Laurel Pond Fish Stocking
Montana · 1968–2026 on record
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Laurel Pond was last stocked June 3, 2026 with Rainbow Trout. Laurel Pond has 200 stocking records on file, spanning 1968–2026, with about 419,376 fish stocked over that period.
When Laurel Pond is stocked
Laurel Pond is typically stocked in spring and summer, most often in April — 57 stocking events in that peak month.
By species
Angler's Field Guide
Fishing Tips & Stocking Guide for Laurel Pond
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 Laurel Pond, 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 Laurel Pond 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 Laurel Pond:
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.
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 Laurel Pond
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 Laurel Pond, freshest activity first.
Shiloh Conservation Pond 1
10 mi3 species · 57 records
Last stocked June 2026
Canyon Creek Pond
9 mi3 species · 30 records
Last stocked May 2026
Lake Josephine
13 mi6 species · 42 records
Last stocked September 2025
Popelka Pond
15 mi1 species · 13 records
Last stocked August 2025
Shiloh Conservation Pond 2
10 mi1 species · 7 records
Last stocked August 2024
Joels Pond
10 mi2 species · 2 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 |
| April 23, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | 1,533 | 7.88" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 16, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | 1,644 | 7.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 3, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 2,016 | 11.14" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 23, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 4,000 | 8.25" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 14, 2025 | Cutthroat Trout | 100 | 17.24" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 5, 2024 | Cutthroat Trout | 500 | 6.79" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 24, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | 4,000 | 7.33" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Show 42 more stocking records →
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 12, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 2,079 | 8.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 28, 2023 | Largemouth Bass | 5,000 | 2.03" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 10, 2023 | Cutthroat Trout | 420 | 7.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 2, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 1,400 | 7.37" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 13, 2023 | Cutthroat Trout | 355 | 6.43" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 25, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 4,675 | 7.51" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 16, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 4,800 | 7.48" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 26, 2022 | Cutthroat Trout | 100 | 17.86" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 13, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 200 | 9.93" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 10, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 2,043 | 8.15" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 27, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 4,079 | 6.31" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| March 17, 2021 | Cutthroat Trout | 37 | 20.45" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| March 17, 2021 | Cutthroat Trout | 38 | 20.45" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 9, 2020 | Largemouth Bass | 5,000 | 0.95" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 28, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 200 | 12.6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 28, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 4,000 | 7.39" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| March 11, 2020 | Cutthroat Trout | 100 | 18.58" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 26, 2019 | Rainbow Trout | 50 | 10.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 26, 2019 | Rainbow Trout | 1,800 | 8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 12, 2019 | Cutthroat Trout | 66 | 18.58" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 17, 2019 | Rainbow Trout | 3,500 | 7.21" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 29, 2018 | Rainbow Trout | 1,051 | 7.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 19, 2018 | Largemouth Bass | 1,500 | 2.01" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 23, 2018 | Cutthroat Trout | 151 | 16" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 9, 2018 | Rainbow Trout | 1,991 | 7.06" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 23, 2017 | Rainbow Trout | 2,002 | 8.26" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 18, 2017 | Largemouth Bass | 7,500 | 1.28" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 13, 2017 | Rainbow Trout | 2,099 | 5.98" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 15, 2017 | Cutthroat Trout | 150 | 17" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 24, 2017 | Rainbow Trout | 4,019 | 6.66" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 19, 2017 | Rainbow Trout | 83 | 7.04" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 19, 2017 | Rainbow Trout | 83 | 11.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 5, 2017 | Cutthroat Trout | 150 | 16" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 23, 2016 | Rainbow Trout | 924 | 9.38" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 22, 2016 | Rainbow Trout | 1,076 | 9.38" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 10, 2016 | Cutthroat Trout | 200 | 16.55" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| March 21, 2016 | Rainbow Trout | 2,002 | 7.14" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| March 21, 2016 | Rainbow Trout | 2,002 | 7.14" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 21, 2015 | Cutthroat Trout | 85 | 16.68" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 25, 2015 | Rainbow Trout | 1,998 | 8.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 18, 2015 | Cutthroat Trout | 100 | 15.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 7, 2015 | Rainbow Trout | 4,000 | 6.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Showing 50 of 200 stocking records.
Frequently asked
When was Laurel Pond last stocked?
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Laurel Pond was last stocked June 3, 2026 with Rainbow Trout.
What fish species are stocked in Laurel Pond?
Laurel Pond is stocked with Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass.
What time of year is Laurel Pond stocked?
Laurel Pond is typically stocked in spring and summer, most often in April.
How often is Laurel Pond stocked?
Laurel Pond has been stocked about 3 times a year — 200 recorded stockings between 1968 and 2026.
How many fish have been stocked in Laurel Pond?
About 419,376 fish have been stocked in Laurel Pond across 200 recorded events since 1968, per Montana fish & wildlife agency.
What size are the fish stocked in Laurel Pond?
Fish stocked in Laurel Pond average about 9.2 inches, based on the sizes the agency reported.
Do you need a fishing license to fish Laurel Pond?
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 Laurel Pond?
Freshly stocked trout in Laurel Pond 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.