Bluewater Creek

Bluewater Creek flows from the Pryor Mountains into the Yellowstone River near Billings, offering warmwater and coolwater fishing opportunities in southeastern Montana. The creek holds populations of smallmouth bass, channel catfish, and brown trout in its lower reaches where cooler spring-fed water enters the system. The upper watershed in the Pryor Mountains provides habitat for wild trout in its headwaters. Access is limited through much of the drainage due to private land ownership, with most fishing occurring at bridge crossings and the mouth near the Yellowstone. Late spring through early fall provides the best fishing, with smallmouth bass being particularly active during warm summer months. The creek offers a different fishing experience from the nearby Yellowstone River and represents the transition zone between mountain trout habitat and prairie warmwater fisheries typical of this part of Montana.