Warm Spring Creek Fish Stocking
Montana · 1928–2013 on record
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Warm Spring Creek was last stocked July 10, 2013 with Smallmouth Bass. Warm Spring Creek has 662 stocking records on file, spanning 1928–2013, with about 5,288,818 fish stocked over that period.
When Warm Spring Creek is stocked
Warm Spring Creek is typically stocked in summer, most often in May — 121 stocking events in that peak month.
By species
Angler's Field Guide
Fishing Tips & Stocking Guide for Warm Spring Creek
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 Warm Spring Creek, 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 Warm Spring Creek was last stocked July 10, 2013, 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 Warm Spring Creek:
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.
Smallmouth Bass Profile Tips
Prized for its aerial fight; often targeted with crayfish-imitating jigs and tubes along rocky structure.
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 Warm Spring Creek
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 Warm Spring Creek, freshest activity first.
Wolf Crk Ranch Pond, Upper
4 mi3 species · 18 records
Last stocked May 2026
Wolf Crk Ranch Pond, Lower
3 mi2 species · 11 records
Last stocked August 2017
Senef Pond
4 mi2 species · 36 records
Last stocked June 2013
Deerfield Reservoir
6 mi1 species · 8 records
Last stocked May 1990
Normans Reservoir 2
8 mi1 species · 22 records
Last stocked May 1985
Normans Reservoir 1
7 mi3 species · 7 records
Last stocked July 1982
Stocking history
Most recent stockings first. Dates shown at the precision the agency reported.
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 10, 2013 | Smallmouth Bass | 10,000 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 10, 2013 | Smallmouth Bass | 10,000 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 7, 2013 | Rainbow Trout | 2,548 | 8.24" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 7, 2013 | Rainbow Trout | 2,459 | 8.24" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 7, 2013 | Rainbow Trout | 2,548 | 8.24" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 7, 2013 | Rainbow Trout | 2,459 | 8.24" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 17, 2012 | Smallmouth Bass | 10,000 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 17, 2012 | Smallmouth Bass | 10,000 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Show 42 more stocking records →
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 18, 2012 | Rainbow Trout | 2,500 | 7.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 18, 2012 | Rainbow Trout | 2,500 | 7.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 11, 2012 | Rainbow Trout | 2,500 | 7.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 11, 2012 | Rainbow Trout | 2,500 | 7.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 20, 2011 | Smallmouth Bass | 10,000 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 20, 2011 | Smallmouth Bass | 10,000 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 6, 2011 | Rainbow Trout | 4,917 | 8.21" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 14, 2010 | Smallmouth Bass | 9,381 | 1.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 14, 2010 | Smallmouth Bass | 9,381 | 1.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 5, 2010 | Rainbow Trout | 2,581 | 7.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 5, 2010 | Rainbow Trout | 2,783 | 7.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 5, 2010 | Rainbow Trout | 2,783 | 7.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| April 13, 2009 | Rainbow Trout | 5,461 | 8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 6, 2008 | Smallmouth Bass | 6,220 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 6, 2008 | Smallmouth Bass | 6,220 | 2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 5, 2008 | Rainbow Trout | 5,003 | 8.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 5, 2008 | Rainbow Trout | 5,003 | 8.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 25, 2007 | Rainbow Trout | 6,006 | 6.05" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 25, 2007 | Rainbow Trout | 6,006 | 6.05" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 11, 2007 | Smallmouth Bass | 10,500 | 1.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 26, 2006 | Rainbow Trout | 6,000 | 6.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 26, 2006 | Rainbow Trout | 6,000 | 6.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 26, 2006 | Smallmouth Bass | 1,900 | 2.1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 25, 2005 | Rainbow Trout | 6,050 | 6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 25, 2005 | Rainbow Trout | 6,050 | 6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 6, 2003 | Rainbow Trout | 5,989 | 6.05" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 6, 2003 | Rainbow Trout | 5,989 | 6.05" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 24, 2003 | Smallmouth Bass | 5,900 | 1.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 14, 2002 | Rainbow Trout | 6,046 | 6.1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 30, 2001 | Rainbow Trout | 6,273 | 6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 30, 2001 | Rainbow Trout | 6,273 | 6" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 11, 2001 | Smallmouth Bass | 10,780 | 1.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 11, 2001 | Smallmouth Bass | 10,780 | 1.4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 13, 2000 | Rainbow Trout | 6,006 | 5.77" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 13, 2000 | Rainbow Trout | 6,006 | 5.77" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 12, 2000 | Smallmouth Bass | 10,000 | 1.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 12, 2000 | Smallmouth Bass | 10,000 | 1.3" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 10, 1999 | Smallmouth Bass | 10,000 | 1.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 10, 1999 | Smallmouth Bass | 10,000 | 1.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 8, 1999 | Rainbow Trout | 6,018 | 5.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 8, 1999 | Rainbow Trout | 6,018 | 5.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 21, 1998 | Smallmouth Bass | 10,000 | 1.8" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Showing 50 of 500 stocking records.
Frequently asked
When was Warm Spring Creek last stocked?
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Warm Spring Creek was last stocked July 10, 2013 with Smallmouth Bass.
What fish species are stocked in Warm Spring Creek?
Warm Spring Creek is stocked with Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout, and Cutthroat Trout.
What time of year is Warm Spring Creek stocked?
Warm Spring Creek is typically stocked in summer, most often in May.
How often is Warm Spring Creek stocked?
Warm Spring Creek has been stocked about 8 times a year — 662 recorded stockings between 1928 and 2013.
How many fish have been stocked in Warm Spring Creek?
About 5,288,818 fish have been stocked in Warm Spring Creek across 662 recorded events since 1928, per Montana fish & wildlife agency.
What size are the fish stocked in Warm Spring Creek?
Fish stocked in Warm Spring Creek average about 5.2 inches, based on the sizes the agency reported.
Do you need a fishing license to fish Warm Spring Creek?
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 Warm Spring Creek?
Freshly stocked trout in Warm Spring Creek 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.