Lower Glaston Lake Fish Stocking
Montana · 1929–1991 on record
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Lower Glaston Lake was last stocked August 12, 1991 with Tiger Trout. Lower Glaston Lake has 54 stocking records on file, spanning 1929–1991, with about 894,362 fish stocked over that period.
When Lower Glaston Lake is stocked
Lower Glaston Lake is typically stocked in spring, most often in April — 25 stocking events in that peak month.
By species
Angler's Field Guide
Fishing Tips & Stocking Guide for Lower Glaston 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 Lower Glaston 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 Lower Glaston Lake was last stocked August 12, 1991, 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 Lower Glaston 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.
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).
Tiger Trout Profile Tips
Known for hitting lures and flies aggressively; a favorite for anglers seeking a distinctive, hard-fighting stocked trout.
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 Lower Glaston 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.
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 Lower Glaston Lake, freshest activity first.
Flanagan Pond
14 mi1 species · 1 records
Last stocked June 2011
Overland Pond
13 mi1 species · 2 records
Last stocked May 1986
Cayuse Creek
4 mi3 species · 103 records
Last stocked July 1982
Upper Glaston Lake
2 mi9 species · 14 records
Last stocked June 1965
Big Timber Creek
12 mi5 species · 105 records
Last stocked August 1963
East Fork Sweet Grass Creek
9 mi1 species · 4 records
Last stocked August 1952
Stocking history
Most recent stockings first. Dates shown at the precision the agency reported.
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 12, 1991 | Tiger Trout | 2,000 | 6.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 8, 1990 | Cutthroat Trout | 70 | 13.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 12, 1990 | Cutthroat Trout | 5,104 | 7.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 6, 1989 | Rainbow Trout | 7,011 | 4.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 25, 1989 | Tiger Trout | 2,800 | 1.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 26, 1988 | Rainbow Trout | 4,050 | 4.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 20, 1984 | Cutthroat Trout | 20,022 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 17, 1984 | Rainbow Trout | 20,085 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Show 42 more stocking records →
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 30, 1984 | Cutthroat Trout | 115 | 22" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 2, 1983 | Cutthroat Trout | 79 | 22" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 1, 1983 | Cutthroat Trout | 137 | 22" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 24, 1983 | Cutthroat Trout | 130 | 22" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 27, 1983 | Cutthroat Trout | 118 | 22" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 4, 1982 | Cutthroat Trout | 125 | 20" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 21, 1982 | Cutthroat Trout | 101 | 20" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 29, 1981 | Cutthroat Trout | 74 | 20" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 29, 1981 | Cutthroat Trout | 110 | 20" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 26, 1981 | Cutthroat Trout | 115 | 20" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 26, 1981 | Cutthroat Trout | 110 | 20" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 20, 1981 | Cutthroat Trout | 103 | 20" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 20, 1981 | Cutthroat Trout | 100 | 20" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 15, 1980 | Cutthroat Trout | 132 | 16" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 29, 1980 | Cutthroat Trout | 106 | 22" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 29, 1980 | Cutthroat Trout | 125 | 22" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 28, 1980 | Cutthroat Trout | 125 | 22" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 28, 1980 | Cutthroat Trout | 125 | 22" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 21, 1980 | Cutthroat Trout | 125 | 22" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 17, 1980 | Cutthroat Trout | 100 | 22" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 23, 1968 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,200 | 12" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 23, 1968 | Cutthroat Trout | 900 | 12" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 21, 1965 | Rainbow Trout | 23,760 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 24, 1964 | Rainbow Trout | 3,080 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 13, 1964 | Rainbow Trout | 4,800 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 1, 1964 | Rainbow Trout | 6,000 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 23, 1964 | Rainbow Trout | 6,000 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 24, 1964 | Rainbow Trout | 20,400 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 6, 1963 | Rainbow Trout | 10,000 | 7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 19, 1955 | Kokanee | 59,136 | 0 | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 24, 1953 | Kokanee | 41,064 | 0 | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| March 28, 1953 | Kokanee | 50,752 | 0 | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| March 23, 1952 | Kokanee | 62,048 | 0 | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 24, 1951 | Kokanee | 53,800 | 0 | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 28, 1947 | Brown Trout | 10,000 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 14, 1946 | Brook Trout | 9,050 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 14, 1946 | Brook Trout | 9,050 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 1, 1942 | Brook Trout | 10,000 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 8, 1941 | Coho Salmon | 11,925 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| November 3, 1937 | Largemouth Bass | 4,000 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 18, 1936 | Largemouth Bass | 4,000 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 18, 1936 | Crappie | 2,400 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Showing 50 of 54 stocking records.
Frequently asked
When was Lower Glaston Lake last stocked?
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Lower Glaston Lake was last stocked August 12, 1991 with Tiger Trout.
What fish species are stocked in Lower Glaston Lake?
Lower Glaston Lake is stocked with Tiger Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Kokanee, Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Coho Salmon, Largemouth Bass, and Crappie.
What time of year is Lower Glaston Lake stocked?
Lower Glaston Lake is typically stocked in spring, most often in April.
How often is Lower Glaston Lake stocked?
Lower Glaston Lake is stocked intermittently — 54 recorded stockings between 1929 and 1991.
How many fish have been stocked in Lower Glaston Lake?
About 894,362 fish have been stocked in Lower Glaston Lake across 54 recorded events since 1929, per Montana fish & wildlife agency.
What size are the fish stocked in Lower Glaston Lake?
Fish stocked in Lower Glaston Lake average about 12.1 inches, based on the sizes the agency reported.
Do you need a fishing license to fish Lower Glaston 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 Lower Glaston Lake?
Freshly stocked trout in Lower Glaston 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.