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Bield:Fish
Fish stocking schedule

Montana fish stocking schedule 2026.

Stocking NowMontana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

Montana primarily manages its blue-ribbon trout rivers as wild-trout fisheries — stocking is limited to lakes, reservoirs, and a few smaller streams. Hatchery emphasis is on supporting urban-accessible fisheries and remote lakes.

Official source

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Stocking Report

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks publishes the authoritative Montana stocking schedule — Annual updates in Searchable database format. For this week's actual stocking locations, dates, and volumes, view the official report directly.

View official Montana stocking report

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

Primary stocked species in Montana

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 — moderate 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 — heavy 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 — moderate 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 — heavy 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 — moderate 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 — heavy 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 — moderate 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 — heavy 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
  • WalleyeSander vitreus
    JanJan — no stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingFebFeb — no stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingMarMar — no stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingAprApr — heavy stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingMayMay — heavy stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingJunJun — heavy stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingJulJul — no stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingAugAug — no stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingSepSep — heavy stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingOctOct — heavy stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingNovNov — no stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingDecDec — no stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerling
    Typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerling

Notable Montana programs

  • Wild Trout Management (most rivers)
  • Lake Stocking Program
  • Kokanee Salmon Reservoirs

State hatchery system

Montana operates 7 state-run fish hatcheries supporting the stocking program.

Weekly stocking alerts for Montana.

Bield: Fish reads Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks'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.

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