Spotted Eagle Lake Fish Stocking
Montana · 1967–2025 on record
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Spotted Eagle Lake was last stocked October 15, 2025 with Black Crappie. Spotted Eagle Lake has 101 stocking records on file, spanning 1967–2025, with about 300,088 fish stocked over that period.
When Spotted Eagle Lake is stocked
Spotted Eagle Lake is typically stocked in summer and fall, most often in October — 24 stocking events in that peak month.
By species
Angler's Field Guide
Fishing Tips & Stocking Guide for Spotted Eagle 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 Spotted Eagle 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 Spotted Eagle Lake was last stocked October 15, 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 Spotted Eagle 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.
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.
Black Crappie Profile Tips
Often caught around structure with small jigs or minnows, especially in spring when crappie move shallow to spawn.
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 Spotted Eagle 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.
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 Spotted Eagle Lake, freshest activity first.
Dean Reservoir
9 mi5 species · 38 records
Last stocked June 2024
Tongue River
1 mi13 species · 247 records
Last stocked April 2020
Fort Keogh Pond
5 mi3 species · 28 records
Last stocked April 2019
Miles City Hatchery Pond
0 mi1 species · 9 records
Last stocked April 2018
Cook Lake
1 mi2 species · 4 records
Last stocked June 2002
Taylor Pond
5 mi2 species · 2 records
Last stocked July 1986
Stocking history
Most recent stockings first. Dates shown at the precision the agency reported.
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 15, 2025 | Black Crappie | 31 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 15, 2025 | Largemouth Bass | 1,516 | 1.78" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 15, 2025 | White Crappie | 35 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 17, 2025 | Largemouth Bass | 384 | 18.82" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 4, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 1,008 | 11.14" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 28, 2025 | Largemouth Bass | 4,000 | 1.84" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 30, 2025 | Largemouth Bass | 150 | 16.44" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 6, 2025 | Northern Pike | 311 | 3.01" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Show 42 more stocking records →
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 | Black Crappie | 99 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 21, 2025 | White Crappie | 123 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| November 8, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | 191 | 9.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 17, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | 500 | 8.79" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 19, 2023 | Largemouth Bass | 384 | 3.03" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 18, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 1,005 | 8.65" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 19, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 603 | 8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 29, 2022 | Yellow Perch | 20,000 | 0.81" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 16, 2022 | Northern Pike | 514 | 2.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 27, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 8.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 9, 2021 | Walleye | 710 | 4.05" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 30, 2021 | Channel Catfish | 1,057 | 2.05" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 19, 2021 | Largemouth Bass | 344 | 10.86" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| January 15, 2021 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,947 | 3.11" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| January 15, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 177 | 5.14" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 24, 2020 | Yellow Perch | 800 | 4.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 22, 2020 | Yellow Perch | 2,000 | 4.55" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 7, 2020 | Smallmouth Bass | 250 | 13.32" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 2, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 300 | 10.66" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 8, 2019 | Yellow Perch | 1,643 | 3.61" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 18, 2019 | Rainbow Trout | 800 | 8.46" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 18, 2019 | Rainbow Trout | 100 | 11.47" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 15, 2019 | Rainbow Trout | 223 | 13.29" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 28, 2019 | Yellow Perch | 30,687 | 1.29" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| November 5, 2018 | Yellow Perch | 2,000 | 4.14" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 5, 2018 | Rainbow Trout | 1,013 | 7.63" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 14, 2018 | Smallmouth Bass | 2,462 | 2.23" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 2, 2014 | Smallmouth Bass | 1,500 | 2.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 15, 2013 | Largemouth Bass | 28 | 15" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 15, 2013 | Smallmouth Bass | 192 | 17" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 6, 2008 | Smallmouth Bass | 280 | 14" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 4, 2008 | Largemouth Bass | 1,000 | 2.6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 30, 2008 | Largemouth Bass | 1,300 | 4.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 6, 2006 | Walleye | 240 | 3.6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 6, 2006 | Largemouth Bass | 250 | 3.6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 15, 2005 | Walleye | 4,590 | 2.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 7, 2004 | Largemouth Bass | 95 | 14" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 7, 2004 | Largemouth Bass | 380 | 6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 18, 2002 | Largemouth Bass | 97 | 18.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 18, 2002 | Smallmouth Bass | 211 | 17.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 18, 2002 | Smallmouth Bass | 1,128 | 2.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 18, 2002 | Smallmouth Bass | 164 | 6.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Showing 50 of 101 stocking records.
Frequently asked
When was Spotted Eagle Lake last stocked?
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Spotted Eagle Lake was last stocked October 15, 2025 with Black Crappie.
What fish species are stocked in Spotted Eagle Lake?
Spotted Eagle Lake is stocked with Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass, White Crappie, Rainbow Trout, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Walleye, Channel Catfish, Cutthroat Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, and Fathead Minnow.
What time of year is Spotted Eagle Lake stocked?
Spotted Eagle Lake is typically stocked in summer and fall, most often in October.
How often is Spotted Eagle Lake stocked?
Spotted Eagle Lake has been stocked about 2 times a year — 101 recorded stockings between 1967 and 2025.
How many fish have been stocked in Spotted Eagle Lake?
About 300,088 fish have been stocked in Spotted Eagle Lake across 101 recorded events since 1967, per Montana fish & wildlife agency.
What size are the fish stocked in Spotted Eagle Lake?
Fish stocked in Spotted Eagle Lake average about 6.9 inches, based on the sizes the agency reported.
Do you need a fishing license to fish Spotted Eagle 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 Spotted Eagle Lake?
Freshly stocked trout in Spotted Eagle 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.