Information on the approved fishing contests can be found on FWP's webpage at fwp.mt.gov; click "Fishing" then click "Fishing Contests". Look for "2016 Approved Open Water Fishing Contests" at the bottom of the page.
Approved 2016 Open Water Fishing Contests
Region 1
| Bull Lake Summer Derby | Aug 6-7 | Bull Lake |
| Fall Mack Days | Sept 23 - Nov 13 | Flathead Lake |
| First Annual Bull Lake Pike Assault | June 25-26 | Bull Lake |
| Flathead River Pike Round Up | June 11 | Flathead Lake/River/Sloughs |
| Kickin Horse Saloon & Eatery's Father's Day Fishing Derby | June 18-19 | Thompson Chain of Lakes, Crystal & Loon Lakes |
| Koocanusa Resort & Marina 13th Annual Trout and Salmon Derby | May 14-15 | Lake Koocanusa |
| Montana BASS Nation Spring Buddy Tournament | Apr 30-May 1 | Noxon Rapids Reservoir |
| Montana BASS Nation State Championship | Aug 19-21 | Noxon Rapids Reservoir |
| Poor Man May | May 21 | Noxon Rapids Reservoir |
| Poor Man October | Oct 8 | Noxon Rapids Reservoir |
| Poor Man September | Sept 17 | Noxon Rapids Reservoir |
| Poor Man June/TBF | June 11-12 | Noxon Rapids Reservoir |
| Snappys Big Bass Bash | Apr 23 | Echo, Abbot and Peterson Lakes |
| Snappys Perch Festival | Sept 17 | Lake Mary Ronan |
| Spring Mack Days | Mar 18 - May 15 | Flathead Lake |
| Tobacco Valley Rod & Gun Fishing Derby | July 8-9 | Lake Koocanusa |
| Tri-State Bass Tournament | July 30-31 | Noxon Rapids Reservoir |
Region 3
| Livingston Firefighters Annual Kids Trout Derby | June 11 | Sacajawea Park Lagoon |
Region 4
| Broadwater Rod and Gun Walleye Derby | July 16 | Canyon Ferry Reservoir |
| Camp-Make-A-Dream Walleye Benefit | Aug 13 | Canyon Ferry Reservoir |
| Canyon Ferry Carp Safari | June 11 | Canyon Ferry Reservoir |
| Canyon Ferry Walleye Festival | June 25-26 | Canyon Ferry Reservoir |
| Father's Day Fish Derby | June 19 | Newlan Creek Reservoir |
| Fort Benton Spring Classic Fishing Derby | May 20-22 | Missouri River, Marias River, Teton River |
| John Arnold Fish Derby | Aug 27 | Hauser Reservoir |
| Tiber Walleye Tournament | June 11-12 | Tiber Reservoir, Lake Elwell |
Region 5
| Annual Yellowstone Challenge | May 14 | Yellowstone River (Huntley Bridge to Mouth of Bighorn River) |
| Bighorn River Alliance Carp Tournament 2015 | June 15 | Yellowtail Afterbay Reservoir on Bighorn Lake at OK-A-Beh |
| Fall Cats Fever | Sept 10-11 | Yellowstone River from Huntley Dam to Rancher's Dam |
| NBAA Qualifier | May 14-15 | Yellowtail Reservoir |
| NBAA Qualifier | July 16-17 | Yellowtail Reservoir |
Region 6
| 15th Annual Pikemasters | June 11-12 | Fort Peck - Big Dry Arm |
| 17th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic | June 4 | Milk River Junebug Bridge to mouth of Milk River). |
| 29th Annual Montana Governor's Cup Walleye Tournament | July 7-10 | Fort Peck Reservoir |
| EMBA / NBAA MT State Championship | Sept 24-25 | Fort Peck Reservoir |
| Fall Classic Walleye Tournament | Aug 6-7 | Fort Peck Reservoir: Crooked Creek Bay or Hell Creek Bay |
| Fishin' For the Cure | Aug 20 | Fort Peck Reservoir |
| Fresno Challenge | May 21-22 | Fresno Reservoir |
| Hell Creek Ladies Fishing Tournament | June 25 | Fort Peck Reservoir (Hell Creek State Park) |
| Hell Creek Walleye Tournament | July 23-24 | Fort Peck Reservoir |
| Jordan Chapter Tough Guy Tournament | Apr 16 | Fort Peck Reservoir (Hell Creek) |
| NBAA Qualifier | May 21-22 | Fort Peck Reservoir |
| Rock Creek Walleye Tournament | June 4-5 | Fort Peck Reservoir, Rock Creek Marina |
| Women's Fishing Tournament | July 30 | Fort Peck Reservoir |
Region 7
| Monster Catfish Roundup | July 16 | Yellowstone River Elk Island FAS to the ND State Line |
| Savage Volunteer Fire Department Catfish Tournament | June 11 | Yellowstone River (from Cottonwood Creek downstream to Sidney Bridge) |
| Yellowstone River Classic | Sept 17 | Yellowstone River |
| Yellowstone River Rats Jig N Crank Fest | Oct 15 | Yellowstone River, ND state line to Elk Island Boat Ramp |