Hidden Lake Fish Stocking
Montana · 1930–2025 on record
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Hidden Lake was last stocked June 5, 2025 with Cutthroat Trout. Hidden Lake has 103 stocking records on file, spanning 1930–2025, with about 341,726 fish stocked over that period.
When Hidden Lake is stocked
Hidden Lake is typically stocked in summer, most often in June — 43 stocking events in that peak month.
By species
Angler's Field Guide
Fishing Tips & Stocking Guide for Hidden 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 Hidden 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 Hidden Lake was last stocked June 5, 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 Hidden 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.
Cutthroat Trout Profile Tips
Known for being relatively easy to catch on dry flies, making it a favorite of western fly anglers; many subspecies are managed under catch-and-release rules to protect native populations.
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.
Recommended Tackle for Hidden 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.
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 Hidden Lake, freshest activity first.
Penny Lake
3 mi2 species · 8 records
Last stocked October 2025
Coopers Lake
3 mi2 species · 104 records
Last stocked October 2025
Maddie Lake
7 mi2 species · 5 records
Last stocked June 2025
Kleinschmidt Creek
10 mi1 species · 1 records
Last stocked May 1990
Unnamed Lake (powell Co)
3 mi1 species · 2 records
Last stocked June 1984
Tupper Lake
7 mi2 species · 9 records
Last stocked July 1966
Stocking history
Most recent stockings first. Dates shown at the precision the agency reported.
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 5, 2025 | Cutthroat Trout | 800 | 4.57" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 12, 2024 | Cutthroat Trout | 636 | 3.78" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 7, 2023 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,003 | 5.46" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 7, 2023 | Cutthroat Trout | 500 | 8.41" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 23, 2022 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,000 | 4.97" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 2, 2021 | Cutthroat Trout | 500 | 9.63" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 2, 2021 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,000 | 5.68" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 30, 2019 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,000 | 2.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Show 42 more stocking records →
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 20, 2019 | Cutthroat Trout | 600 | 5.02" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 23, 2018 | Cutthroat Trout | 800 | 6.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 24, 2018 | Cutthroat Trout | 999 | 1.75" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 24, 2017 | Cutthroat Trout | 760 | 5.32" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 16, 2016 | Cutthroat Trout | 500 | 5.44" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 16, 2016 | Cutthroat Trout | 500 | 5.29" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 4, 2015 | Cutthroat Trout | 500 | 5.1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 4, 2015 | Cutthroat Trout | 500 | 4.58" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 30, 2014 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,000 | 1.64" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 5, 2014 | Cutthroat Trout | 500 | 4.99" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 5, 2014 | Cutthroat Trout | 500 | 5.07" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 26, 2012 | Cutthroat Trout | 500 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 26, 2012 | Cutthroat Trout | 500 | 4.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 2, 2011 | Cutthroat Trout | 500 | 6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 30, 2011 | Cutthroat Trout | 437 | 3.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 16, 2010 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,000 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 21, 2010 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,000 | 5.93" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 16, 2009 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,000 | 6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 17, 2008 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,000 | 5.37" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 20, 2008 | Rainbow Trout | 8,457 | 6.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 18, 2007 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,000 | 5.85" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 9, 2007 | Rainbow Trout | 10,577 | 6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 21, 2006 | Cutthroat Trout | 900 | 5.67" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 8, 2006 | Rainbow Trout | 10,326 | 5.59" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 7, 2005 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,100 | 5.51" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 20, 2004 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,000 | 5.88" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 23, 2003 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,000 | 5.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 14, 2002 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,000 | 2.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 17, 2002 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,000 | 5.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 26, 2001 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,000 | 4.6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 1, 2000 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,000 | 3.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 15, 1999 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,000 | 3.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 12, 1998 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,000 | 1.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 9, 1998 | Cutthroat Trout | 941 | 3.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 25, 1997 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,018 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 4, 1996 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,000 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 10, 1995 | Cutthroat Trout | 3,000 | 1.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 26, 1995 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,020 | 4.1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 10, 1994 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,000 | 2.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 16, 1994 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,000 | 3.1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 25, 1993 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,000 | 3.1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 5, 1992 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,136 | 3.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Showing 50 of 103 stocking records.
Frequently asked
When was Hidden Lake last stocked?
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Hidden Lake was last stocked June 5, 2025 with Cutthroat Trout.
What fish species are stocked in Hidden Lake?
Hidden Lake is stocked with Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, and Arctic Grayling.
What time of year is Hidden Lake stocked?
Hidden Lake is typically stocked in summer, most often in June.
How often is Hidden Lake stocked?
Hidden Lake is stocked intermittently — 103 recorded stockings between 1930 and 2025.
How many fish have been stocked in Hidden Lake?
About 341,726 fish have been stocked in Hidden Lake across 103 recorded events since 1930, per Montana fish & wildlife agency.
What size are the fish stocked in Hidden Lake?
Fish stocked in Hidden Lake average about 4.3 inches, based on the sizes the agency reported.
Do you need a fishing license to fish Hidden 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 Hidden Lake?
Freshly stocked trout in Hidden 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.