Upper Whitefish Lake Fish Stocking
Montana · 1934–2021 on record
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Upper Whitefish Lake was last stocked June 1, 2021 with Cutthroat Trout. Upper Whitefish Lake has 61 stocking records on file, spanning 1934–2021, with about 1,236,485 fish stocked over that period.
When Upper Whitefish Lake is stocked
Upper Whitefish Lake is typically stocked in summer, most often in June — 37 stocking events in that peak month.
By species
Angler's Field Guide
Fishing Tips & Stocking Guide for Upper Whitefish 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 Upper Whitefish 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 Upper Whitefish Lake was last stocked June 1, 2021, 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 Upper Whitefish 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.
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.
Arctic Grayling Profile Tips
A popular dry-fly target in Montana and Utah's high-country waters, prized for its willingness to rise.
Recommended Tackle for Upper Whitefish 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.
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 Upper Whitefish Lake, freshest activity first.
Dickey Lake
7 mi7 species · 174 records
Last stocked May 2026
Hole In The Wall Lake
7 mi2 species · 6 records
Last stocked May 2025
Nasukoin Lake
7 mi1 species · 14 records
Last stocked August 2024
Herrig Lake
4 mi2 species · 14 records
Last stocked July 2023
Link Lake
5 mi1 species · 22 records
Last stocked July 2023
Chain Lake 1
6 mi1 species · 12 records
Last stocked August 2021
Stocking history
Most recent stockings first. Dates shown at the precision the agency reported.
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 1, 2021 | Cutthroat Trout | 26,168 | 3.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 24, 2019 | Cutthroat Trout | 10,148 | 3.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 20, 2016 | Cutthroat Trout | 4,000 | 5.67" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 30, 2009 | Cutthroat Trout | 6,480 | 5.1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 17, 2008 | Cutthroat Trout | 10,020 | 3.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 5, 2007 | Cutthroat Trout | 10,623 | 3.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 7, 2006 | Cutthroat Trout | 10,080 | 4.19" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 10, 2004 | Cutthroat Trout | 10,378 | 3.11" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Show 42 more stocking records →
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2, 2003 | Cutthroat Trout | 10,878 | 3.31" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 5, 2002 | Cutthroat Trout | 9,988 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 5, 2001 | Cutthroat Trout | 10,010 | 4.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 5, 2000 | Cutthroat Trout | 10,123 | 4.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 14, 1999 | Cutthroat Trout | 9,253 | 3.89" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 14, 1999 | Cutthroat Trout | 750 | 3.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 29, 1998 | Cutthroat Trout | 6,226 | 3.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 18, 1997 | Cutthroat Trout | 5,208 | 4.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 18, 1996 | Cutthroat Trout | 5,292 | 3.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 7, 1995 | Cutthroat Trout | 5,082 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 3, 1994 | Cutthroat Trout | 4,961 | 3.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 2, 1993 | Cutthroat Trout | 5,035 | 3.1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 4, 1992 | Cutthroat Trout | 4,553 | 3.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 25, 1991 | Cutthroat Trout | 5,006 | 4.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 31, 1990 | Cutthroat Trout | 20,002 | 3.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 28, 1990 | Cutthroat Trout | 5,141 | 3.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 26, 1989 | Cutthroat Trout | 4,968 | 3.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 21, 1988 | Cutthroat Trout | 4,991 | 4.5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 9, 1987 | Cutthroat Trout | 5,016 | 4.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 3, 1986 | Cutthroat Trout | 5,002 | 6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 6, 1985 | Cutthroat Trout | 5,005 | 6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 21, 1984 | Cutthroat Trout | 5,006 | 6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 30, 1983 | Cutthroat Trout | 5,009 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 9, 1982 | Cutthroat Trout | 5,000 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 6, 1981 | Cutthroat Trout | 5,000 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 12, 1980 | Cutthroat Trout | 5,000 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 12, 1979 | Cutthroat Trout | 5,180 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 26, 1978 | Cutthroat Trout | 4,994 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 6, 1977 | Cutthroat Trout | 5,004 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 2, 1976 | Cutthroat Trout | 3,724 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 15, 1975 | Cutthroat Trout | 990 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 30, 1973 | Cutthroat Trout | 5,130 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 28, 1969 | Cutthroat Trout | 5,029 | 6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 24, 1966 | Cutthroat Trout | 4,704 | 7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 2, 1961 | Arctic Grayling | 100,000 | 0 | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 19, 1960 | Cutthroat Trout | 10,088 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 30, 1960 | Arctic Grayling | 25,000 | 1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 13, 1957 | Cutthroat Trout | 10,260 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 11, 1956 | Arctic Grayling | 50,000 | 0 | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 29, 1955 | Arctic Grayling | 60,000 | 0 | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| June 25, 1955 | Arctic Grayling | 50,000 | 0 | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 19, 1954 | Cutthroat Trout | 19,992 | 3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Showing 50 of 61 stocking records.
Frequently asked
When was Upper Whitefish Lake last stocked?
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Upper Whitefish Lake was last stocked June 1, 2021 with Cutthroat Trout.
What fish species are stocked in Upper Whitefish Lake?
Upper Whitefish Lake is stocked with Cutthroat Trout, Arctic Grayling, Lake Trout, and Rainbow Trout.
What time of year is Upper Whitefish Lake stocked?
Upper Whitefish Lake is typically stocked in summer, most often in June.
How often is Upper Whitefish Lake stocked?
Upper Whitefish Lake is stocked intermittently — 61 recorded stockings between 1934 and 2021.
How many fish have been stocked in Upper Whitefish Lake?
About 1,236,485 fish have been stocked in Upper Whitefish Lake across 61 recorded events since 1934, per Montana fish & wildlife agency.
What size are the fish stocked in Upper Whitefish Lake?
Fish stocked in Upper Whitefish Lake average about 4.0 inches, based on the sizes the agency reported.
Do you need a fishing license to fish Upper Whitefish 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 Upper Whitefish Lake?
Freshly stocked trout in Upper Whitefish 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.