A person who owns or lawfully controls a private fish pond may obtain a license from FWP to stock the pond with fish.
Only lawfully purchased fish may be planted. Approved fish hatcheries (commercial fish ponds) for purchasing fish for private ponds:
Search for existing private pond licenses by name, business name, or license number.
No fishing license is required to fish on licensed, privately stocked fish ponds. Fishing license requirements apply to all other ponds and/or waters on private land.
The license application fee for a private or non-commercial fish pond is $10.
Fish Ponds, Seining, and Commercial Taking of Aquatic Fish Food Organisms - MCA 87-4-601 to 87-4-610
Commercial Minnow Seining License - ARM 12-7-201 to 12-7-206
Importation - ARM 12-7-501 to 12-7-507 and ARM 12-7-540 to 12-7-542
Sale of Excess Fish Eggs - ARM 12-7-901 to 12-7-906
Requirements for the Care and Housing of Exotic Wildlife Held in Captivity - ARM 12-6-2203
All importations of live fish or fish eggs for introduction into any private or public pond, stream, lake, or other water in Montana, or fish transported through Montana, must be accompanied by a permit issued by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Koi and goldfish are controlled exotic fish species that can be legally kept indoors in an aquarium or outdoors in ponds that meet certain criteria. Such ponds must be registered with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. For stocking of other fish species in ponds please contact your local FWP office.
A Commercial Fish Pond License entitles the holder to sell live fish or gametes within Montana. In addition to the license in order to sell live fish or gametes the applicant must obtain an annual Fish Health Certificate from FWP. An annual report of all fish/gamete transactions is required annually along with a $500 Corporate Surety Bond.
There is a $10.00 application fee and annual renewal fee. There is also an annual $500 Corporate Surety Bond.
Fish Ponds, Seining, and Commerical Taking of Aquatic Fish Food Organisms—MCA 87-4-603 to 87-4-607
All importations of live fish or fish eggs for introduction into any private or public pond, stream, lake, or other water in Montana, or fish transported through Montana, must be accompanied by a permit issued by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
If you are planning to do work on or near a waterway in Montana, one or several permits may be required. Refer to the Stream Permitting page from the Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation (DNRC) for information about permits, guidelines, and maps.