Cow Creek Reservoir Fish Stocking
Montana · 1967–2025 on record
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Cow Creek Reservoir was last stocked October 6, 2025 with Channel Catfish. Cow Creek Reservoir has 72 stocking records on file, spanning 1967–2025, with about 645,131 fish stocked over that period.
When Cow Creek Reservoir is stocked
Cow Creek Reservoir is typically stocked in summer, most often in June — 23 stocking events in that peak month.
By species
Angler's Field Guide
Fishing Tips & Stocking Guide for Cow Creek 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 Cow Creek 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 Cow Creek Reservoir was last stocked October 6, 2025, 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 Cow Creek 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.
Catfish Rigging
Fish a Carolina slip-sinker bottom rig with a 1/2 to 1 oz egg sinker, swivel, and 1/0–3/0 circle hook. Baits such as chicken liver, cut baitfish (shad), nightcrawlers, and stink baits produce best during early morning, dusk, or night in deeper holes.
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.
Channel Catfish Profile Tips
Popular with bait anglers using cut bait, worms, or prepared 'stink bait'; often stocked specifically for summer evening fishing.
Walleye Profile Tips
Highly regarded as table fare; typically targeted with jigs, live bait rigs, or trolled crankbaits, often after dark.
Recommended Tackle for Cow Creek 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.
Heavy Duty Offset Circle Hooks (1/0–3/0)
Circle hooks naturally turn into the corner of a catfish's jaw as it turns, preventing gut-hooking and improving hookup rates.
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 Cow Creek Reservoir, freshest activity first.
Dry Blood Reservoir
13 mi2 species · 18 records
Last stocked October 2025
South Fork Blood Reservoir
11 mi1 species · 26 records
Last stocked August 2025
Payola Reservoir
13 mi1 species · 33 records
Last stocked August 2025
Petrolia Reservoir
10 mi8 species · 74 records
Last stocked June 2025
Box Elder Creek Reservoir
7 mi2 species · 54 records
Last stocked June 2025
Manuel Reservoir #2
6 mi1 species · 37 records
Last stocked May 2024
Stocking history
Most recent stockings first. Dates shown at the precision the agency reported.
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 6, 2025 | Channel Catfish | 285 | 2.26" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 25, 2024 | Walleye | 3,777 | 1.47" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 30, 2022 | Walleye | 3,000 | 1.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 24, 2022 | Tiger Trout | 260 | 4.98" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 24, 2022 | Yellow Perch | 33,000 | 0.85" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 9, 2021 | Channel Catfish | 5,000 | 1.91" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 20, 2020 | Channel Catfish | 5,000 | 1.63" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 23, 2020 | Walleye | 3,203 | 1.72" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Show 42 more stocking records →
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 6, 2019 | Channel Catfish | 1,420 | 2.11" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 11, 2019 | Yellow Perch | 20,000 | 1.24" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 8, 2019 | Tiger Trout | 1,000 | 4.93" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 29, 2018 | Walleye | 3,000 | 2.08" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 29, 2016 | Walleye | 3,004 | 1.69" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 3, 2015 | Tiger Trout | 400 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 26, 2014 | Walleye | 5,000 | 1.57" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 20, 2010 | Tiger Trout | 50 | 12.02" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 30, 2010 | Walleye | 4,999 | 1.62" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 30, 2008 | Walleye | 5,108 | 1.94" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 10, 2007 | Walleye | 5,084 | 1.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 3, 2007 | Tiger Trout | 820 | 7.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 22, 2006 | Walleye | 7,805 | 1.86" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 2, 2006 | Tiger Trout | 2,000 | 2.6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 19, 2005 | Channel Catfish | 3,000 | 6.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 23, 2005 | Walleye | 7,000 | 1.6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 13, 2004 | Tiger Trout | 1,600 | 3.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 16, 2003 | Channel Catfish | 3,000 | 4.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 13, 2002 | Tiger Trout | 4,000 | 1.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 19, 2001 | Channel Catfish | 4,000 | 2.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 21, 2001 | Walleye | 1,800 | 3.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 14, 2001 | Walleye | 7,000 | 3.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 8, 2000 | Tiger Trout | 3,000 | 5.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 8, 2000 | Walleye | 5,000 | 2.6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 9, 2000 | Walleye | 200,000 | 0.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 29, 1999 | Tiger Trout | 42 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 20, 1999 | Tiger Trout | 1,728 | 4.6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 28, 1999 | Black Crappie | 201 | 8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 6, 1998 | Tiger Trout | 1,650 | 7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 30, 1998 | Tiger Trout | 3,000 | 5.1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 30, 1998 | Channel Catfish | 6,500 | 3.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 1, 1998 | Walleye | 200,000 | 0.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 14, 1997 | Tiger Trout | 6,000 | 2.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| November 7, 1996 | Channel Catfish | 4,000 | 2.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 25, 1996 | Walleye | 7,000 | 1.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 15, 1995 | Walleye | 6,000 | 1.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 8, 1994 | Channel Catfish | 10,000 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 14, 1994 | Walleye | 6,000 | 1.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 24, 1986 | Rainbow Trout | 2,007 | 6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 17, 1984 | Rainbow Trout | 2,024 | 7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 20, 1983 | Rainbow Trout | 2,080 | 8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 23, 1982 | Rainbow Trout | 2,002 | 7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Showing 50 of 72 stocking records.
Frequently asked
When was Cow Creek Reservoir last stocked?
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Cow Creek Reservoir was last stocked October 6, 2025 with Channel Catfish.
What fish species are stocked in Cow Creek Reservoir?
Cow Creek Reservoir is stocked with Channel Catfish, Walleye, Tiger Trout, Yellow Perch, Black Crappie, Rainbow Trout, and Brook Trout.
What time of year is Cow Creek Reservoir stocked?
Cow Creek Reservoir is typically stocked in summer, most often in June.
How often is Cow Creek Reservoir stocked?
Cow Creek Reservoir has been stocked about 1 times a year — 72 recorded stockings between 1967 and 2025.
How many fish have been stocked in Cow Creek Reservoir?
About 645,131 fish have been stocked in Cow Creek Reservoir across 72 recorded events since 1967, per Montana fish & wildlife agency.
What size are the fish stocked in Cow Creek Reservoir?
Fish stocked in Cow Creek Reservoir average about 5.1 inches, based on the sizes the agency reported.
Do you need a fishing license to fish Cow Creek 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 Cow Creek Reservoir?
Freshly stocked trout in Cow Creek 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.