Cooney Reservoir Fish Stocking
Montana · 1937–2026 on record
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Cooney Reservoir was last stocked May 21, 2026 with Rainbow Trout. Cooney Reservoir has 638 stocking records on file, spanning 1937–2026, with about 17,481,001 fish stocked over that period.
When Cooney Reservoir is stocked
Cooney Reservoir is typically stocked in spring, most often in April — 184 stocking events in that peak month.
By species
Angler's Field Guide
Fishing Tips & Stocking Guide for Cooney 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 Cooney 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 Cooney Reservoir was last stocked May 21, 2026, 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 Cooney 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).
Rainbow Trout Profile Tips
The most commonly targeted stocked trout in the country, taken on bait, spinners, and flies alike; a common first fish for new anglers.
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.
Recommended Tackle for Cooney 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 Cooney Reservoir, freshest activity first.
Nelson Pond #3
11 mi1 species · 1 records
Last stocked June 2020
Nelson Pond #1
12 mi2 species · 2 records
Last stocked June 2020
West Rosebud Creek
12 mi3 species · 152 records
Last stocked July 2009
Red Lodge Creek
8 mi3 species · 76 records
Last stocked July 1983
West Red Lodge Creek
9 mi2 species · 6 records
Last stocked October 1982
East Rosebud Creek
12 mi2 species · 161 records
Last stocked June 1981
Stocking history
Most recent stockings first. Dates shown at the precision the agency reported.
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | 5,181 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 20, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | 7,850 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| March 9, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | 9,959 | 2.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 16, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 5,525 | 9.67" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 14, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 4,410 | 11.64" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 14, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 4,410 | 11.64" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 14, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 4,410 | 11.64" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 14, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 4,410 | 11.64" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Show 42 more stocking records →
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 13, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 3,400 | 12" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 20, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 8,001 | 9.6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 20, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 7,438 | 9.64" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 20, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 8,598 | 9.75" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 19, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 7,290 | 9.85" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 19, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 8,192 | 9.85" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 4, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | 572 | 12.44" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 3, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | 1,170 | 12.44" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 30, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | 7,300 | 9.27" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 29, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | 4,653 | 9.38" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 29, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | 3,266 | 9.08" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 28, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | 9,154 | 9.27" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 28, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | 8,493 | 9.34" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 5, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 8,370 | 9.09" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 4, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 8,450 | 8.94" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 4, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 8,802 | 8.94" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 31, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 10,728 | 8.04" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 31, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 400 | 7.37" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 31, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 3,851 | 7.37" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 29, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 14,804 | 7.85" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 29, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 13,293 | 8.11" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 2, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 13,728 | 7.35" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 1, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 13,156 | 7.35" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 18, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 11,089 | 8.37" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 18, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 9,414 | 8.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 18, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 8,790 | 8.35" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 4, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 7,209 | 7.58" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 4, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 7,209 | 7.55" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 2, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 7,154 | 7.69" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 2, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 7,128 | 7.61" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 1, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 6,821 | 7.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 1, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 7,156 | 7.57" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 18, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 6,664 | 8.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 18, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 10,868 | 8.03" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 4, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 2,281 | 8.54" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 3, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 7,480 | 8.54" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 2, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 6,960 | 8.99" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 1, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 6,320 | 9.03" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 22, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 849 | 8.57" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 21, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 7,565 | 8.57" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 21, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 7,747 | 8.51" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 20, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 6,336 | 8.37" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Showing 50 of 500 stocking records.
Frequently asked
When was Cooney Reservoir last stocked?
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Cooney Reservoir was last stocked May 21, 2026 with Rainbow Trout.
What fish species are stocked in Cooney Reservoir?
Cooney Reservoir is stocked with Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Walleye, and Coho Salmon.
What time of year is Cooney Reservoir stocked?
Cooney Reservoir is typically stocked in spring, most often in April.
How often is Cooney Reservoir stocked?
Cooney Reservoir has been stocked about 7 times a year — 638 recorded stockings between 1937 and 2026.
How many fish have been stocked in Cooney Reservoir?
About 17,481,001 fish have been stocked in Cooney Reservoir across 638 recorded events since 1937, per Montana fish & wildlife agency.
What size are the fish stocked in Cooney Reservoir?
Fish stocked in Cooney Reservoir average about 6.2 inches, based on the sizes the agency reported.
Do you need a fishing license to fish Cooney 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 Cooney Reservoir?
Freshly stocked trout in Cooney 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.