Fort Peck is about to crown some kings.
The 1st Annual Fort Peck Montana Tournament of Kings is officially on the calendar, and if you’ve been waiting for a big-water, big-money salmon showdown, this is it. Set for July 31 and August 1, 2026, this two-day event is shaping up to be one of the most exciting additions to Montana’s tournament scene — and it’s built to be awesome right out of the gate.
Let’s start with the basics. Entry is $400 per team, with teams made up of two, three, or four anglers. The field is capped at 150 boats, so this won’t be a “decide the night before” kind of registration. If it fills — and it probably will — that’s it.
And the payouts are serious.
Based on a full field of 150 boats, the tournament will pay out the top four fish each day:
- 1st Place: $10,000
- 2nd Place: $7,500
- 3rd Place: $5,000
- 4th Place: $3,750
Each. Day.
So yes, someone is walking away with five figures for a single fish!
But here is where it gets even more interesting.
The tournament is also rolling out Random Salmon Weight Pots — and this might be the most entertaining twist of the weekend. For $200 (covering both days), any salmon weighing between 6 and 17 pounds is eligible. After weigh-ins each day, two random weights between 6 and 17 pounds will be drawn on stage. The salmon closest to each selected weight wins $7,500.
That’s $15,000 in random weight payouts per day.
In other words, you don’t necessarily have to land a giant to cash in. You just have to land the right fish at the right time. It keeps things interesting all the way to the final weigh-in.
Here’s how the weekend shakes out:
- July 30, 2026 – Mandatory rules meeting
- July 31 & August 1, 2026 – Tournament days
- August 2, 2026 – Optional wind day
Registration opens March 15, 2026, and it’s online only — so when the clock hits go-time, you’ll want to be ready.
For questions or more details, anglers can contact the Glasgow Chamber at 406-228-2222 or email info@glasgowchamber.net.
Fort Peck has always had a reputation for producing quality fish and fun days on the water. Now it has a tournament built to match. Big payouts. Creative side pots. Competitive boats. And two days in late July when the kings of the reservoir will decide who earns the crown.
If you’re planning your 2026 fishing calendar already — you might want to circle this one in bold.
Feature photo: Lightasafeather from Getty Images Signature
