Fishing contributed over $1 billion to Montana’s economy in 2024

Montana is renowned worldwide for its rivers, lakes, and streams, making the state a prime fishing destination, and last year, it reeled in over a billion dollars for the economy.

“The Big Sky state draws folks to recreate, and part of that is our fishing and angling economy,” Adam Strainer, the fisheries division chief with Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, said. “That’s everything from mom and pop going out to fish with their children to guides and outfitters to everything under the sun.”