Fort Peck Dredge Cuts Fish Stocking
Montana · 1963–2013 on record
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Fort Peck Dredge Cuts was last stocked May 17, 2013 with Rainbow Trout. Fort Peck Dredge Cuts has 77 stocking records on file, spanning 1963–2013, with about 730,786 fish stocked over that period.
When Fort Peck Dredge Cuts is stocked
Fort Peck Dredge Cuts is typically stocked in spring and summer, most often in May — 18 stocking events in that peak month.
By species
Angler's Field Guide
Fishing Tips & Stocking Guide for Fort Peck Dredge Cuts
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 Fort Peck Dredge Cuts, 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 Fort Peck Dredge Cuts was last stocked May 17, 2013, 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 Fort Peck Dredge Cuts:
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.
Largemouth Bass Profile Tips
The centerpiece of American bass fishing culture, taken on everything from topwater lures to soft plastics and live bait.
Recommended Tackle for Fort Peck Dredge Cuts
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 Fort Peck Dredge Cuts, freshest activity first.
Fort Peck Trout Pond
0 mi1 species · 11 records
Last stocked October 2025
Home Run Pond
12 mi4 species · 85 records
Last stocked September 2025
Flat Lake
4 mi5 species · 79 records
Last stocked June 2025
Coe Campsite Pond #1
3 mi1 species · 62 records
Last stocked July 2020
Milk River
6 mi13 species · 325 records
Last stocked May 2014
Winter Harbor Pond
3 mi2 species · 7 records
Last stocked September 2009
Stocking history
Most recent stockings first. Dates shown at the precision the agency reported.
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 17, 2013 | Rainbow Trout | 10,008 | 2.89" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 12, 2012 | Rainbow Trout | 1,505 | 7.79" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 7, 2012 | Rainbow Trout | 10,024 | 2.64" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 15, 2011 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 11, 2011 | Rainbow Trout | 10,000 | 2.88" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 25, 2010 | Rainbow Trout | 9,952 | 3.76" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 7, 2008 | Largemouth Bass | 1,000 | 3.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 28, 2008 | Yellow Perch | 1,250 | 6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Show 42 more stocking records →
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 24, 2005 | Largemouth Bass | 3,850 | 1.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 19, 2004 | Bluegill | 3,000 | 1.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 27, 2004 | Rainbow Trout | 50 | 21" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 26, 2004 | Walleye | 147 | 19.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 23, 2002 | Largemouth Bass | 6,000 | 1.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 3, 1997 | Yellow Perch | 5,400 | 0 | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 29, 1991 | Northern Pike | 1,100 | 1.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 31, 1990 | Walleye | 966 | 4.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 18, 1990 | Northern Pike | 1,000 | 1.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 12, 1989 | Walleye | 500 | 4.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 5, 1989 | Fathead Minnow | 20,000 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 25, 1988 | Fathead Minnow | 27,775 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 18, 1988 | Yellow Perch | 2,776 | 0 | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 12, 1988 | Fathead Minnow | 72,655 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 11, 1988 | Fathead Minnow | 8,337 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 6, 1988 | Fathead Minnow | 300 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 7, 1988 | Yellow Perch | 712 | 6.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 11, 1987 | Fathead Minnow | 5,000 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 29, 1986 | Walleye | 2,412 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 6, 1986 | Northern Pike | 19 | 36" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 23, 1985 | Fathead Minnow | 25,000 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 3, 1985 | Northern Pike | 115 | 16" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 26, 1985 | Sauger | 35 | 12" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 11, 1985 | Northern Pike | 105 | 20" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 7, 1984 | Northern Pike | 35 | 18" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 3, 1979 | Walleye | 1,065 | 7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 5, 1979 | Yellow Perch | 2,000 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 10, 1978 | Walleye | 1,027 | 6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 14, 1978 | Yellow Perch | 4,860 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 23, 1977 | Walleye | 590 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 26, 1976 | Largemouth Bass | 10,000 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 24, 1975 | Walleye | 228 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 19, 1974 | Walleye | 20 | 12" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 6, 1974 | Walleye | 25 | 10" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 19, 1973 | Rainbow Trout | 4,284 | 7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 21, 1973 | Walleye | 10,000 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 18, 1973 | Rainbow Trout | 4,100 | 7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 12, 1972 | Rainbow Trout | 3,360 | 10" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 15, 1972 | Walleye | 532 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 29, 1972 | Northern Pike | 177 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 28, 1972 | Walleye | 36,500 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 18, 1972 | Rainbow Trout | 3,264 | 11" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Showing 50 of 77 stocking records.
Frequently asked
When was Fort Peck Dredge Cuts last stocked?
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Fort Peck Dredge Cuts was last stocked May 17, 2013 with Rainbow Trout.
What fish species are stocked in Fort Peck Dredge Cuts?
Fort Peck Dredge Cuts is stocked with Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Bluegill, Walleye, Northern Pike, Fathead Minnow, Sauger, and Coho Salmon.
What time of year is Fort Peck Dredge Cuts stocked?
Fort Peck Dredge Cuts is typically stocked in spring and summer, most often in May.
How often is Fort Peck Dredge Cuts stocked?
Fort Peck Dredge Cuts has been stocked about 2 times a year — 77 recorded stockings between 1963 and 2013.
How many fish have been stocked in Fort Peck Dredge Cuts?
About 730,786 fish have been stocked in Fort Peck Dredge Cuts across 77 recorded events since 1963, per Montana fish & wildlife agency.
What size are the fish stocked in Fort Peck Dredge Cuts?
Fish stocked in Fort Peck Dredge Cuts average about 6.5 inches, based on the sizes the agency reported.
Do you need a fishing license to fish Fort Peck Dredge Cuts?
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 Fort Peck Dredge Cuts?
Freshly stocked trout in Fort Peck Dredge Cuts 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.