Powder River
Near Miles City, Montana
The Powder River originates in Wyoming's Bighorn Mountains and flows north through southeastern Montana's prairie and badlands country to join the Yellowstone River near Terry. Known as "a mile wide and an inch deep," this classic prairie river winds through ranch country offering warmwater fishing for channel catfish, sauger, walleye, and smallmouth bass, along with some brown trout in cooler upstream sections. The river played a significant role in the Indian Wars of the 1870s and retains its wild, remote character. Access is limited through miles of private ranch land, though several FWP sites and county bridge crossings provide public entry points. Spring and fall offer the best conditions before summer heat raises water temperatures. The Powder River country offers solitude, wildlife viewing, and a glimpse into Montana's ranching heritage far removed from the tourist-heavy trout streams of the western mountains.