Musselshell River 15 Miles North of Melstone
The Musselshell River begins with the headwaters of the North and South forks in the Little Belt, Castle, and Crazy mountains in Central Montana. The forks converge near Martinsdale, Montana to form the mainstem, which flows East and North through a landscape varying from mountains to rolling plains and badlands. The upper, coldwater region of the Musselshell supports five species of game fish, including the native Cutthroat and Mountain Whitefish. The North Fork’s excellent willow cover and undercut banks provide favorable habitat for Brown, Rainbow, and Brook Trout.
Three storage reservoirs add to its flows; Bair Reservoir on the North Fork, Martinsdale Reservoir on the South Fork, and Deadman’s Basin, a mainstem diversion. For the 50 miles from Barber, Montana to Roundup, the Musselshell widens, and a number of irrigation diversions reduce stream flows and the water becomes warmer. The Channel Catfish begins to appear more consistently near the town of Roundup and the lower, warm-water portion of the Musselshell continues to support a substantial resident fish population. The lower "Shell" provides crucial spawning areas for both Channel Catfish and Sauger from Fort Peck Reservoir. The river empties into Fort Peck Reservoir, north of Mosby, 342 miles from its sources.
The "Shell" has always been and continues to be a premier spot for the serious Catfish angler. Because of private land ownership and a lack of road access, this river remains relatively untapped. The last 82 miles of river from the mouth of Flat Willow Creek to where the river dumps into famous Fort Peck Reservoir is one of the top hangouts for Mr. Whiskers in the entire Midwestern United States. However, much of the layout and contours of the lower Musselshell were permanently altered during the historic floods of 2011. Many slow and moderately deep muddy meandering river miles were replaced with straightened rocky and shallow stretches. Now more than ever, other than periods of heavy runoff, fishing from a boat can prove extremely difficult. The lower stretch of the "Shell" still offers the shore angler a great shot at a true trophy Channel Cat. The action heats up in the early spring when Channel Catfish look to move from Fort Peck Reservoir and head upstream for a place to spawn. The average Channel Cat is in the 6 to 7 lb. range with a good shot at a Cat in the mid to high-teens on any given trip. Reports of Cats over 20 lbs. are more common as you get closer and closer to the mouth near Crooked Creek marina in the far westward reaches of Fort Peck Reservoir. Catch-and-release or “selective harvest” is essential in helping keep this river plentiful with large catfish for generations to come.
Above Information from Montana Cats Staff.
