am
k5:G 4=2DDlQ!#}0x>365565pDD6E#676C6?46Q :5lQs:GpDD6E!=246w@=56CaQmkAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^>>I]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^>65:2^|$`gg`geb^|@?E2?2\s6A2CE>6?E\@7\r@>>6C46\%@?8F6\#:G6C\#6D6CG@:C];A8n:5l~pafe_eefQ E:E=6lQ%@?8F6 #:G6C #6D6CG@:C[ 4C65:E |@?E2?2 s6A2CE>6?E @7 r@>>6C46[ G:D:E>E]4@>Q 2=ElQ%@?8F6 #:G6C #6D6CG@:C[ 4C65:E |@?E2?2 s6A2CE>6?E @7 r@>>6C46[ G:D:E>E]4@>Q ^mk^AmkAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^>>I]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^>65:2^|$`eg_e`c^>@?E2?2\=@8@];A8n:5l~pafe_eceQ E:E=6lQ|@?E2?2Q 2=ElQ|@?E2?2Q ^mk^Amk^5:Gm
kA :5lQ!&#{Qmk:>8 E:E=6lQr:D:@?Q H:5E9lQ`aQ 96:89ElQ`aQ 2=ElQr:D:@?Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^:>8^72G:4@?]A?8nD?l{p_b`b_U2>AjD5la_ae\_f\`eQ ^m ':6H @C:8:?2= 4@?E6?E E@ 5@H?=@25 >F=E:>65:2ik2 :5lQ!#}&#{Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQ 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^?6HD\C6=62D6D^3:8\D<:6D\3:886C\32DD\E@A\=2<6D\:?\>@?E2?2\7@C\32DD\2?5\?@CE96C?\A:<6\7:D9:?8\b_agafhdh]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm9EEADi^^HHH]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^?6HD\C6=62D6D^3:8\D<:6D\3:886C\32DD\E@A\=2<6D\:?\>@?E2?2\7@C\32DD\2?5\?@CE96C?\A:<6\7:D9:?8\b_agafhdh]9E>=k^2mk^Am
kAm$~&#rt |@?E2?2 s6A2CE>6?E @7 r@>>6C46k^Am
kAmk:>8 2=ElQQ DC4lQ9EEADi^^CE]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^CE]8:7n}6HDxE6>x5l{p_b`b_U2>Aj%C2?D>:DD:@?0x5la_ae_f`e`dcd!#0}t($0&$!#00000{p_b`b_U2>Ajs2E6x5la_ae_f`eQ DEJ=6lQ3@C56Ci_AIj H:5E9i`AIj 96:89Ei`AIjQ ^mk^Am
