Lake Shel-oole Fish Stocking
Montana · 1968–2021 on record
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Lake Shel-oole was last stocked September 15, 2021 with Largemouth Bass. Lake Shel-oole has 50 stocking records on file, spanning 1968–2021, with about 212,378 fish stocked over that period.
When Lake Shel-oole is stocked
Lake Shel-oole is typically stocked in spring, most often in May — 20 stocking events in that peak month.
Angler's Field Guide
Fishing Tips & Stocking Guide for Lake Shel-oole
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 Shel-oole, 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 Shel-oole was last stocked September 15, 2021, 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 Shel-oole:
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.
Largemouth Bass Profile Tips
The centerpiece of American bass fishing culture, taken on everything from topwater lures to soft plastics and live bait.
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 Lake Shel-oole
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 Shel-oole, freshest activity first.
Lake Frances
25 mi5 species · 181 records
Last stocked June 2025
Cut Bank Creek
17 mi4 species · 285 records
Last stocked July 2009
Two Medicine River
17 mi2 species · 72 records
Last stocked September 1989
Winginaw Coulee
17 mi1 species · 2 records
Last stocked June 1978
Fowler Reservoir
24 mi1 species · 4 records
Last stocked May 1976
Dupuyer Creek
26 mi3 species · 71 records
Last stocked August 1972
Stocking history
Most recent stockings first. Dates shown at the precision the agency reported.
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2021 | Largemouth Bass | 2,065 | 3.24" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 28, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 500 | 3.49" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 25, 2019 | Rainbow Trout | 500 | 4.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 21, 2012 | Rainbow Trout | 3,000 | 3.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 5, 2011 | Rainbow Trout | 5,000 | 3.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 20, 1998 | Rainbow Trout | 6,700 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 13, 1997 | Rainbow Trout | 7,500 | 3.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 20, 1996 | Rainbow Trout | 2,500 | 4.1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Show 42 more stocking records →
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 29, 1996 | Rainbow Trout | 5,000 | 4.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 4, 1995 | Rainbow Trout | 7,500 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 3, 1994 | Rainbow Trout | 7,500 | 4.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 4, 1993 | Rainbow Trout | 7,515 | 3.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 28, 1992 | Rainbow Trout | 7,509 | 3.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 8, 1991 | Rainbow Trout | 7,511 | 4.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 2, 1990 | Rainbow Trout | 7,500 | 4.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 15, 1989 | Rainbow Trout | 7,945 | 5.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 29, 1987 | Rainbow Trout | 7,500 | 4.6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 9, 1986 | Rainbow Trout | 7,500 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 6, 1985 | Rainbow Trout | 7,499 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 23, 1984 | Rainbow Trout | 7,687 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 1, 1983 | Rainbow Trout | 7,506 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 19, 1982 | Rainbow Trout | 7,690 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 5, 1981 | Rainbow Trout | 7,500 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 5, 1980 | Rainbow Trout | 7,520 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 7, 1979 | Rainbow Trout | 5,035 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 13, 1978 | Rainbow Trout | 2,508 | 6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 6, 1978 | Rainbow Trout | 5,100 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 5, 1977 | Rainbow Trout | 5,060 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 21, 1976 | Rainbow Trout | 5,015 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 12, 1975 | Rainbow Trout | 3,080 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 12, 1975 | Rainbow Trout | 1,500 | 7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 16, 1974 | Rainbow Trout | 1,520 | 7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 16, 1974 | Rainbow Trout | 3,000 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 25, 1973 | Rainbow Trout | 1,650 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 8, 1973 | Rainbow Trout | 3,036 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 8, 1973 | Rainbow Trout | 1,540 | 7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 22, 1972 | Rainbow Trout | 1,920 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 20, 1972 | Rainbow Trout | 1,350 | 10" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 20, 1972 | Rainbow Trout | 3,360 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 22, 1971 | Rainbow Trout | 1,560 | 10" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 15, 1971 | Rainbow Trout | 3,300 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 15, 1971 | Rainbow Trout | 1,560 | 10" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 10, 1970 | Rainbow Trout | 1,540 | 10" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 6, 1970 | Rainbow Trout | 3,080 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 6, 1970 | Rainbow Trout | 1,530 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 7, 1969 | Rainbow Trout | 1,295 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 14, 1969 | Rainbow Trout | 2,970 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 14, 1969 | Rainbow Trout | 2,010 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 12, 1968 | Rainbow Trout | 1,512 | 8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 10, 1968 | Rainbow Trout | 1,200 | 10" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Frequently asked
When was Lake Shel-oole last stocked?
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Lake Shel-oole was last stocked September 15, 2021 with Largemouth Bass.
What fish species are stocked in Lake Shel-oole?
Lake Shel-oole is stocked with Largemouth Bass and Rainbow Trout.
What time of year is Lake Shel-oole stocked?
Lake Shel-oole is typically stocked in spring, most often in May.
How often is Lake Shel-oole stocked?
Lake Shel-oole is stocked intermittently — 50 recorded stockings between 1968 and 2021.
How many fish have been stocked in Lake Shel-oole?
About 212,378 fish have been stocked in Lake Shel-oole across 50 recorded events since 1968, per Montana fish & wildlife agency.
What size are the fish stocked in Lake Shel-oole?
Fish stocked in Lake Shel-oole average about 5.5 inches, based on the sizes the agency reported.
Do you need a fishing license to fish Lake Shel-oole?
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 Shel-oole?
Freshly stocked trout in Lake Shel-oole 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.