Dickey Lake Fish Stocking
Montana · 1924–2026 on record
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Dickey Lake was last stocked May 6, 2026 with Rainbow Trout. Dickey Lake has 174 stocking records on file, spanning 1924–2026, with about 2,331,426 fish stocked over that period.
When Dickey Lake is stocked
Dickey Lake is typically stocked in spring and summer, most often in May — 48 stocking events in that peak month.
By species
Angler's Field Guide
Fishing Tips & Stocking Guide for Dickey Lake
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 Dickey Lake, 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 Dickey Lake was last stocked May 6, 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 Dickey Lake:
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).
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.
Kokanee Profile Tips
Usually caught by trolling small lures or bait behind flashers at depth; a major fall spectacle when spawning runs turn red in tributary streams.
Recommended Tackle for Dickey Lake
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 Dickey Lake, freshest activity first.
Smokey Lake
3 mi3 species · 40 records
Last stocked May 2026
Hole In The Wall Lake
5 mi2 species · 6 records
Last stocked May 2025
Louis Lake
5 mi2 species · 32 records
Last stocked August 2024
Sunday Lake 1
2 mi2 species · 18 records
Last stocked August 2024
Upper Lagoni Lake
5 mi1 species · 11 records
Last stocked August 2024
Herrig Lake
3 mi2 species · 14 records
Last stocked July 2023
Stocking history
Most recent stockings first. Dates shown at the precision the agency reported.
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 6, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | 2,517 | 3.26" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 1, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 2,515 | 3.76" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 1, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | 5,504 | 7.49" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 4, 2024 | Kokanee | 19,950 | 2.25" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 21, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 556 | 7.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 20, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 2,543 | 7.42" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 19, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 2,402 | 7.56" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 18, 2023 | Kokanee | 12,000 | 2.51" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Show 42 more stocking records →
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 20, 2022 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,001 | 1.31" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 20, 2022 | Kokanee | 20,890 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 5, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 999 | 7.94" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 6, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 1,265 | 7.84" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 15, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 100 | 7.47" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 12, 2021 | Kokanee | 15,000 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 12, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 1,001 | 7.23" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 22, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 1,651 | 7.23" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 17, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 1,100 | 7.08" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 9, 2020 | Kokanee | 21,349 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 29, 2019 | Rainbow Trout | 1,099 | 7.23" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 23, 2019 | Kokanee | 22,000 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 30, 2018 | Rainbow Trout | 1,099 | 7.37" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 26, 2017 | Kokanee | 20,000 | 1.83" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 25, 2017 | Rainbow Trout | 1,100 | 7.52" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 23, 2016 | Rainbow Trout | 1,002 | 7.49" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 12, 2016 | Rainbow Trout | 1,101 | 7.38" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| March 21, 2016 | Kokanee | 20,196 | 1.72" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 22, 2015 | Rainbow Trout | 100 | 7.87" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 26, 2015 | Rainbow Trout | 1,001 | 7.84" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 8, 2015 | Kokanee | 20,475 | 1.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 12, 2014 | Rainbow Trout | 1,005 | 6.34" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 30, 2013 | Kokanee | 20,056 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 21, 2012 | Rainbow Trout | 2,996 | 2.66" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 1, 2012 | Rainbow Trout | 1,513 | 6.63" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 24, 2012 | Kokanee | 20,550 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 7, 2011 | Kokanee | 20,000 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 5, 2011 | Rainbow Trout | 1,590 | 6.44" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 17, 2010 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,000 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 7, 2010 | Rainbow Trout | 1,620 | 5.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 5, 2010 | Kokanee | 20,000 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 21, 2009 | Rainbow Trout | 1,502 | 7.25" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 20, 2009 | Kokanee | 20,000 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 25, 2008 | Rainbow Trout | 3,152 | 3.52" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 20, 2008 | Rainbow Trout | 6,971 | 3.75" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 16, 2008 | Rainbow Trout | 647 | 7.6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 15, 2008 | Rainbow Trout | 854 | 6.85" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 7, 2008 | Kokanee | 9,600 | 2.1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 10, 2007 | Rainbow Trout | 3,888 | 4.25" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 10, 2007 | Rainbow Trout | 6,156 | 4.25" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 22, 2007 | Rainbow Trout | 796 | 8.55" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 8, 2007 | Kokanee | 4,900 | 1.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Showing 50 of 174 stocking records.
Frequently asked
When was Dickey Lake last stocked?
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Dickey Lake was last stocked May 6, 2026 with Rainbow Trout.
What fish species are stocked in Dickey Lake?
Dickey Lake is stocked with Rainbow Trout, Kokanee, Cutthroat Trout, Brook Trout, Arctic Grayling, Coho Salmon, and Chinook Salmon.
What time of year is Dickey Lake stocked?
Dickey Lake is typically stocked in spring and summer, most often in May.
How often is Dickey Lake stocked?
Dickey Lake has been stocked about 2 times a year — 174 recorded stockings between 1924 and 2026.
How many fish have been stocked in Dickey Lake?
About 2,331,426 fish have been stocked in Dickey Lake across 174 recorded events since 1924, per Montana fish & wildlife agency.
What size are the fish stocked in Dickey Lake?
Fish stocked in Dickey Lake average about 4.4 inches, based on the sizes the agency reported.
Do you need a fishing license to fish Dickey Lake?
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 Dickey Lake?
Freshly stocked trout in Dickey Lake 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.