Cabinet Gorge Reservoir Fish Stocking
Montana · 1953–1994 on record
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Cabinet Gorge Reservoir was last stocked August 3, 1994 with Largemouth Bass. Cabinet Gorge Reservoir has 97 stocking records on file, spanning 1953–1994, with about 4,195,036 fish stocked over that period.
When Cabinet Gorge Reservoir is stocked
Cabinet Gorge Reservoir is typically stocked in summer, most often in July — 25 stocking events in that peak month.
By species
Angler's Field Guide
Fishing Tips & Stocking Guide for Cabinet Gorge Reservoir
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 Cabinet Gorge Reservoir, 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 Cabinet Gorge Reservoir was last stocked August 3, 1994, 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 Cabinet Gorge Reservoir:
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.
Bass & Panfish Approach
Target visible structure such as docks, weed lines, and fallen trees. Small 1/32 to 1/16 oz jig heads with soft plastic grubs or live worms under a float work well for crappie and bluegill; soft plastic worms or spinnerbaits work well for bass.
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).
Largemouth Bass Profile Tips
The centerpiece of American bass fishing culture, taken on everything from topwater lures to soft plastics and live bait.
Burbot Profile Tips
Targeted by a small but dedicated group of winter anglers, often through the ice.
Recommended Tackle for Cabinet Gorge Reservoir
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.
Gary Yamamoto 5-inch Custom Senko Stickbaits
The heavy salt-impregnated plastic produces a unique horizontal shimmy on the fall around weed beds, docks, and submerged timber.
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 Cabinet Gorge Reservoir, freshest activity first.
Triangle Pond
0 mi3 species · 242 records
Last stocked May 2026
St Paul Lake
10 mi1 species · 16 records
Last stocked August 2024
Engle Lake
10 mi1 species · 15 records
Last stocked July 2023
Moran Basin Lakes
9 mi2 species · 18 records
Last stocked August 2022
Upper Lake
12 mi1 species · 10 records
Last stocked August 2021
Wanless Lake 2
12 mi1 species · 10 records
Last stocked August 2021
Stocking history
Most recent stockings first. Dates shown at the precision the agency reported.
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 3, 1994 | Largemouth Bass | 25,000 | 1.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 16, 1992 | Largemouth Bass | 25,000 | 2.1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 1, 1985 | Burbot | 450 | 20" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 29, 1985 | Burbot | 15 | 24" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 26, 1980 | Rainbow Trout | 2,165 | 10" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 6, 1980 | Rainbow Trout | 2,909 | 10" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 3, 1979 | Rainbow Trout | 3,026 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| March 28, 1978 | Rainbow Trout | 2,520 | 8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Show 42 more stocking records →
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 30, 1977 | Rainbow Trout | 2,502 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| March 25, 1977 | Rainbow Trout | 2,550 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 7, 1976 | Rainbow Trout | 2,511 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 6, 1975 | Rainbow Trout | 5,010 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 26, 1974 | Rainbow Trout | 2,502 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 23, 1973 | Rainbow Trout | 2,682 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 3, 1973 | Rainbow Trout | 2,457 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 12, 1972 | Rainbow Trout | 2,737 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 24, 1972 | Rainbow Trout | 2,523 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 13, 1971 | Rainbow Trout | 816 | 10" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 13, 1971 | Rainbow Trout | 1,673 | 10" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 4, 1971 | Rainbow Trout | 2,500 | 10" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 10, 1970 | Rainbow Trout | 1,260 | 10" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 20, 1969 | Rainbow Trout | 2,580 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 8, 1968 | Rainbow Trout | 1,409 | 10" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 15, 1967 | Rainbow Trout | 2,504 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 27, 1966 | Rainbow Trout | 87,900 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 13, 1966 | Rainbow Trout | 2,501 | 8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 27, 1963 | Rainbow Trout | 6,105 | 8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 27, 1963 | Rainbow Trout | 7,200 | 8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 26, 1963 | Rainbow Trout | 7,200 | 8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 26, 1963 | Rainbow Trout | 7,200 | 8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 25, 1963 | Rainbow Trout | 6,108 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 25, 1963 | Rainbow Trout | 7,380 | 8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 24, 1963 | Rainbow Trout | 7,605 | 8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 18, 1963 | Rainbow Trout | 14,094 | 6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 18, 1963 | Rainbow Trout | 4,200 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 17, 1963 | Rainbow Trout | 2,813 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 14, 1963 | Rainbow Trout | 1,640 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 14, 1963 | Rainbow Trout | 5,330 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| November 29, 1961 | Rainbow Trout | 43,362 | 99" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 28, 1961 | Rainbow Trout | 20,675 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 14, 1961 | Rainbow Trout | 31,700 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 13, 1961 | Rainbow Trout | 30,000 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 12, 1961 | Rainbow Trout | 30,000 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 24, 1961 | Rainbow Trout | 20,000 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 23, 1961 | Rainbow Trout | 20,000 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 22, 1961 | Rainbow Trout | 20,000 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| January 18, 1961 | Rainbow Trout | 298,583 | 99" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 14, 1960 | Rainbow Trout | 12,810 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 13, 1960 | Rainbow Trout | 26,840 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 13, 1960 | Rainbow Trout | 36,600 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Showing 50 of 97 stocking records.
Frequently asked
When was Cabinet Gorge Reservoir last stocked?
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Cabinet Gorge Reservoir was last stocked August 3, 1994 with Largemouth Bass.
What fish species are stocked in Cabinet Gorge Reservoir?
Cabinet Gorge Reservoir is stocked with Largemouth Bass, Burbot, Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Kokanee, and Coho Salmon.
What time of year is Cabinet Gorge Reservoir stocked?
Cabinet Gorge Reservoir is typically stocked in summer, most often in July.
How often is Cabinet Gorge Reservoir stocked?
Cabinet Gorge Reservoir has been stocked about 2 times a year — 97 recorded stockings between 1953 and 1994.
How many fish have been stocked in Cabinet Gorge Reservoir?
About 4,195,036 fish have been stocked in Cabinet Gorge Reservoir across 97 recorded events since 1953, per Montana fish & wildlife agency.
What size are the fish stocked in Cabinet Gorge Reservoir?
Fish stocked in Cabinet Gorge Reservoir average about 9.6 inches, based on the sizes the agency reported.
Do you need a fishing license to fish Cabinet Gorge Reservoir?
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 Cabinet Gorge Reservoir?
Freshly stocked trout in Cabinet Gorge Reservoir 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.