Noxon Rapids Reservoir Fish Stocking
Montana · 1959–1997 on record
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Noxon Rapids Reservoir was last stocked August 12, 1997 with Smallmouth Bass. Noxon Rapids Reservoir has 127 stocking records on file, spanning 1959–1997, with about 5,594,934 fish stocked over that period.
When Noxon Rapids Reservoir is stocked
Noxon Rapids Reservoir is typically stocked in summer and fall, most often in September — 40 stocking events in that peak month.
By species
Angler's Field Guide
Fishing Tips & Stocking Guide for Noxon Rapids 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 Noxon Rapids 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 Noxon Rapids Reservoir was last stocked August 12, 1997, 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 Noxon Rapids 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.
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.
Smallmouth Bass Profile Tips
Prized for its aerial fight; often targeted with crayfish-imitating jigs and tubes along rocky structure.
Largemouth Bass Profile Tips
The centerpiece of American bass fishing culture, taken on everything from topwater lures to soft plastics and live bait.
Recommended Tackle for Noxon Rapids 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.
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 Noxon Rapids Reservoir, freshest activity first.
Frog Pond
4 mi1 species · 34 records
Last stocked May 2026
Triangle Pond
11 mi3 species · 242 records
Last stocked May 2026
Engle Lake
9 mi1 species · 15 records
Last stocked July 2023
Baree Lake
9 mi1 species · 19 records
Last stocked July 2023
Little Bear Lake
11 mi1 species · 15 records
Last stocked July 2022
Upper Lake
9 mi1 species · 10 records
Last stocked August 2021
Stocking history
Most recent stockings first. Dates shown at the precision the agency reported.
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 12, 1997 | Smallmouth Bass | 10,000 | 2.1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 31, 1997 | Largemouth Bass | 56,000 | 1.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 27, 1997 | Rainbow Trout | 1,580 | 6.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 8, 1995 | Rainbow Trout | 28,512 | 3.1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 16, 1995 | Largemouth Bass | 42,209 | 1.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 29, 1995 | Rainbow Trout | 4,301 | 7.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 28, 1994 | Rainbow Trout | 7,952 | 3.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 22, 1994 | Rainbow Trout | 11,740 | 3.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Show 42 more stocking records →
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 21, 1994 | Rainbow Trout | 8,684 | 3.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 3, 1994 | Largemouth Bass | 74,000 | 1.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 29, 1993 | Rainbow Trout | 11,830 | 3.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 27, 1993 | Rainbow Trout | 4,605 | 4.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 15, 1993 | Largemouth Bass | 65,000 | 1.6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 14, 1992 | Largemouth Bass | 47,628 | 2.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 9, 1992 | Largemouth Bass | 16,640 | 2.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 25, 1990 | Smallmouth Bass | 25,056 | 1.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 25, 1990 | Smallmouth Bass | 26,000 | 1.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 21, 1989 | Brown Trout | 20,160 | 5.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 19, 1989 | Brown Trout | 23,184 | 5.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 19, 1989 | Brown Trout | 22,968 | 5.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 19, 1989 | Brown Trout | 25,992 | 5.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 25, 1989 | Smallmouth Bass | 100,000 | 1.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 28, 1988 | Brown Trout | 16,761 | 6.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 28, 1988 | Brown Trout | 18,242 | 6.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 28, 1988 | Brown Trout | 15,382 | 6.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 22, 1988 | Brown Trout | 16,092 | 6.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 22, 1988 | Brown Trout | 18,792 | 6.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 22, 1988 | Brown Trout | 16,643 | 6.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 20, 1988 | Brown Trout | 17,626 | 6.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 20, 1988 | Brown Trout | 17,956 | 6.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 20, 1988 | Brown Trout | 20,380 | 6.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 13, 1988 | Brown Trout | 12,352 | 3.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 25, 1988 | Brown Trout | 30,544 | 3.6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 2, 1987 | Burbot | 85 | 0.6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 2, 1987 | Burbot | 440 | 0.6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 2, 1987 | Rainbow Trout | 152,618 | 2.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 21, 1987 | Brown Trout | 70,172 | 4.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 21, 1987 | Brown Trout | 57,015 | 4.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 21, 1987 | Brown Trout | 40,561 | 4.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 11, 1987 | Burbot | 650 | 14" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 6, 1987 | Brown Trout | 51,856 | 3.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 10, 1986 | Rainbow Trout | 50,736 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 10, 1986 | Rainbow Trout | 50,736 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 23, 1986 | Brown Trout | 47,590 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 19, 1986 | Rainbow Trout | 5,206 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 19, 1986 | Rainbow Trout | 6,494 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 14, 1986 | Brown Trout | 39,558 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 14, 1986 | Brown Trout | 49,043 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| March 27, 1986 | Brown Trout | 70,664 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| March 27, 1986 | Brown Trout | 28,266 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Showing 50 of 127 stocking records.
Frequently asked
When was Noxon Rapids Reservoir last stocked?
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Noxon Rapids Reservoir was last stocked August 12, 1997 with Smallmouth Bass.
What fish species are stocked in Noxon Rapids Reservoir?
Noxon Rapids Reservoir is stocked with Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Burbot, and Cutthroat Trout.
What time of year is Noxon Rapids Reservoir stocked?
Noxon Rapids Reservoir is typically stocked in summer and fall, most often in September.
How often is Noxon Rapids Reservoir stocked?
Noxon Rapids Reservoir has been stocked about 3 times a year — 127 recorded stockings between 1959 and 1997.
How many fish have been stocked in Noxon Rapids Reservoir?
About 5,594,934 fish have been stocked in Noxon Rapids Reservoir across 127 recorded events since 1959, per Montana fish & wildlife agency.
What size are the fish stocked in Noxon Rapids Reservoir?
Fish stocked in Noxon Rapids Reservoir average about 5.9 inches, based on the sizes the agency reported.
Do you need a fishing license to fish Noxon Rapids 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 Noxon Rapids Reservoir?
Freshly stocked trout in Noxon Rapids 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.