Little Bitterroot Lake Fish Stocking
Montana · 1924–2024 on record
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Little Bitterroot Lake was last stocked June 20, 2024 with Rainbow Trout. Little Bitterroot Lake has 411 stocking records on file, spanning 1924–2024, with about 14,829,288 fish stocked over that period.
When Little Bitterroot Lake is stocked
Little Bitterroot Lake is typically stocked in summer, most often in June — 118 stocking events in that peak month.
By species
Angler's Field Guide
Fishing Tips & Stocking Guide for Little Bitterroot 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 Little Bitterroot 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 Little Bitterroot Lake was last stocked June 20, 2024, 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 Little Bitterroot 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.
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 Little Bitterroot 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.
Mack's Lure Classic Wedding Ring Spinner
A classic Western trolling lure designed to be tipped with shoepeg corn and run behind a dodger in deep thermoclines.
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 Little Bitterroot Lake, freshest activity first.
Little Mcgregor Lake
7 mi4 species · 91 records
Last stocked June 2026
Bootjack Lake
11 mi4 species · 145 records
Last stocked June 2026
Loon Lake
11 mi7 species · 182 records
Last stocked May 2026
Mcgregor Lake
9 mi7 species · 334 records
Last stocked May 2026
Rogers Lake
7 mi3 species · 112 records
Last stocked September 2024
Ashley Lake
7 mi5 species · 364 records
Last stocked September 2023
Stocking history
Most recent stockings first. Dates shown at the precision the agency reported.
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 20, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | 20,020 | 3.25" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 10, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | 20,023 | 2.72" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 30, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | 5,123 | 7.68" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 21, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 20,729 | 2.87" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 21, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 10,727 | 3.71" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 2, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 9,610 | 3.73" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 27, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 2,000 | 7.99" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 20, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 2,000 | 7.79" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Show 42 more stocking records →
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 15, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 404 | 7.47" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 2, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 18,356 | 3.28" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 19, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 1,329 | 7.54" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 16, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 2,671 | 7.26" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 10, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 348 | 7.19" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 3, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 21,539 | 3.34" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 20, 2020 | Kokanee | 35,000 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 22, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 4,052 | 7.08" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 18, 2019 | Rainbow Trout | 20,000 | 3.16" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 22, 2019 | Kokanee | 26,125 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 22, 2019 | Rainbow Trout | 4,398 | 7.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 1, 2018 | Rainbow Trout | 21,340 | 3.61" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 7, 2018 | Rainbow Trout | 2,199 | 7.38" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 27, 2018 | Rainbow Trout | 2,200 | 7.47" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 23, 2017 | Rainbow Trout | 20,000 | 3.63" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 17, 2017 | Rainbow Trout | 2,201 | 7.59" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 9, 2017 | Rainbow Trout | 2,199 | 7.53" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 27, 2016 | Rainbow Trout | 2,224 | 5.64" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 27, 2016 | Rainbow Trout | 4,080 | 4.97" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 13, 2016 | Rainbow Trout | 15,000 | 3.46" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 27, 2016 | Rainbow Trout | 4,420 | 7.1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 25, 2015 | Rainbow Trout | 389 | 7.87" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 22, 2015 | Rainbow Trout | 11,960 | 3.97" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 22, 2015 | Rainbow Trout | 6,040 | 4.76" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 27, 2015 | Rainbow Trout | 4,007 | 7.84" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 18, 2014 | Rainbow Trout | 2,998 | 5.69" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 2, 2014 | Rainbow Trout | 2,998 | 4.32" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 2, 2014 | Rainbow Trout | 6,052 | 3.27" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 19, 2014 | Rainbow Trout | 8,980 | 4.38" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 9, 2014 | Rainbow Trout | 3,400 | 6.34" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 26, 2013 | Rainbow Trout | 22,009 | 4.1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 25, 2012 | Rainbow Trout | 5,500 | 5.49" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 26, 2012 | Rainbow Trout | 20,287 | 3.58" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 12, 2012 | Rainbow Trout | 4,400 | 7.28" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 29, 2012 | Kokanee | 18,624 | 2.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 28, 2011 | Rainbow Trout | 32,340 | 3.87" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 3, 2011 | Kokanee | 28,300 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 5, 2011 | Rainbow Trout | 4,021 | 6.44" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 18, 2010 | Rainbow Trout | 5,693 | 3.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 18, 2010 | Rainbow Trout | 26,324 | 4.03" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 9, 2010 | Rainbow Trout | 4,118 | 5.6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 2, 2010 | Kokanee | 27,335 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Showing 50 of 411 stocking records.
Frequently asked
When was Little Bitterroot Lake last stocked?
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Little Bitterroot Lake was last stocked June 20, 2024 with Rainbow Trout.
What fish species are stocked in Little Bitterroot Lake?
Little Bitterroot Lake is stocked with Rainbow Trout, Kokanee, Cutthroat Trout, Coho Salmon, Brook Trout, and Arctic Grayling.
What time of year is Little Bitterroot Lake stocked?
Little Bitterroot Lake is typically stocked in summer, most often in June.
How often is Little Bitterroot Lake stocked?
Little Bitterroot Lake has been stocked about 4 times a year — 411 recorded stockings between 1924 and 2024.
How many fish have been stocked in Little Bitterroot Lake?
About 14,829,288 fish have been stocked in Little Bitterroot Lake across 411 recorded events since 1924, per Montana fish & wildlife agency.
What size are the fish stocked in Little Bitterroot Lake?
Fish stocked in Little Bitterroot Lake average about 5.2 inches, based on the sizes the agency reported.
Do you need a fishing license to fish Little Bitterroot 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 Little Bitterroot Lake?
Freshly stocked trout in Little Bitterroot 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.