Rainbow Dam Reservoir Fish Stocking
Montana · 1937–2025 on record
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Rainbow Dam Reservoir was last stocked October 14, 2025 with Rainbow Trout. Rainbow Dam Reservoir has 487 stocking records on file, spanning 1937–2025, with about 1,264,933 fish stocked over that period.
When Rainbow Dam Reservoir is stocked
Rainbow Dam Reservoir is typically stocked in summer, most often in July — 142 stocking events in that peak month.
Angler's Field Guide
Fishing Tips & Stocking Guide for Rainbow Dam 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 Rainbow Dam 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 Rainbow Dam Reservoir was last stocked October 14, 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 Rainbow Dam 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.
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 Rainbow Dam 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 Rainbow Dam Reservoir, freshest activity first.
Wadsworth Lake
8 mi5 species · 104 records
Last stocked May 2026
Giant Springs Fishing Pond
1 mi2 species · 202 records
Last stocked October 2025
Pow Wow Pond
3 mi3 species · 89 records
Last stocked June 2021
Woodland Estates Pond
11 mi1 species · 25 records
Last stocked May 2012
Ryan Reservoir
5 mi1 species · 1 records
Last stocked June 2005
Cochrane Reservoir
3 mi2 species · 5 records
Last stocked May 2005
Stocking history
Most recent stockings first. Dates shown at the precision the agency reported.
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 14, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 2,352 | 8.66" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 2, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 1,155 | 10.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 2, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 2,000 | 7.61" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 30, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 1,177 | 9.59" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 30, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 4,274 | 7.09" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 10, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 500 | 6.66" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 20, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 2,000 | 8.25" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 16, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 1,500 | 6.11" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Show 42 more stocking records →
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 28, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 2,000 | 6.88" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 13, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | 4,000 | 7.58" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 20, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | 2,000 | 6.65" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 1, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | 2,000 | 6.02" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 9, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | 2,000 | 7.93" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 1, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | 2,000 | 6.62" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 15, 2023 | Brown Trout | 5,920 | 6.57" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 13, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 4,000 | 6.98" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 1, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 1,108 | 9.21" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 17, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 2,679 | 5.97" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 14, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 2,000 | 8.42" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 25, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 2,000 | 6.53" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 23, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 8,556 | 7.27" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 24, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 6.97" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 16, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 1,624 | 6.43" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 20, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 1,267 | 9.24" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 14, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 376 | 5.47" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 13, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 500 | 5.47" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 5, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 548 | 5.69" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 21, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 2,000 | 6.71" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 26, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 8,527 | 8.48" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 17, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 6.67" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 5, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 6.12" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 28, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 500 | 6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 19, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 5.27" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 9, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 500 | 5.23" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 1, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 613 | 8.62" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 20, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 2,000 | 6.42" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 15, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 4,000 | 7.55" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 6, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 2,000 | 9.75" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 23, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 2,000 | 6.57" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 19, 2019 | Rainbow Trout | 1,721 | 7.84" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 12, 2019 | Rainbow Trout | 4,000 | 7.92" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 21, 2019 | Rainbow Trout | 964 | 9.31" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 8, 2019 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 7.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 3, 2019 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 7.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 26, 2019 | Rainbow Trout | 2,000 | 6.13" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 14, 2018 | Rainbow Trout | 494 | 9.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 7, 2018 | Rainbow Trout | 800 | 9.11" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 31, 2018 | Rainbow Trout | 1,145 | 7.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 24, 2018 | Rainbow Trout | 950 | 7.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| December 20, 2017 | Rainbow Trout | 14,486 | 2.43" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Showing 50 of 487 stocking records.
Frequently asked
When was Rainbow Dam Reservoir last stocked?
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Rainbow Dam Reservoir was last stocked October 14, 2025 with Rainbow Trout.
What fish species are stocked in Rainbow Dam Reservoir?
Rainbow Dam Reservoir is stocked with Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Goldfish, and Walleye.
What time of year is Rainbow Dam Reservoir stocked?
Rainbow Dam Reservoir is typically stocked in summer, most often in July.
How often is Rainbow Dam Reservoir stocked?
Rainbow Dam Reservoir has been stocked about 5 times a year — 487 recorded stockings between 1937 and 2025.
How many fish have been stocked in Rainbow Dam Reservoir?
About 1,264,933 fish have been stocked in Rainbow Dam Reservoir across 487 recorded events since 1937, per Montana fish & wildlife agency.
What size are the fish stocked in Rainbow Dam Reservoir?
Fish stocked in Rainbow Dam Reservoir average about 8.7 inches, based on the sizes the agency reported.
Do you need a fishing license to fish Rainbow Dam 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 Rainbow Dam Reservoir?
Freshly stocked trout in Rainbow Dam 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.