Newlan Reservoir Fish Stocking
Montana · 1976–2026 on record
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Newlan Reservoir was last stocked May 12, 2026 with Kokanee. Newlan Reservoir has 164 stocking records on file, spanning 1976–2026, with about 2,069,716 fish stocked over that period.
When Newlan Reservoir is stocked
Newlan Reservoir 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 Newlan 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 Newlan 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 Newlan Reservoir was last stocked May 12, 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 Newlan 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.
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).
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.
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 Newlan 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.
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.
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Nearby stocked waters
Other stocked waters near Newlan Reservoir, freshest activity first.
Lake Sutherlin
9 mi4 species · 158 records
Last stocked June 2026
Newlan Creek
7 mi3 species · 30 records
Last stocked July 2012
Cottonwood Creek
10 mi4 species · 418 records
Last stocked June 2005
Buckingham Reservoir
2 mi3 species · 14 records
Last stocked June 1986
South Fork Smith River
8 mi1 species · 19 records
Last stocked April 1954
Big Birch Creek
7 mi1 species · 26 records
Last stocked July 1953
Stocking history
Most recent stockings first. Dates shown at the precision the agency reported.
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 12, 2026 | Kokanee | 3,783 | 3.43" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 26, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 10,247 | 8.19" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 3, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 10,000 | 4.29" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 17, 2025 | Cutthroat Trout | 10,070 | 4.22" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 19, 2025 | Kokanee | 4,163 | 3.56" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 8, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | 9,747 | 8.85" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 8, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | 10,285 | 5.11" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 16, 2024 | Kokanee | 3,837 | 3.44" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Show 42 more stocking records →
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 12, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 8,797 | 7.89" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 11, 2023 | Cutthroat Trout | 10,000 | 5.06" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 5, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 27,730 | 3.72" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 22, 2023 | Kokanee | 7,518 | 4.33" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 22, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 18,117 | 4.03" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 3, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 29,725 | 4.11" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 3, 2022 | Brown Trout | 8,285 | 4.23" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 10, 2022 | Kokanee | 10,003 | 3.48" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 23, 2021 | Cutthroat Trout | 5,200 | 7.09" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 18, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 9,798 | 3.49" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 23, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 11,780 | 3.82" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 23, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 21,180 | 3.82" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 28, 2021 | Kokanee | 10,005 | 2.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 30, 2020 | Cutthroat Trout | 10,000 | 7.34" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 10, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 15,026 | 3.81" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 28, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 30,205 | 4.13" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 20, 2020 | Kokanee | 9,986 | 2.1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 5, 2019 | Rainbow Trout | 15,901 | 3.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 5, 2019 | Rainbow Trout | 30,000 | 4.46" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 12, 2019 | Kokanee | 10,000 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 12, 2018 | Rainbow Trout | 2,238 | 5.08" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 12, 2018 | Rainbow Trout | 13,764 | 4.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 5, 2018 | Rainbow Trout | 30,088 | 4.43" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 21, 2017 | Rainbow Trout | 24,730 | 4.92" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 6, 2017 | Rainbow Trout | 13,348 | 4.15" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 10, 2017 | Kokanee | 10,000 | 2.06" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 19, 2016 | Rainbow Trout | 25,173 | 4.63" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 21, 2016 | Brown Trout | 1,353 | 4.38" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 5, 2016 | Kokanee | 10,019 | 2.1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 22, 2015 | Rainbow Trout | 25,039 | 4.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 26, 2015 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 9.93" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 11, 2015 | Rainbow Trout | 20,052 | 3.61" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 13, 2015 | Kokanee | 20,048 | 2.15" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 17, 2014 | Rainbow Trout | 20,000 | 3.68" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 10, 2014 | Cutthroat Trout | 10,000 | 4.63" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 4, 2014 | Kokanee | 5,089 | 3.01" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 24, 2013 | Rainbow Trout | 1,170 | 12.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 19, 2013 | Cutthroat Trout | 10,000 | 4.54" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 13, 2013 | Rainbow Trout | 30,360 | 3.85" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 13, 2012 | Brown Trout | 4,588 | 4.64" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 3, 2012 | Cutthroat Trout | 5,400 | 6.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 14, 2011 | Brown Trout | 9,196 | 6.86" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Showing 50 of 164 stocking records.
Frequently asked
When was Newlan Reservoir last stocked?
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Newlan Reservoir was last stocked May 12, 2026 with Kokanee.
What fish species are stocked in Newlan Reservoir?
Newlan Reservoir is stocked with Kokanee, Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Brown Trout, and Burbot.
What time of year is Newlan Reservoir stocked?
Newlan Reservoir is typically stocked in summer, most often in June.
How often is Newlan Reservoir stocked?
Newlan Reservoir has been stocked about 3 times a year — 164 recorded stockings between 1976 and 2026.
How many fish have been stocked in Newlan Reservoir?
About 2,069,716 fish have been stocked in Newlan Reservoir across 164 recorded events since 1976, per Montana fish & wildlife agency.
What size are the fish stocked in Newlan Reservoir?
Fish stocked in Newlan Reservoir average about 7.9 inches, based on the sizes the agency reported.
Do you need a fishing license to fish Newlan 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 Newlan Reservoir?
Freshly stocked trout in Newlan 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.