Lake Elmo Fish Stocking
Montana · 1931–2026 on record
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Lake Elmo was last stocked June 3, 2026 with Rainbow Trout. Lake Elmo has 263 stocking records on file, spanning 1931–2026, with about 1,180,276 fish stocked over that period.
When Lake Elmo is stocked
Lake Elmo is typically stocked in spring and summer, most often in April — 52 stocking events in that peak month.
By species
Angler's Field Guide
Fishing Tips & Stocking Guide for Lake Elmo
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 Elmo, 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 Elmo was last stocked June 3, 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 Lake Elmo:
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.
Catfish Rigging
Fish a Carolina slip-sinker bottom rig with a 1/2 to 1 oz egg sinker, swivel, and 1/0–3/0 circle hook. Baits such as chicken liver, cut baitfish (shad), nightcrawlers, and stink baits produce best during early morning, dusk, or night in deeper holes.
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.
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.
Recommended Tackle for Lake Elmo
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.
Heavy Duty Offset Circle Hooks (1/0–3/0)
Circle hooks naturally turn into the corner of a catfish's jaw as it turns, preventing gut-hooking and improving hookup rates.
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 Elmo, freshest activity first.
Shiloh Conservation Pond 1
9 mi3 species · 57 records
Last stocked June 2026
Canyon Creek Pond
10 mi3 species · 30 records
Last stocked May 2026
Lake Josephine
7 mi6 species · 42 records
Last stocked September 2025
Popelka Pond
15 mi1 species · 13 records
Last stocked August 2025
Shiloh Conservation Pond 2
9 mi1 species · 7 records
Last stocked August 2024
Transwestern Pond
9 mi2 species · 5 records
Last stocked August 2022
Stocking history
Most recent stockings first. Dates shown at the precision the agency reported.
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 3, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | 464 | 8.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 5, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | 1,410 | 8.1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 21, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | 1,533 | 7.88" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 14, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | 1,425 | 7.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| March 26, 2026 | Cutthroat Trout | 100 | 17.24" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| February 25, 2026 | Cutthroat Trout | 150 | 16" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| December 3, 2025 | Cutthroat Trout | 350 | 9.52" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 14, 2025 | White Crappie | 1,855 | 1.58" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Show 42 more stocking records →
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 4,851 | 9.05" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 4, 2025 | Bluegill | 6,500 | 1.61" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 13, 2025 | Cutthroat Trout | 9,054 | 2.72" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 6, 2025 | Largemouth Bass | 5,000 | 1.46" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 3, 2025 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,500 | 6.69" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 29, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 4,800 | 8.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 8, 2025 | Cutthroat Trout | 150 | 17.24" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 8, 2024 | Bluegill | 65,000 | 1.6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 6, 2024 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,388 | 7.38" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 10, 2024 | Cutthroat Trout | 100 | 11.37" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 3, 2024 | Cutthroat Trout | 300 | 5.19" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 3, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | 4,832 | 7.68" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 25, 2024 | Brown Trout | 3,000 | 6.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 21, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 5,112 | 8.64" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 14, 2023 | Cutthroat Trout | 15,789 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 19, 2023 | Bluegill | 6,500 | 1.45" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 7, 2023 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,061 | 7.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 21, 2023 | Cutthroat Trout | 704 | 6.74" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 16, 2023 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,000 | 6.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 1, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 4,950 | 7.75" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 27, 2022 | Tiger Trout | 75 | 8.43" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 5, 2022 | Bluegill | 32,065 | 0.75" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 19, 2022 | Channel Catfish | 37 | 24.26" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 19, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 1,041 | 8.96" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 29, 2022 | Yellow Perch | 20,000 | 0.85" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 6, 2022 | Brown Trout | 4,076 | 4.09" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 26, 2022 | Cutthroat Trout | 57 | 16.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 24, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 5,250 | 7.34" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 24, 2022 | Cutthroat Trout | 57 | 18" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 20, 2022 | Cutthroat Trout | 130 | 16.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 19, 2022 | Cutthroat Trout | 125 | 15.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 19, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 15,775 | 3.81" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 12, 2022 | Fathead Minnow | 10,000 | 1.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 12, 2022 | Channel Catfish | 31 | 24" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 12, 2022 | Yellow Perch | 134 | 8.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 9, 2022 | Cutthroat Trout | 125 | 18" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 5, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 51,348 | 2.15" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 10, 2022 | Cutthroat Trout | 125 | 18" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 4, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 4,819 | 6.65" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| March 17, 2021 | Cutthroat Trout | 62 | 20.45" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| March 17, 2021 | Cutthroat Trout | 63 | 20.45" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 16, 2020 | Cutthroat Trout | 300 | 8.06" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Showing 50 of 263 stocking records.
Frequently asked
When was Lake Elmo last stocked?
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Lake Elmo was last stocked June 3, 2026 with Rainbow Trout.
What fish species are stocked in Lake Elmo?
Lake Elmo is stocked with Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout, White Crappie, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Brown Trout, Tiger Trout, Channel Catfish, Yellow Perch, Fathead Minnow, Smallmouth Bass, Arctic Grayling, Black Crappie, Crappie, and Sunfish.
What time of year is Lake Elmo stocked?
Lake Elmo is typically stocked in spring and summer, most often in April.
How often is Lake Elmo stocked?
Lake Elmo has been stocked about 3 times a year — 263 recorded stockings between 1931 and 2026.
How many fish have been stocked in Lake Elmo?
About 1,180,276 fish have been stocked in Lake Elmo across 263 recorded events since 1931, per Montana fish & wildlife agency.
What size are the fish stocked in Lake Elmo?
Fish stocked in Lake Elmo average about 8.7 inches, based on the sizes the agency reported.
Do you need a fishing license to fish Lake Elmo?
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 Elmo?
Freshly stocked trout in Lake Elmo 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.