Burnt Fork Bitterroot River Fish Stocking
Montana · 1928–1954 on record
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Burnt Fork Bitterroot River was last stocked August 5, 1954 with Cutthroat Trout. Burnt Fork Bitterroot River has 73 stocking records on file, spanning 1928–1954, with about 1,681,380 fish stocked over that period.
When Burnt Fork Bitterroot River is stocked
Burnt Fork Bitterroot River is typically stocked in fall, most often in September — 30 stocking events in that peak month.
By species
Angler's Field Guide
Fishing Tips & Stocking Guide for Burnt Fork Bitterroot River
Practical advice on fish behavior, recommended tackle, and state regulations for anglers fishing in Montana.
Post-Plant Behavior & Timing
Hatchery-raised fish are conditioned to pelleted feed and open raceways. Following a release into Burnt Fork Bitterroot River, they typically congregate in schools near public access points, boat ramps, or inlets for the first 24 to 48 hours while adjusting to natural water conditions.
Since Burnt Fork Bitterroot River was last stocked August 5, 1954, anglers visiting within 1 to 2 weeks of a reported event generally experience the highest activity before fish disperse into deeper cover.
State Regulations & Licensing
- •Fishing License: A valid Montana freshwater fishing license is required for anglers age 16 and older.Purchase Montana license online →
- •Official Rules & Limits: Bag limits, bait restrictions, and seasonal boundaries are set by Montana fish & wildlife agency.Official Montana regulations guidebook →
- •Ethical Conservation: Use barbless hooks and keep fish submerged in water during unhooking.Trout Thermal Advisory: When water temperatures rise above 68°F (20°C), released trout face severe mortality from thermal exhaustion. Target warmwater species or fish early in the morning when lakes and streams warm up.
Recommended Tackle & Presentations
Techniques tailored to the species stocked in Burnt Fork Bitterroot River:
Stocked Trout Tactics
Use light 4–6 lb monofilament or fluorocarbon line. Float scented dough bait (PowerBait) 12–18" off bottom using a sliding slip-sinker rig with a size 14–16 treble hook. For active casting, throw 1/16 to 1/8 oz inline spinners (Panther Martin, Rooster Tail) or small spoons (Kastmaster) along drop-offs.
Kokanee & Salmon Tactics
Troll small dodgers followed by micro-hoochies or wedding ring spinners tipped with shoepeg corn. Use downriggers or lead-core line to reach cooler thermocline depths (typically 20–50 ft in summer).
Cutthroat Trout Profile Tips
Known for being relatively easy to catch on dry flies, making it a favorite of western fly anglers; many subspecies are managed under catch-and-release rules to protect native populations.
Brook Trout Profile Tips
A favorite of high-country and small-stream anglers; often more willing to strike than brown or rainbow trout in the same water.
Recommended Tackle for Burnt Fork Bitterroot River
Field-tested tackle and presentations matched to the species stocked here.
Berkley PowerBait Floating Trout Dough
Hatchery-raised trout are conditioned to pelleted scents; scented dough floated 12–18 inches off bottom consistently triggers strikes.
Panther Martin Classic Teardrop Inline Spinner
The heavy convex blade spins instantly upon retrieval, sending vibration through the water that triggers aggressive reaction bites along drop-offs.
Sliding Sinker & Treble Hook Rigging Kit
Sliding egg sinkers allow cautious trout to run with bait without feeling line drag, while size 14–16 treble hooks keep dough bait securely pinned.
Mack's Lure Classic Wedding Ring Spinner
A classic Western trolling lure designed to be tipped with shoepeg corn and run behind a dodger in deep thermoclines.
As an Amazon Associate, StockedWaters earns from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Recommendations are chosen for hatchery-conditioned fish behavior and ethical rigging. We may receive a referral commission if you buy through these links. Read our editorial policy & standards.
Nearby stocked waters
Other stocked waters near Burnt Fork Bitterroot River, freshest activity first.
Bass Lake
10 mi2 species · 7 records
Last stocked July 2021
Holloway Lake
10 mi1 species · 4 records
Last stocked July 2021
Duffy Lake
10 mi2 species · 6 records
Last stocked July 2021
Canyon Lake
1 mi3 species · 11 records
Last stocked August 1990
Mills Lake
10 mi1 species · 1 records
Last stocked August 1983
Gash Creek
10 mi1 species · 4 records
Last stocked August 1953
Stocking history
Most recent stockings first. Dates shown at the precision the agency reported.
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 5, 1954 | Cutthroat Trout | 6,000 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 15, 1953 | Cutthroat Trout | 5,600 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 18, 1952 | Cutthroat Trout | 8,000 | 1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 18, 1952 | Cutthroat Trout | 8,000 | 1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 12, 1952 | Cutthroat Trout | 5,000 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 12, 1952 | Cutthroat Trout | 5,000 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 5, 1951 | Cutthroat Trout | 11,000 | 1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 5, 1951 | Cutthroat Trout | 11,000 | 1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Show 42 more stocking records →
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 30, 1951 | Cutthroat Trout | 7,000 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 30, 1951 | Cutthroat Trout | 7,000 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 27, 1951 | Cutthroat Trout | 9,000 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 27, 1951 | Cutthroat Trout | 9,000 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 11, 1950 | Cutthroat Trout | 3,500 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 11, 1950 | Cutthroat Trout | 3,500 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 6, 1949 | Cutthroat Trout | 25,000 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 6, 1949 | Cutthroat Trout | 25,000 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 24, 1948 | Cutthroat Trout | 15,000 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 24, 1948 | Cutthroat Trout | 15,000 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 14, 1948 | Brook Trout | 1,200 | 6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 14, 1948 | Brook Trout | 1,200 | 6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 13, 1948 | Brook Trout | 1,200 | 7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 11, 1947 | Cutthroat Trout | 13,400 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 11, 1947 | Cutthroat Trout | 13,400 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 1, 1947 | Brook Trout | 1,400 | 8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 1, 1947 | Brook Trout | 1,400 | 8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 31, 1947 | Brook Trout | 1,400 | 6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 31, 1947 | Brook Trout | 1,400 | 6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 12, 1947 | Rainbow Trout | 2,250 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 21, 1947 | Cutthroat Trout | 4,000 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 21, 1947 | Cutthroat Trout | 4,000 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 19, 1946 | Cutthroat Trout | 40,925 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 19, 1946 | Cutthroat Trout | 40,925 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 21, 1945 | Cutthroat Trout | 20,000 | 0 | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 21, 1945 | Cutthroat Trout | 20,000 | 0 | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 30, 1944 | Cutthroat Trout | 20,400 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 30, 1944 | Cutthroat Trout | 20,400 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 9, 1942 | Cutthroat Trout | 25,000 | 0 | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 9, 1942 | Cutthroat Trout | 25,000 | 0 | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 26, 1941 | Rainbow Trout | 3,000 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 26, 1941 | Rainbow Trout | 3,000 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 25, 1941 | Rainbow Trout | 28,800 | 0 | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 25, 1941 | Rainbow Trout | 28,800 | 0 | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 28, 1940 | Rainbow Trout | 4,200 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 28, 1940 | Rainbow Trout | 4,200 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 18, 1940 | Rainbow Trout | 2,240 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 18, 1940 | Rainbow Trout | 2,240 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 17, 1940 | Cutthroat Trout | 35,000 | 0 | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 17, 1940 | Cutthroat Trout | 35,000 | 0 | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 14, 1939 | Coho Salmon | 3,200 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 14, 1939 | Coho Salmon | 3,200 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Showing 50 of 73 stocking records.
Frequently asked
When was Burnt Fork Bitterroot River last stocked?
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Burnt Fork Bitterroot River was last stocked August 5, 1954 with Cutthroat Trout.
What fish species are stocked in Burnt Fork Bitterroot River?
Burnt Fork Bitterroot River is stocked with Cutthroat Trout, Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, and Coho Salmon.
What time of year is Burnt Fork Bitterroot River stocked?
Burnt Fork Bitterroot River is typically stocked in fall, most often in September.
How often is Burnt Fork Bitterroot River stocked?
Burnt Fork Bitterroot River has been stocked about 3 times a year — 73 recorded stockings between 1928 and 1954.
How many fish have been stocked in Burnt Fork Bitterroot River?
About 1,681,380 fish have been stocked in Burnt Fork Bitterroot River across 73 recorded events since 1928, per Montana fish & wildlife agency.
What size are the fish stocked in Burnt Fork Bitterroot River?
Fish stocked in Burnt Fork Bitterroot River average about 3.1 inches, based on the sizes the agency reported.
Do you need a fishing license to fish Burnt Fork Bitterroot River?
Yes, all anglers age 16 and older generally need a valid Montana freshwater fishing license. Always review current regulations from Montana fish & wildlife agency for site-specific rules, bag limits, or stamps.
How do you catch stocked trout in Burnt Fork Bitterroot River?
Freshly stocked trout in Burnt Fork Bitterroot River typically respond well to floating dough bait (such as PowerBait) floated 12–18 inches off bottom on light 4–6 lb leader, live nightcrawlers under a bobber, and small inline spinners or spoons retrieved along shorelines and drop-offs.