There are at least 31 game and 59 non-game fish species known to occur in Montana. Among Montana's fish, three are listed as endangered or threatened species and the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks lists a number of species as species of concern.
Species are listed by common name, scientific name, typical habitat and occurrence. Common and scientific names are from the Montana Field Guide.
Game fish
Trout
Order: Salmoniformes, Family: Salmonidae
- Non-native, exotic species
- Rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Other than the red band subspecies, rainbow trout are an introduced species in Montana)
- Brown trout, Salmo trutta
- Golden trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita
- Brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis
- Arctic grayling, Thymallus arcticus - adfluvial grayling introduced into Montana Lakes
- Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
- Kokanee salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka
- Cisco, Coregonus artedi
Paddlefish
Order: Acipenseriformes, Family: Polyodontidae
Pike
Order: Esociformes, Family: Esocidae
Bass, Sunfish
Order: Perciformes, Family: Centrarchidae
Perch
Order: Perciformes, Family: Percidae
Catfish
Order: Siluriformes, Family: Ictaluridae
Sturgeon
Order: Acipenseriformes, Family: Acipenseridae
Burbot
Order: Gadiformes, Family: Gadidae
- Native species
- Burbot, Lota lota
Non-game fish
Bass, sunfish
Order: Perciformes, Family: Centrarchidae
Perch
Order: Perciformes, Family: Percidae
Temperate basses
Order: Perciformes, Family: Moronidae
- Non-native, exotic species
- White bass, Morone chrysops
Catfish
Order: Siluriformes, Family: Ictaluridae
Drum
Order: Perciformes, Family: Sciaenidae
Smelt
Order: Salmoniformes, Family: Osmeridae
Gars
Order: Lepisosteiformes. Family: Lepisosteidae
Mooneyes
Order: Hiodontiformes, Family: Hiodontidae
- Native species
- Goldeye, Hiodon alosoides
Mollies
Order: Cyprinodontiformes, Family: Poeciliidae
Killifish
Order: Cyprinodontiformes, Family: Fundulidae
Minnows
Order: Cypriniformes, Family: Cyprinidae
- Native species
- Brassy minnow, Hybognathus hankinsoni
- Emerald shiner, Notropis atherinoides
- Fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas
- Flathead chub, Platygobio gracilis
- Golden shiner, Notemigonus crysoleucas
- Longnose dace, Rhinichthys cataractae
- Northern pikeminnow, Ptychocheilus oregonensis (Salish: q÷qÃÂé)
- Northern redbelly dace, Phoxinus eos
- Peamouth, Mylocheilus caurinus
- Allegheny pearl dace, Margariscus margarita
- Northern pearl dace, Margariscus nachtriebi
- Plains minnow, Hybognathus placitus
- Redside shiner, Richardsonius balteatus
- Sand shiner, Notropis stramineus
- Sicklefin chub, Macrhybopsis meeki
- Western silvery minnow, Hybognathus argyritis
- Sturgeon chub, Macrhybopsis gelida
- Lake chub, Couesius plumbeus
- Creek chub, Semotilus atromaculatus
- Non-native, exotic species
- Goldfish, Carassius auratus
- Common carp, Cyprinus carpio
- Spottail shiner, Notropis hudsonius
- Utah chub, Gila atraria
Suckers
Order: Cypriniformes, Family: Catostomidae
Mudminnows
Order: Esociformes, Family: Umbridae
Sculpins
Order: Scorpaeniformes, Family: Cottidae
Sticklebacks
Order: Gasterosteiformes, Family: Gasterosteidae
Trout-perch
Order: Percopsiformes, Family: Percopsidae
See also
Further reading
Notes