Stillwater River Fish Stocking
Montana · 1926–1982 on record
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Stillwater River was last stocked August 24, 1982 with Rainbow Trout. Stillwater River has 434 stocking records on file, spanning 1926–1982, with about 7,105,366 fish stocked over that period.
When Stillwater River is stocked
Stillwater River is typically stocked in summer, most often in July — 130 stocking events in that peak month.
By species
Angler's Field Guide
Fishing Tips & Stocking Guide for Stillwater River
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 Stillwater River, 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 Stillwater River was last stocked August 24, 1982, 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 Stillwater River:
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.
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.
Recommended Tackle for Stillwater River
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.
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Nearby stocked waters
Other stocked waters near Stillwater River, freshest activity first.
Spring Creek Campground South Pond
14 mi2 species · 8 records
Last stocked June 2023
Flanagan Pond
14 mi1 species · 1 records
Last stocked June 2011
Deadman's Creek Pond
2 mi1 species · 2 records
Last stocked October 2007
Lower Deer Creek
7 mi2 species · 21 records
Last stocked August 2003
Esp Spring Creek
8 mi1 species · 2 records
Last stocked May 2000
Lower Glaston Lake
14 mi9 species · 54 records
Last stocked August 1991
Stocking history
Most recent stockings first. Dates shown at the precision the agency reported.
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 24, 1982 | Rainbow Trout | 1,380 | 8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 24, 1982 | Rainbow Trout | 1,380 | 8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 28, 1982 | Rainbow Trout | 2,050 | 8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 28, 1981 | Rainbow Trout | 2,016 | 10" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 28, 1981 | Rainbow Trout | 2,016 | 10" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 4, 1981 | Rainbow Trout | 2,014 | 8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 18, 1980 | Rainbow Trout | 4,200 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 18, 1980 | Rainbow Trout | 4,200 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Show 42 more stocking records →
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 25, 1980 | Rainbow Trout | 2,800 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 25, 1980 | Rainbow Trout | 2,800 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 21, 1979 | Rainbow Trout | 600 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 21, 1979 | Rainbow Trout | 600 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 9, 1979 | Rainbow Trout | 1,560 | 8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 9, 1979 | Rainbow Trout | 1,560 | 8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 17, 1979 | Rainbow Trout | 2,035 | 7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 18, 1978 | Rainbow Trout | 4,050 | 8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 18, 1978 | Rainbow Trout | 4,050 | 8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 15, 1977 | Rainbow Trout | 3,997 | 7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 29, 1976 | Rainbow Trout | 4,080 | 7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 29, 1976 | Rainbow Trout | 4,080 | 7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 28, 1975 | Rainbow Trout | 4,000 | 8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 28, 1975 | Rainbow Trout | 4,000 | 8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 17, 1974 | Rainbow Trout | 4,019 | 8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 17, 1974 | Rainbow Trout | 4,019 | 8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 13, 1973 | Cutthroat Trout | 21,240 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 13, 1973 | Cutthroat Trout | 21,240 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 9, 1973 | Cutthroat Trout | 50,400 | 1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 9, 1973 | Cutthroat Trout | 50,400 | 1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 12, 1973 | Rainbow Trout | 3,690 | 7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 12, 1973 | Rainbow Trout | 3,690 | 7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 29, 1973 | Rainbow Trout | 4,100 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 29, 1973 | Rainbow Trout | 4,100 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 20, 1973 | Rainbow Trout | 4,440 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 20, 1973 | Rainbow Trout | 4,440 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 20, 1972 | Rainbow Trout | 4,026 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 20, 1972 | Rainbow Trout | 4,026 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 18, 1972 | Rainbow Trout | 2,970 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 18, 1972 | Rainbow Trout | 2,970 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 18, 1972 | Rainbow Trout | 990 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 18, 1972 | Rainbow Trout | 990 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 12, 1972 | Rainbow Trout | 4,680 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 12, 1972 | Rainbow Trout | 4,680 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 21, 1972 | Rainbow Trout | 5,016 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 21, 1972 | Rainbow Trout | 5,016 | 9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 20, 1972 | Cutthroat Trout | 360 | 0 | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 20, 1972 | Cutthroat Trout | 360 | 0 | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 20, 1972 | Cutthroat Trout | 360 | 0 | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 20, 1972 | Cutthroat Trout | 360 | 0 | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 12, 1971 | Rainbow Trout | 4,056 | 8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 12, 1971 | Rainbow Trout | 4,056 | 8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Showing 50 of 434 stocking records.
Frequently asked
When was Stillwater River last stocked?
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Stillwater River was last stocked August 24, 1982 with Rainbow Trout.
What fish species are stocked in Stillwater River?
Stillwater River is stocked with Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Brown Trout, Trout (unspecified), Brook Trout, Bullhead, Largemouth Bass, and Yellow Perch.
What time of year is Stillwater River stocked?
Stillwater River is typically stocked in summer, most often in July.
How often is Stillwater River stocked?
Stillwater River has been stocked about 8 times a year — 434 recorded stockings between 1926 and 1982.
How many fish have been stocked in Stillwater River?
About 7,105,366 fish have been stocked in Stillwater River across 434 recorded events since 1926, per Montana fish & wildlife agency.
What size are the fish stocked in Stillwater River?
Fish stocked in Stillwater River average about 6.4 inches, based on the sizes the agency reported.
Do you need a fishing license to fish Stillwater River?
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 Stillwater River?
Freshly stocked trout in Stillwater River 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.