LivewellMontana · River
Kootenai River
Is the fish you caught here safe to eat? Below is every consumption advisory on file for Kootenai River, by species and size, in plain English — plus what's legal to keep.
7 species with advisories · contaminants: Mercury
What's safe to eat from Kootenai River
Bull Trout
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| 14–18" | Men, and women not of childbearing age | Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. |
| Women of childbearing age and children | For women of childbearing age and children: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Kokanee
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| 6–10" | Women of childbearing age and children | For women of childbearing age and children: limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. |
| 10–14" | Women of childbearing age and children | For women of childbearing age and children: limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Largescale Sucker
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| 14–18" | Women of childbearing age and children | For women of childbearing age and children: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. |
| 18–22" | Men, and women not of childbearing age | Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. |
| Women of childbearing age and children | For women of childbearing age and children: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Mountain Whitefish
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| 10–14" | Women of childbearing age and children | For women of childbearing age and children: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. |
| 14–18" | Women of childbearing age and children | For women of childbearing age and children: limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Northern Pikeminnow
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| 6–10" | Men, and women not of childbearing age | Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. |
| Women of childbearing age and children | For women of childbearing age and children: limit to two meals per month due to elevated Mercury. | |
| 10–14" | Men, and women not of childbearing age | Limit to two meals per month due to elevated Mercury. |
| Women of childbearing age and children | For women of childbearing age and children: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Peamouth
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| 6–10" | Men, and women not of childbearing age | Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. |
| Women of childbearing age and children | For women of childbearing age and children: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. | |
| 10–14" | Women of childbearing age and children | For women of childbearing age and children: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Rainbow Trout
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| 10–14" | Women of childbearing age and children | For women of childbearing age and children: limit to three meals per week due to elevated Mercury. |
| 14–18" | Men, and women not of childbearing age | Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. |
| Women of childbearing age and children | For women of childbearing age and children: limit to two meals per month due to elevated Mercury. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-11-06
Is it legal to keep?
These are Montana's statewide limits — a water-specific rule may override them. Always verify the current regulations before keeping a fish.
| Species | Size | Daily limit | Open season | Keep season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainbow Trout | — | 5 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Brown Trout | — | 5 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Cutthroat Trout | — | 3 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Bull Trout | — | 0 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Brook Trout | — | 10 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Arctic Grayling | — | 0 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Mountain Whitefish | — | 20 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Walleye | — | 5 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Sauger | — | 5 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Northern Pike | — | 10 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Smallmouth Bass | — | 5 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Largemouth Bass | — | 5 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Lake Trout | — | 3 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Kokanee | — | 10 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Black Crappie | — | 15 | Year-round | Same as open |
| White Crappie | — | 15 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Yellow Perch | — | — | Year-round | Same as open |
| Bluegill | — | — | Year-round | Same as open |
| Burbot | — | 2 | Year-round | Same as open |
Official rules: Montana — Montana FWP standard-district default