Lake Blaine Fish Stocking
Montana · 1926–2014 on record
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Lake Blaine was last stocked June 30, 2014 with Rainbow Trout. Lake Blaine has 102 stocking records on file, spanning 1926–2014, with about 2,739,366 fish stocked over that period.
When Lake Blaine is stocked
Lake Blaine is typically stocked in spring and summer, most often in May — 33 stocking events in that peak month.
By species
Angler's Field Guide
Fishing Tips & Stocking Guide for Lake Blaine
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 Lake Blaine, 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 Lake Blaine was last stocked June 30, 2014, 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 Lake Blaine:
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.
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 Lake Blaine
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 Lake Blaine, freshest activity first.
Round Lake
3 mi4 species · 59 records
Last stocked May 2026
Rock Lake
2 mi3 species · 71 records
Last stocked September 2023
Jenny Lake
3 mi1 species · 15 records
Last stocked July 2022
Swift Creek
1 mi3 species · 14 records
Last stocked June 1984
Swimming Lake
4 mi2 species · 15 records
Last stocked May 1972
Plummer Lake
4 mi3 species · 4 records
Last stocked September 1971
Stocking history
Most recent stockings first. Dates shown at the precision the agency reported.
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2014 | Rainbow Trout | 6,091 | 6.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 16, 2013 | Rainbow Trout | 500 | 10.36" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 8, 2012 | Rainbow Trout | 10,153 | 3.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 24, 2008 | Rainbow Trout | 3,047 | 6.1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 16, 2008 | Rainbow Trout | 42 | 15.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 16, 2008 | Rainbow Trout | 4,145 | 6.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 5, 2007 | Rainbow Trout | 3,163 | 8.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 27, 2005 | Rainbow Trout | 4,053 | 2.95" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Show 42 more stocking records →
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 28, 2000 | Rainbow Trout | 3,000 | 6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 21, 2000 | Rainbow Trout | 555 | 4.1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 6, 1984 | Kokanee | 50,000 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 28, 1983 | Kokanee | 50,000 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 1, 1982 | Cutthroat Trout | 30,000 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 1, 1982 | Kokanee | 50,000 | 1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 13, 1981 | Cutthroat Trout | 30,000 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 9, 1980 | Cutthroat Trout | 8,760 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 9, 1980 | Cutthroat Trout | 20,000 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 9, 1980 | Cutthroat Trout | 11,240 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 5, 1980 | Kokanee | 40,000 | 1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 10, 1979 | Cutthroat Trout | 29,711 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 23, 1979 | Kokanee | 50,000 | 1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 26, 1978 | Kokanee | 100,000 | 1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 26, 1978 | Cutthroat Trout | 30,294 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 3, 1977 | Cutthroat Trout | 30,006 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 5, 1976 | Cutthroat Trout | 26,928 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 4, 1976 | Kokanee | 100,000 | 1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 29, 1975 | Cutthroat Trout | 12,750 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 30, 1975 | Kokanee | 100,000 | 1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 21, 1975 | Cutthroat Trout | 9,914 | 7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 21, 1975 | Cutthroat Trout | 9,914 | 7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 9, 1974 | Kokanee | 120,000 | 0 | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 25, 1974 | Kokanee | 100,000 | 0 | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 5, 1973 | Kokanee | 55,000 | 1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 2, 1973 | Kokanee | 50,000 | 0 | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 22, 1971 | Kokanee | 3,312 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 5, 1970 | Splake | 251 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 27, 1966 | Rainbow Trout | 20,817 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 18, 1965 | Rainbow Trout | 20,000 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 10, 1964 | Rainbow Trout | 22,575 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 22, 1964 | Rainbow Trout | 12,000 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 6, 1963 | Rainbow Trout | 9,598 | 6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 29, 1962 | Rainbow Trout | 3,300 | 6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 14, 1962 | Rainbow Trout | 6,300 | 6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 10, 1961 | Rainbow Trout | 8,643 | 6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 22, 1960 | Rainbow Trout | 7,560 | 0 | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 22, 1960 | Rainbow Trout | 7,560 | 0 | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 13, 1959 | Rainbow Trout | 6,972 | 0 | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 4, 1959 | Kokanee | 60,000 | 0 | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 1, 1959 | Rainbow Trout | 7,998 | 0 | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 9, 1958 | Kokanee | 50,000 | 0 | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Showing 50 of 102 stocking records.
Frequently asked
When was Lake Blaine last stocked?
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Lake Blaine was last stocked June 30, 2014 with Rainbow Trout.
What fish species are stocked in Lake Blaine?
Lake Blaine is stocked with Rainbow Trout, Kokanee, Cutthroat Trout, Splake, Lake Trout, Brook Trout, Largemouth Bass, Coho Salmon, Arctic Grayling, Chinook Salmon, and Sunfish.
What time of year is Lake Blaine stocked?
Lake Blaine is typically stocked in spring and summer, most often in May.
How often is Lake Blaine stocked?
Lake Blaine is stocked intermittently — 102 recorded stockings between 1926 and 2014.
How many fish have been stocked in Lake Blaine?
About 2,739,366 fish have been stocked in Lake Blaine across 102 recorded events since 1926, per Montana fish & wildlife agency.
What size are the fish stocked in Lake Blaine?
Fish stocked in Lake Blaine average about 4.0 inches, based on the sizes the agency reported.
Do you need a fishing license to fish Lake Blaine?
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 Lake Blaine?
Freshly stocked trout in Lake Blaine 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.