Tongue River Reservoir Marina - FWP Website
The Tongue River drainage offers vast catfishing opportunities for both the shore angler trekking along its river banks to the boat fisherman who chooses to focus their efforts within the reservoir. The Tongue River is considered a major tributary of the Yellowstone River. It rises in the Big Horn Mountains of Northern Wyoming and travels 265 miles before it dumps into the "Stone" in the town of Miles City, Montana. Although Cats can be caught all the way up to the Tongue River Dam in the far reaches of Southern Montana, anglers would be best served to focus their efforts from the community of Ashland, Montana near the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation all the way to the mouth. Otter Creek enters the Tongue River near Ashland, which is 68 miles upstream from the mouth of the river in Miles City. Twelve Mile Dam is also located on the Tongue River just 12 miles south of Miles City. This lowhead had historically halted upward stream movement during low water, however, the Muggli Fish Passage was completed in September of 2007 offering an additional 50 miles of upward stream migration for a host of native fish species. The Twelve Mile Dam now serves as a fishing access site that is owned and operated by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. It offers a fishing pier/platform, bathroom facilities, and primitive campsites.
Tongue River Reservoir is the gem of Southern Montana. It is a 3,600 acre body of water that offers trophy Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Northern Pike, Black and Yellow Bullhead, and of course Channel Catfish. It is situated just a few miles North of the Montana-Wyoming border with angling pressure mainly coming from Yellowstone County near Billings and over the border from the Sherdian, Wyoming community. Catfish over 20 pounds are landed annually on this body of water during both the spring runoff period as they look to push southward in the reservoir to spawn up the river and during the fall months as the big bruisers pack on the feed bag before a long winter ahead.
The five mile stretch of Tongue River above the Reservoir to the Montana-Wyoming state line offers great catfishing, particular during the pre-spawn period, but provides very limited angling access. Anglers are encouraged to always ask for landowner permission when accessing waters and entering any unchartered territory.
Above Information from Montana Cats Staff.
