Skip to content
Bield:Fish
Fish stocking schedule

California fish stocking schedule 2026.

Stocking NowCalifornia Department of Fish and Wildlife

California's stocking program ranges from urban ponds in Los Angeles to high Sierra lakes accessed only by aircraft. The state's heritage trout program protects six native trout species in their original waters.

Official source

California Department of Fish and Wildlife Stocking Report

California Department of Fish and Wildlife publishes the authoritative California stocking schedule — Weekly updates in Searchable database format. For this week's actual stocking locations, dates, and volumes, view the official report directly.

View official California stocking report

This page summarizes the California stocking program for planning purposes. The agency report is the authoritative source — verify before any trip.

Primary stocked species in California

Typical stocking pattern by species. Heavy fill marks primary stocking months; moderate fill marks possible stocking. Verify exact dates against the official report.

  • Rainbow TroutOncorhynchus mykiss
    JanJan — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesFebFeb — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesMarMar — heavy stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesAprApr — heavy stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesMayMay — heavy stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesJunJun — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesJulJul — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesAugAug — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesSepSep — heavy stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesOctOct — heavy stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesNovNov — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesDecDec — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inches
    Typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inches
  • Brown TroutSalmo trutta
    JanJan — no stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesFebFeb — no stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesMarMar — heavy stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesAprApr — heavy stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesMayMay — heavy stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesJunJun — no stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesJulJul — no stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesAugAug — no stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesSepSep — heavy stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesOctOct — heavy stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesNovNov — moderate stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesDecDec — no stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inches
    Typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inches
  • Brook TroutSalvelinus fontinalis
    JanJan — no stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableFebFeb — no stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableMarMar — heavy stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableAprApr — heavy stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableMayMay — heavy stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableJunJun — no stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableJulJul — no stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableAugAug — no stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableSepSep — heavy stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableOctOct — heavy stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableNovNov — moderate stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableDecDec — no stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchable
    Typical size: 8–11 inch catchable
  • Kokanee SalmonOncorhynchus nerka
    JanJan — no stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerlingFebFeb — no stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerlingMarMar — heavy stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerlingAprApr — heavy stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerlingMayMay — heavy stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerlingJunJun — no stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerlingJulJul — no stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerlingAugAug — no stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerlingSepSep — heavy stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerlingOctOct — heavy stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerlingNovNov — no stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerlingDecDec — no stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerling
    Typical size: 2–3 inch fingerling
  • Channel CatfishIctalurus punctatus
    JanJan — no stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingFebFeb — no stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingMarMar — heavy stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingAprApr — heavy stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingMayMay — heavy stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingJunJun — moderate stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingJulJul — moderate stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingAugAug — moderate stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingSepSep — heavy stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingOctOct — heavy stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingNovNov — no stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingDecDec — no stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerling
    Typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerling

Notable California programs

  • High Sierra Aerial Stocking
  • Heritage Trout Streams
  • Urban Fishing Program
  • Catfish Pond Stocking

State hatchery system

California operates 16 state-run fish hatcheries supporting the stocking program.

California urban fishing program

California maintains a designated urban fishing program — typically frequent stockings of catfish, trout, and panfish in city ponds and lakes. These programs are designed to make fishing accessible to families and first-time anglers.

California urban fishing program details →

Weekly stocking alerts for California.

Bield: Fish reads California Department of Fish and Wildlife's stocking reports and alerts you when your saved waters are stocked. Set your county once and you'll know the day fish hit your home river.

Download Bield: Fish