Nelson Reservoir Fish Stocking
Montana · 1932–2025 on record
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Nelson Reservoir was last stocked June 25, 2025 with Walleye. Nelson Reservoir has 209 stocking records on file, spanning 1932–2025, with about 16,518,346 fish stocked over that period.
When Nelson Reservoir is stocked
Nelson Reservoir is typically stocked in spring and summer, most often in June — 61 stocking events in that peak month.
By species
Angler's Field Guide
Fishing Tips & Stocking Guide for Nelson Reservoir
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 Nelson Reservoir, 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 Nelson Reservoir was last stocked June 25, 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 Nelson Reservoir:
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.
Catfish Rigging
Fish a Carolina slip-sinker bottom rig with a 1/2 to 1 oz egg sinker, swivel, and 1/0–3/0 circle hook. Baits such as chicken liver, cut baitfish (shad), nightcrawlers, and stink baits produce best during early morning, dusk, or night in deeper holes.
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).
Walleye Profile Tips
Highly regarded as table fare; typically targeted with jigs, live bait rigs, or trolled crankbaits, often after dark.
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 Nelson Reservoir
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.
Heavy Duty Offset Circle Hooks (1/0–3/0)
Circle hooks naturally turn into the corner of a catfish's jaw as it turns, preventing gut-hooking and improving hookup rates.
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 Nelson Reservoir, freshest activity first.
Glasgow Base Pond
12 mi7 species · 114 records
Last stocked September 2025
Atlas Reservoir
5 mi2 species · 12 records
Last stocked August 2025
Hose Reservoir
8 mi1 species · 37 records
Last stocked June 2025
VR 009 Reservoir
12 mi4 species · 74 records
Last stocked May 2025
Whitetail Reservoir
17 mi9 species · 98 records
Last stocked May 2025
Forsman Reservoir
8 mi5 species · 14 records
Last stocked July 2007
Stocking history
Most recent stockings first. Dates shown at the precision the agency reported.
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 25, 2025 | Walleye | 5,000 | 1.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 25, 2025 | Walleye | 65,950 | 1.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 25, 2025 | Walleye | 44,169 | 1.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 7, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 250 | 6.79" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 18, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | 250 | 7.24" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 21, 2024 | Walleye | 91,871 | 1.45" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 21, 2024 | Walleye | 9,230 | 1.39" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 12, 2023 | Walleye | 24,510 | 2.24" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Show 42 more stocking records →
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 12, 2023 | Walleye | 11,867 | 2.01" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 11, 2023 | Walleye | 38,666 | 2.09" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 10, 2023 | Walleye | 25,091 | 2.23" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 19, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 250 | 6.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 30, 2022 | Walleye | 5,058 | 1.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 27, 2022 | Walleye | 100,146 | 1.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 23, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 250 | 7.08" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 9, 2021 | Channel Catfish | 4,000 | 1.91" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 25, 2021 | Walleye | 13,200 | 1.62" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 21, 2021 | Walleye | 25,983 | 1.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 21, 2021 | Walleye | 61,492 | 1.37" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 14, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 250 | 6.83" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 20, 2020 | Channel Catfish | 4,000 | 1.63" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 26, 2020 | Walleye | 62,019 | 1.91" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 24, 2020 | Walleye | 52,267 | 1.95" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 18, 2020 | Walleye | 4,629 | 1.78" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 6, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 262 | 6.59" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 27, 2019 | Walleye | 25,101 | 1.73" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 26, 2019 | Walleye | 5,000 | 1.56" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 25, 2019 | Walleye | 20,743 | 1.61" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 24, 2019 | Walleye | 39,556 | 1.52" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 19, 2019 | Walleye | 18,952 | 1.36" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 29, 2019 | Rainbow Trout | 250 | 7.26" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 2, 2018 | Walleye | 11,173 | 2.18" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 2, 2018 | Walleye | 11,173 | 2.18" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 29, 2018 | Walleye | 27,224 | 1.98" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 18, 2018 | Rainbow Trout | 276 | 6.04" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 28, 2016 | Walleye | 56,387 | 1.72" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 23, 2016 | Walleye | 5,030 | 1.57" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 20, 2016 | Walleye | 46,902 | 1.64" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 22, 2015 | Walleye | 105,615 | 1.55" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 18, 2014 | Walleye | 50,171 | 1.35" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 15, 2013 | Walleye | 15,046 | 2.18" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 2, 2013 | Walleye | 30,887 | 1.92" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 2, 2013 | Walleye | 10,507 | 2.28" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 26, 2013 | Walleye | 46,262 | 1.51" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 3, 2012 | Walleye | 84,986 | 2.02" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 3, 2012 | Walleye | 15,066 | 2.14" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 1, 2012 | Northern Pike | 2,564 | 2.64" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 8, 2011 | Walleye | 100,147 | 1.62" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 23, 2011 | Northern Pike | 2,246 | 2.58" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 2, 2010 | Walleye | 106,102 | 1.35" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Showing 50 of 209 stocking records.
Frequently asked
When was Nelson Reservoir last stocked?
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Nelson Reservoir was last stocked June 25, 2025 with Walleye.
What fish species are stocked in Nelson Reservoir?
Nelson Reservoir is stocked with Walleye, Rainbow Trout, Channel Catfish, Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Bigmouth Buffalo, Kokanee, Yellow Perch, Bullhead, Crappie, and Largemouth Bass.
What time of year is Nelson Reservoir stocked?
Nelson Reservoir is typically stocked in spring and summer, most often in June.
How often is Nelson Reservoir stocked?
Nelson Reservoir has been stocked about 2 times a year — 209 recorded stockings between 1932 and 2025.
How many fish have been stocked in Nelson Reservoir?
About 16,518,346 fish have been stocked in Nelson Reservoir across 209 recorded events since 1932, per Montana fish & wildlife agency.
What size are the fish stocked in Nelson Reservoir?
Fish stocked in Nelson Reservoir average about 3.3 inches, based on the sizes the agency reported.
Do you need a fishing license to fish Nelson Reservoir?
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 Nelson Reservoir?
Freshly stocked trout in Nelson Reservoir 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.