Middle Thompson Lake Fish Stocking
Montana · 1936–2025 on record
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Middle Thompson Lake was last stocked June 20, 2025 with Rainbow Trout. Middle Thompson Lake has 153 stocking records on file, spanning 1936–2025, with about 3,040,650 fish stocked over that period.
When Middle Thompson Lake is stocked
Middle Thompson Lake is typically stocked in summer, most often in June — 61 stocking events in that peak month.
By species
Angler's Field Guide
Fishing Tips & Stocking Guide for Middle Thompson 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 Middle Thompson 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 Middle Thompson Lake was last stocked June 20, 2025, 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 Middle Thompson 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).
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.
Brown Trout Profile Tips
Known for being wary and selective, brown trout are a prized target for fly anglers, especially larger, nocturnal-feeding fish.
Recommended Tackle for Middle Thompson 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 Middle Thompson Lake, freshest activity first.
Lower Thompson Lake
2 mi6 species · 160 records
Last stocked June 2026
Cibid Lake
5 mi2 species · 47 records
Last stocked June 2026
Leon Lake
6 mi5 species · 75 records
Last stocked June 2026
Cad Lake
5 mi2 species · 37 records
Last stocked September 2024
Topless Lake
5 mi3 species · 46 records
Last stocked September 2024
Upper Thompson Lake
3 mi4 species · 35 records
Last stocked June 2024
Stocking history
Most recent stockings first. Dates shown at the precision the agency reported.
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 20, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 30,644 | 2.77" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 21, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 30,475 | 3.71" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 19, 2019 | Rainbow Trout | 20,000 | 3.16" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 21, 2016 | Rainbow Trout | 2,244 | 5.57" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 12, 2016 | Rainbow Trout | 20,000 | 3.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 1, 2014 | Rainbow Trout | 27,000 | 3.41" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 5, 2013 | Rainbow Trout | 33,800 | 3.64" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 27, 2012 | Rainbow Trout | 32,460 | 3.59" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Show 42 more stocking records →
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 11, 2011 | Rainbow Trout | 7,694 | 6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 14, 2011 | Rainbow Trout | 14,851 | 3.52" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 7, 2011 | Rainbow Trout | 14,949 | 4.02" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 7, 2011 | Rainbow Trout | 14,949 | 4.02" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 21, 2010 | Rainbow Trout | 19,616 | 3.44" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 16, 2010 | Rainbow Trout | 28,500 | 4.06" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 28, 2009 | Rainbow Trout | 30,225 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 8, 2008 | Rainbow Trout | 30,351 | 3.81" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 26, 2007 | Rainbow Trout | 4,106 | 4.12" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 25, 2007 | Rainbow Trout | 25,882 | 4.12" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 15, 2006 | Rainbow Trout | 30,080 | 4.27" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 29, 2004 | Rainbow Trout | 2,216 | 3.56" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 29, 2004 | Rainbow Trout | 1,676 | 4.18" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 22, 2004 | Rainbow Trout | 29,694 | 3.46" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 21, 2003 | Rainbow Trout | 11,060 | 4.15" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 18, 2003 | Rainbow Trout | 25,290 | 4.46" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 5, 2003 | Rainbow Trout | 4,831 | 3.69" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 6, 2002 | Rainbow Trout | 16,965 | 3.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 2, 2002 | Rainbow Trout | 13,048 | 3.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 7, 2001 | Rainbow Trout | 15,052 | 3.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 6, 2001 | Rainbow Trout | 15,120 | 2.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 29, 2000 | Rainbow Trout | 1,880 | 5.1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 28, 2000 | Brown Trout | 3,249 | 5.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 20, 2000 | Rainbow Trout | 29,988 | 3.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 15, 1999 | Rainbow Trout | 22,140 | 4.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 15, 1999 | Rainbow Trout | 6,273 | 4.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 16, 1998 | Rainbow Trout | 12,688 | 5.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 10, 1998 | Rainbow Trout | 14,812 | 4.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 3, 1997 | Rainbow Trout | 4,786 | 4.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 3, 1997 | Rainbow Trout | 11,271 | 4.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 2, 1997 | Rainbow Trout | 13,924 | 4.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 14, 1996 | Rainbow Trout | 10,569 | 4.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 13, 1996 | Rainbow Trout | 15,902 | 4.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 11, 1996 | Rainbow Trout | 5,027 | 4.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 14, 1995 | Rainbow Trout | 30,103 | 2.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 8, 1995 | Brown Trout | 2,500 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| January 4, 1995 | Rainbow Trout | 215 | 14.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 13, 1994 | Rainbow Trout | 6,003 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 23, 1994 | Rainbow Trout | 3,563 | 5.1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 21, 1994 | Rainbow Trout | 14,445 | 5.1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 17, 1994 | Rainbow Trout | 13,482 | 5.1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 16, 1994 | Brown Trout | 2,500 | 4.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Showing 50 of 153 stocking records.
Frequently asked
When was Middle Thompson Lake last stocked?
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Middle Thompson Lake was last stocked June 20, 2025 with Rainbow Trout.
What fish species are stocked in Middle Thompson Lake?
Middle Thompson Lake is stocked with Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Cutthroat Trout, Kokanee, and Brook Trout.
What time of year is Middle Thompson Lake stocked?
Middle Thompson Lake is typically stocked in summer, most often in June.
How often is Middle Thompson Lake stocked?
Middle Thompson Lake has been stocked about 2 times a year — 153 recorded stockings between 1936 and 2025.
How many fish have been stocked in Middle Thompson Lake?
About 3,040,650 fish have been stocked in Middle Thompson Lake across 153 recorded events since 1936, per Montana fish & wildlife agency.
What size are the fish stocked in Middle Thompson Lake?
Fish stocked in Middle Thompson Lake average about 4.9 inches, based on the sizes the agency reported.
Do you need a fishing license to fish Middle Thompson 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 Middle Thompson Lake?
Freshly stocked trout in Middle Thompson 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.