Gaskill Reservoir Fish Stocking
Montana · 1950–2020 on record
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Gaskill Reservoir was last stocked April 22, 2020 with Rainbow Trout. Gaskill Reservoir has 64 stocking records on file, spanning 1950–2020, with about 80,850 fish stocked over that period.
When Gaskill Reservoir is stocked
Gaskill Reservoir is typically stocked in summer, most often in July — 21 stocking events in that peak month.
By species
Angler's Field Guide
Fishing Tips & Stocking Guide for Gaskill 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 Gaskill 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 Gaskill Reservoir was last stocked April 22, 2020, 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 Gaskill 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.
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.
White Crappie Profile Tips
Taken the same way as black crappie — small jigs and minnows fished around brush, docks, and other structure.
Recommended Tackle for Gaskill 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 Gaskill Reservoir, freshest activity first.
Gaskill Reservoir # 1
16 mi1 species · 5 records
Last stocked May 2025
Blacks Sawmill Pond
19 mi2 species · 36 records
Last stocked May 2025
Samuelson, Norman #2
13 mi1 species · 12 records
Last stocked May 2024
Gaskill # 2
16 mi2 species · 3 records
Last stocked July 2020
Losinski Pond #3
19 mi2 species · 28 records
Last stocked July 2019
Sidney Samuelson
19 mi1 species · 2 records
Last stocked July 2019
Stocking history
Most recent stockings first. Dates shown at the precision the agency reported.
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 22, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 4.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 24, 2019 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 1.88" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 2, 2018 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 2.01" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 12, 2017 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 1.98" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 5, 2016 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 1.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 7, 2015 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 1.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 16, 2014 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 11, 2013 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Show 42 more stocking records →
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 9, 1984 | White Crappie | 1,000 | 1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 15, 1982 | Largemouth Bass | 750 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 1, 1979 | Smallmouth Bass | 1,000 | 1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 1, 1979 | Smallmouth Bass | 750 | 1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 1, 1979 | Smallmouth Bass | 750 | 1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 20, 1979 | Largemouth Bass | 1,000 | 1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 20, 1979 | Largemouth Bass | 750 | 1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 14, 1979 | Northern Pike | 500 | 1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 27, 1978 | Largemouth Bass | 1,000 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 27, 1978 | Largemouth Bass | 1,000 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 14, 1978 | Smallmouth Bass | 600 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 14, 1978 | Smallmouth Bass | 600 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 14, 1978 | Rainbow Trout | 600 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 26, 1978 | Rainbow Trout | 1,600 | 7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 14, 1977 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 17, 1975 | Largemouth Bass | 2,500 | 1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 16, 1975 | Largemouth Bass | 5,000 | 1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 16, 1975 | Largemouth Bass | 2,500 | 1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 24, 1972 | Largemouth Bass | 400 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 23, 1972 | Largemouth Bass | 200 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 16, 1972 | Walleye | 5,000 | 0 | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 15, 1968 | Largemouth Bass | 100 | 1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 15, 1968 | Largemouth Bass | 400 | 1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 7, 1966 | Largemouth Bass | 300 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 31, 1965 | Bass | 300 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 31, 1965 | Bass | 300 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 20, 1965 | Bass | 300 | 1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 13, 1965 | Northern Pike | 300 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| November 10, 1964 | Rainbow Trout | 300 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 23, 1963 | Rainbow Trout | 1,200 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 20, 1963 | Largemouth Bass | 400 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 20, 1963 | Bluegill | 1,000 | 1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 5, 1963 | Largemouth Bass | 1,800 | 1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 12, 1963 | Northern Pike | 1,100 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 26, 1961 | Largemouth Bass | 400 | 1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 28, 1960 | Bluegill | 500 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 28, 1960 | Bluegill | 3,000 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 28, 1960 | Largemouth Bass | 1,000 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 28, 1960 | Largemouth Bass | 600 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 27, 1960 | Largemouth Bass | 300 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 27, 1960 | Largemouth Bass | 600 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 27, 1960 | Largemouth Bass | 1,200 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Showing 50 of 64 stocking records.
Frequently asked
When was Gaskill Reservoir last stocked?
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Gaskill Reservoir was last stocked April 22, 2020 with Rainbow Trout.
What fish species are stocked in Gaskill Reservoir?
Gaskill Reservoir is stocked with Rainbow Trout, White Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Bass, Bluegill, and Brown Trout.
What time of year is Gaskill Reservoir stocked?
Gaskill Reservoir is typically stocked in summer, most often in July.
How often is Gaskill Reservoir stocked?
Gaskill Reservoir is stocked intermittently — 64 recorded stockings between 1950 and 2020.
How many fish have been stocked in Gaskill Reservoir?
About 80,850 fish have been stocked in Gaskill Reservoir across 64 recorded events since 1950, per Montana fish & wildlife agency.
What size are the fish stocked in Gaskill Reservoir?
Fish stocked in Gaskill Reservoir average about 2.1 inches, based on the sizes the agency reported.
Do you need a fishing license to fish Gaskill 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 Gaskill Reservoir?
Freshly stocked trout in Gaskill 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.