Salmo Reservoir Fish Stocking
Montana · 1978–2026 on record
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Salmo Reservoir was last stocked May 26, 2026 with Rainbow Trout. Salmo Reservoir has 64 stocking records on file, spanning 1978–2026, with about 126,759 fish stocked over that period.
When Salmo Reservoir is stocked
Salmo Reservoir is typically stocked in summer, most often in June — 23 stocking events in that peak month.
By species
Angler's Field Guide
Fishing Tips & Stocking Guide for Salmo 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 Salmo 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 Salmo Reservoir was last stocked May 26, 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 Salmo 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.
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.
Bluegill Profile Tips
A staple of family and youth fishing programs; readily takes worms, small jigs, and flies.
Recommended Tackle for Salmo 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 Salmo Reservoir, freshest activity first.
Reser Reservoir
13 mi10 species · 63 records
Last stocked October 2025
North Faber Reservoir
8 mi4 species · 60 records
Last stocked September 2025
Br 047 Reservoir
6 mi5 species · 16 records
Last stocked August 2025
South Polly Reservoir
13 mi1 species · 10 records
Last stocked May 2025
North Polly Reservoir
13 mi3 species · 12 records
Last stocked May 2025
Br 012 Reservoir
8 mi8 species · 19 records
Last stocked July 2024
Stocking history
Most recent stockings first. Dates shown at the precision the agency reported.
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 26, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 7.94" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 18, 2025 | Bluegill | 5,000 | 2.35" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 12, 2025 | Largemouth Bass | 2,000 | 2.02" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 5, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 7.75" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 23, 2024 | Bluegill | 5,000 | 1.07" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 23, 2024 | Largemouth Bass | 2,000 | 1.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 3, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 7.19" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 31, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 7.47" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Show 42 more stocking records →
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 9, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 900 | 7.21" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 9, 2021 | Channel Catfish | 500 | 1.88" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 2, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 7.58" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| November 4, 2020 | Bluegill | 5,000 | 0.66" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 20, 2020 | Channel Catfish | 500 | 1.63" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 20, 2020 | Largemouth Bass | 3,171 | 4.06" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 1, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 7.51" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 7, 2019 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 7.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 7, 2018 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 6.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 7, 2017 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 8.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 16, 2015 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 8.42" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 29, 2014 | Rainbow Trout | 1,010 | 7.95" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 17, 2013 | Rainbow Trout | 984 | 7.96" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 3, 2012 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 8.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 26, 2011 | Largemouth Bass | 1,000 | 1.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 13, 2011 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 8.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 30, 2010 | Rainbow Trout | 1,998 | 8.74" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 24, 2009 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 25, 2008 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 8.6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 3, 2007 | Rainbow Trout | 2,000 | 7.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 27, 2006 | Rainbow Trout | 2,880 | 7.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 27, 2006 | Rainbow Trout | 1,600 | 7.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 27, 2005 | Rainbow Trout | 2,500 | 6.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 26, 2004 | Rainbow Trout | 3,003 | 3.19" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 5, 2004 | Rainbow Trout | 4,000 | 7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 16, 2003 | Channel Catfish | 400 | 4.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 24, 2003 | Rainbow Trout | 2,000 | 7.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 29, 2003 | Bluegill | 400 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 20, 1999 | Tiger Trout | 272 | 4.6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 30, 1998 | Channel Catfish | 5,200 | 3.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 21, 1994 | Rainbow Trout | 3,000 | 3.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 22, 1993 | Rainbow Trout | 3,000 | 3.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 8, 1992 | Rainbow Trout | 608 | 7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 24, 1991 | Rainbow Trout | 3,000 | 2.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 27, 1990 | Rainbow Trout | 3,000 | 3.1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 14, 1989 | Rainbow Trout | 2,997 | 3.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 14, 1988 | Largemouth Bass | 5,000 | 0.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 20, 1988 | Rainbow Trout | 3,036 | 3.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 2, 1987 | Bluegill | 800 | 1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 2, 1987 | Bluegill | 800 | 1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 12, 1987 | Largemouth Bass | 112 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 12, 1987 | Largemouth Bass | 112 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Showing 50 of 64 stocking records.
Frequently asked
When was Salmo Reservoir last stocked?
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Salmo Reservoir was last stocked May 26, 2026 with Rainbow Trout.
What fish species are stocked in Salmo Reservoir?
Salmo Reservoir is stocked with Rainbow Trout, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, and Tiger Trout.
What time of year is Salmo Reservoir stocked?
Salmo Reservoir is typically stocked in summer, most often in June.
How often is Salmo Reservoir stocked?
Salmo Reservoir has been stocked about 1 times a year — 64 recorded stockings between 1978 and 2026.
How many fish have been stocked in Salmo Reservoir?
About 126,759 fish have been stocked in Salmo Reservoir across 64 recorded events since 1978, per Montana fish & wildlife agency.
What size are the fish stocked in Salmo Reservoir?
Fish stocked in Salmo Reservoir average about 5.3 inches, based on the sizes the agency reported.
Do you need a fishing license to fish Salmo 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 Salmo Reservoir?
Freshly stocked trout in Salmo 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.