Craft Pond 2 Fish Stocking
Montana · 1968–2025 on record
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Craft Pond 2 was last stocked May 13, 2025 with Rainbow Trout. Craft Pond 2 has 21 stocking records on file, spanning 1968–2025, with about 30,600 fish stocked over that period.
When Craft Pond 2 is stocked
Craft Pond 2 is typically stocked in spring, most often in April — 14 stocking events in that peak month.
Angler's Field Guide
Fishing Tips & Stocking Guide for Craft Pond 2
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 Craft Pond 2, 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 Craft Pond 2 was last stocked May 13, 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 Craft Pond 2:
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.
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.
Smallmouth Bass Profile Tips
Prized for its aerial fight; often targeted with crayfish-imitating jigs and tubes along rocky structure.
Recommended Tackle for Craft Pond 2
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.
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Nearby stocked waters
Other stocked waters near Craft Pond 2, freshest activity first.
Talcott Pond
8 mi2 species · 21 records
Last stocked May 2025
Craft Pond 1
2 mi3 species · 13 records
Last stocked July 2019
Gardiner Reservoir
10 mi3 species · 51 records
Last stocked April 2019
Williams Pond 2
10 mi1 species · 4 records
Last stocked July 1997
Williams Pond 1
11 mi2 species · 6 records
Last stocked July 1997
Doug Gardiner Reservoir
10 mi4 species · 5 records
Last stocked August 1992
Stocking history
Most recent stockings first. Dates shown at the precision the agency reported.
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 13, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 1,500 | 2.26" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 23, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | 1,500 | 1.78" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 19, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 1,500 | 2.27" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 27, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 1,500 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 8, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 1,500 | 2.51" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 22, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 1,500 | 4.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 24, 2019 | Rainbow Trout | 1,500 | 1.89" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 2, 2018 | Rainbow Trout | 1,500 | 2.01" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Show 13 more stocking records →
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 12, 2017 | Rainbow Trout | 1,500 | 1.98" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 5, 2016 | Rainbow Trout | 1,500 | 1.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 7, 2015 | Rainbow Trout | 1,500 | 1.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 16, 2014 | Rainbow Trout | 1,500 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 11, 2013 | Rainbow Trout | 1,500 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 19, 2012 | Rainbow Trout | 1,500 | 2.15" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 21, 2011 | Rainbow Trout | 1,500 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 21, 2010 | Rainbow Trout | 1,500 | 2.6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 14, 2009 | Rainbow Trout | 1,500 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 10, 2008 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 2.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 16, 2007 | Rainbow Trout | 1,500 | 2.6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 26, 1991 | Smallmouth Bass | 1,500 | 1.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 26, 1968 | Largemouth Bass | 1,100 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Frequently asked
When was Craft Pond 2 last stocked?
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Craft Pond 2 was last stocked May 13, 2025 with Rainbow Trout.
What fish species are stocked in Craft Pond 2?
Craft Pond 2 is stocked with Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, and Largemouth Bass.
What time of year is Craft Pond 2 stocked?
Craft Pond 2 is typically stocked in spring, most often in April.
How often is Craft Pond 2 stocked?
Craft Pond 2 is stocked intermittently — 21 recorded stockings between 1968 and 2025.
How many fish have been stocked in Craft Pond 2?
About 30,600 fish have been stocked in Craft Pond 2 across 21 recorded events since 1968, per Montana fish & wildlife agency.
What size are the fish stocked in Craft Pond 2?
Fish stocked in Craft Pond 2 average about 2.2 inches, based on the sizes the agency reported.
Do you need a fishing license to fish Craft Pond 2?
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 Craft Pond 2?
Freshly stocked trout in Craft Pond 2 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.