The information on this page is intended as a guide to assist boaters and anglers and does not contain all Refuge regulations. Please visit our Rules and Policies page for our complete Visitor Use Regulations.
Licenses
To get started with general information on Montana fishing licenses and seasons, visit the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks fishing website.
For information on boating regulations and boat registration, visit the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks boating website.
You are required to comply with all State boating and fishing regulations. Once a state issued fishing license is obtained, no additional licenses or permits are required for fishing on the Refuge.
Maps
A brochure with a map of the Refuge and visitor use regulations is available at the Lewistown office or at the Sand Creek and Fort Peck Field Stations. Or email us at cmr@fws.gov to request a copy by mail.
A georeferenced PDF of the Refuge map can be found in our Library.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provides access maps for ice fishing that can be found in our Library or call the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Peck Project at (406) 526-3411 for more information.
Water Levels, Ice Conditions and Fishing Reports
Information on reservoir water levels can be found on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Fort Peck Project website or call (406) 526-3411 for more information.
Water levels at Fred Robinson Bridge on the west end of the refuge can be found at the USGS website.
Several marinas located at recreation areas around Fort Peck Lake usually have the most up-to-date information on conditions and fishing success. The marinas are privately owned and not affiliated with the Refuge:
- Crooked Creek 406-429-2999
- Hell Creek 406-557-2345
- Fort Peck 406-526-3442
- Rock Creek 406-485-2560
Wild and Scenic River
The uppermost 12 miles of the Missouri River within the Refuge form part of the Wild and Scenic Missouri River which offers spectacular scenery and is a popular canoeing river. Special regulations apply to this segment of the river. Please contact the Bureau of Land Management, Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument, for information on recreation opportunities and motor boat restrictions on the Wild and Scenic portions of the Missouri River.
Ice Fishing
Visit the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks ice fishing page for information and regulations.
Snowmobiles and mechanized vehicles may access the ice of Fort Peck Reservoir using the most direct route from boat ramps. See the US Army Corps of Engineers’ ice access map in our Library. Otherwise, snowmobiles are prohibited on all refuge lands and roads.
Shoreline travel is prohibited except when necessary to avoid pressure ridges. Use the shortest and most direct route around the pressure ridge and return to the ice as soon as it is safe to do so.
Additional Resources
Webcams around Fort Peck Lake
Weather
- National Weather Service Fort Peck Lake Recreation Forecast
- Current wind speeds and direction