Spencer Lake Fish Stocking
Montana · 1929–2012 on record
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Spencer Lake was last stocked July 25, 2012 with Largemouth Bass. Spencer Lake has 52 stocking records on file, spanning 1929–2012, with about 301,108 fish stocked over that period.
When Spencer Lake is stocked
Spencer Lake is typically stocked in spring and summer, most often in July — 10 stocking events in that peak month.
By species
Angler's Field Guide
Fishing Tips & Stocking Guide for Spencer 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 Spencer 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 Spencer Lake was last stocked July 25, 2012, 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 Spencer 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).
Largemouth Bass Profile Tips
The centerpiece of American bass fishing culture, taken on everything from topwater lures to soft plastics and live bait.
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 Spencer 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 Spencer Lake, freshest activity first.
Little Beaver Lake
3 mi3 species · 66 records
Last stocked June 2026
Dollar Lake
3 mi4 species · 79 records
Last stocked June 2026
Murray Lake
3 mi4 species · 102 records
Last stocked June 2026
Woods Lake
4 mi2 species · 64 records
Last stocked May 2026
Mountain Mall Pond
4 mi1 species · 82 records
Last stocked May 2022
Whitefish Lake
4 mi8 species · 261 records
Last stocked April 2021
Stocking history
Most recent stockings first. Dates shown at the precision the agency reported.
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 25, 2012 | Largemouth Bass | 3,200 | 1.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 27, 2011 | Largemouth Bass | 3,200 | 1.6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 6, 2008 | Largemouth Bass | 3,200 | 1.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 24, 2007 | Largemouth Bass | 2,100 | 1.6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 18, 2006 | Largemouth Bass | 2,000 | 1.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 28, 2005 | Largemouth Bass | 3,000 | 1.6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 17, 2004 | Largemouth Bass | 3,200 | 1.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 21, 1993 | Rainbow Trout | 987 | 4.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Show 42 more stocking records →
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 28, 1993 | Rainbow Trout | 63 | 18.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 24, 1992 | Rainbow Trout | 100 | 14.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 5, 1992 | Rainbow Trout | 40 | 16.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 12, 1992 | Rainbow Trout | 1,075 | 4.1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 30, 1991 | Rainbow Trout | 21 | 26" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 30, 1991 | Rainbow Trout | 32 | 19.1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 31, 1990 | Rainbow Trout | 1,250 | 4.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 12, 1989 | Rainbow Trout | 125 | 15.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 12, 1989 | Rainbow Trout | 10 | 25.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 8, 1989 | Rainbow Trout | 1,001 | 3.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 14, 1988 | Rainbow Trout | 1,027 | 5.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 16, 1988 | Rainbow Trout | 28 | 21.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 16, 1988 | Rainbow Trout | 100 | 13.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 23, 1987 | Rainbow Trout | 2,474 | 6.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 14, 1984 | Cutthroat Trout | 3,000 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 9, 1983 | Cutthroat Trout | 2,500 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 29, 1981 | Cutthroat Trout | 3,000 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 28, 1980 | Cutthroat Trout | 3,000 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 1, 1979 | Cutthroat Trout | 2,999 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 18, 1978 | Cutthroat Trout | 2,907 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 5, 1977 | Cutthroat Trout | 3,060 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 2, 1976 | Cutthroat Trout | 2,980 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 21, 1974 | Cutthroat Trout | 3,024 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 23, 1973 | Cutthroat Trout | 3,016 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 24, 1970 | Arctic Grayling | 10,000 | 1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 27, 1969 | Cutthroat Trout | 10,356 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 11, 1967 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,121 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 7, 1966 | Cutthroat Trout | 3,000 | 6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 1, 1964 | Cutthroat Trout | 2,500 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 18, 1963 | Cutthroat Trout | 3,603 | 6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 17, 1962 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,355 | 12" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 11, 1961 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,200 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 11, 1961 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,608 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 5, 1960 | Cutthroat Trout | 6,006 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 5, 1958 | Cutthroat Trout | 6,000 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 1, 1957 | Cutthroat Trout | 11,648 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 25, 1956 | Cutthroat Trout | 5,940 | 1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 26, 1948 | Brook Trout | 7,500 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 5, 1935 | Arctic Grayling | 100,000 | 0 | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 29, 1935 | Coho Salmon | 12,000 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 12, 1933 | Coho Salmon | 15,552 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 14, 1932 | Coho Salmon | 10,000 | 0 | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Showing 50 of 52 stocking records.
Frequently asked
When was Spencer Lake last stocked?
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Spencer Lake was last stocked July 25, 2012 with Largemouth Bass.
What fish species are stocked in Spencer Lake?
Spencer Lake is stocked with Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Arctic Grayling, Brook Trout, Coho Salmon, and Chinook Salmon.
What time of year is Spencer Lake stocked?
Spencer Lake is typically stocked in spring and summer, most often in July.
How often is Spencer Lake stocked?
Spencer Lake is stocked intermittently — 52 recorded stockings between 1929 and 2012.
How many fish have been stocked in Spencer Lake?
About 301,108 fish have been stocked in Spencer Lake across 52 recorded events since 1929, per Montana fish & wildlife agency.
What size are the fish stocked in Spencer Lake?
Fish stocked in Spencer Lake average about 6.5 inches, based on the sizes the agency reported.
Do you need a fishing license to fish Spencer 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 Spencer Lake?
Freshly stocked trout in Spencer 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.