Rainbow Lake Fish Stocking
Montana · 1932–2025 on record
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Rainbow Lake was last stocked September 30, 2025 with Cutthroat Trout. Rainbow Lake has 276 stocking records on file, spanning 1932–2025, with about 2,941,526 fish stocked over that period.
When Rainbow Lake is stocked
Rainbow Lake is typically stocked in spring and summer, most often in May — 62 stocking events in that peak month.
By species
Angler's Field Guide
Fishing Tips & Stocking Guide for Rainbow 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 Rainbow 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 Rainbow Lake was last stocked September 30, 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 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).
Cutthroat Trout Profile Tips
Known for being relatively easy to catch on dry flies, making it a favorite of western fly anglers; many subspecies are managed under catch-and-release rules to protect native populations.
Golden Trout Profile Tips
A bucket-list fish for many western anglers, often requiring a backcountry hike to reach stocked alpine lakes.
Recommended Tackle for Rainbow 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 Rainbow Lake, freshest activity first.
Lake Mary Ronan
20 mi8 species · 685 records
Last stocked June 2026
Terrace Lake
5 mi6 species · 26 records
Last stocked August 2024
Cabin Lake
15 mi2 species · 35 records
Last stocked August 2024
Hubbart Reservoir
15 mi2 species · 125 records
Last stocked June 2024
Horseshoe Lake
16 mi10 species · 69 records
Last stocked April 2024
Corona Lake
9 mi2 species · 26 records
Last stocked June 2013
Stocking history
Most recent stockings first. Dates shown at the precision the agency reported.
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 30, 2025 | Cutthroat Trout | 2,700 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 1, 2024 | Cutthroat Trout | 2,700 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 24, 2024 | Cutthroat Trout | 600 | 1.66" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 9, 2024 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,000 | 1.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 6, 2024 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,000 | 1.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 19, 2023 | Cutthroat Trout | 2,700 | 1.98" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 25, 2022 | Cutthroat Trout | 996 | 1.31" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 4, 2021 | Cutthroat Trout | 600 | 1.99" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Show 42 more stocking records →
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 10, 2021 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,000 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 13, 2021 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,000 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 5, 2019 | Cutthroat Trout | 3,000 | 1.37" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 1, 2018 | Cutthroat Trout | 600 | 2.43" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 6, 2017 | Golden Trout | 1,000 | 1.33" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 29, 2017 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,000 | 1.99" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 28, 2015 | Cutthroat Trout | 986 | 1.65" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 21, 2014 | Cutthroat Trout | 634 | 2.11" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 4, 2014 | Golden Trout | 1,000 | 1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 4, 2014 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,051 | 1.45" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 5, 2013 | Cutthroat Trout | 999 | 1.1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 18, 2012 | Cutthroat Trout | 922 | 2.07" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 14, 2012 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,000 | 1.81" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 5, 2012 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,000 | 1.81" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 5, 2011 | Cutthroat Trout | 600 | 2.21" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 8, 2011 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,013 | 1.52" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 22, 2010 | Cutthroat Trout | 827 | 1.27" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 10, 2009 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,000 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 4, 2009 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,001 | 1.49" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 26, 2009 | Rainbow Trout | 1,036 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 11, 2008 | Cutthroat Trout | 996 | 1.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 6, 2008 | Cutthroat Trout | 600 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 28, 2008 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,000 | 1.28" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 9, 2007 | Rainbow Trout | 2,709 | 8.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 8, 2007 | Cutthroat Trout | 600 | 1.85" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 25, 2007 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,020 | 1.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 26, 2007 | Rainbow Trout | 16,728 | 7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 7, 2007 | Rainbow Trout | 1,119 | 4.06" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 27, 2006 | Cutthroat Trout | 900 | 1.83" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 25, 2006 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,012 | 1.29" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 12, 2005 | Cutthroat Trout | 995 | 1.32" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 5, 2005 | Rainbow Trout | 1,128 | 3.81" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 6, 2004 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,000 | 2.33" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 13, 2004 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,037 | 1.24" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 21, 2003 | Rainbow Trout | 1,995 | 4.15" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 31, 2003 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,000 | 1.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 30, 2003 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,128 | 1.41" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 5, 2003 | Rainbow Trout | 1,046 | 3.69" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 31, 2002 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,023 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 7, 2001 | Cutthroat Trout | 600 | 1.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 29, 2001 | Rainbow Trout | 1,040 | 2.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 15, 2000 | Cutthroat Trout | 750 | 2.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Showing 50 of 276 stocking records.
Frequently asked
When was Rainbow Lake last stocked?
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Rainbow Lake was last stocked September 30, 2025 with Cutthroat Trout.
What fish species are stocked in Rainbow Lake?
Rainbow Lake is stocked with Cutthroat Trout, Golden Trout, Rainbow Trout, Coho Salmon, Walleye, Brook Trout, Salmon, Largemouth Bass, and Arctic Grayling.
What time of year is Rainbow Lake stocked?
Rainbow Lake is typically stocked in spring and summer, most often in May.
How often is Rainbow Lake stocked?
Rainbow Lake has been stocked about 3 times a year — 276 recorded stockings between 1932 and 2025.
How many fish have been stocked in Rainbow Lake?
About 2,941,526 fish have been stocked in Rainbow Lake across 276 recorded events since 1932, per Montana fish & wildlife agency.
What size are the fish stocked in Rainbow Lake?
Fish stocked in Rainbow Lake average about 5.1 inches, based on the sizes the agency reported.
Do you need a fishing license to fish Rainbow 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 Rainbow Lake?
Freshly stocked trout in Rainbow 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.