Yellowstone River Fish Stocking
Montana · 1928–2010 on record
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Yellowstone River was last stocked October 7, 2010 with Pallid Sturgeon. Yellowstone River has 1,781 stocking records on file, spanning 1928–2010, with about 11,905,772 fish stocked over that period.
When Yellowstone River is stocked
Yellowstone River is typically stocked in summer, most often in July — 213 stocking events in that peak month.
By species
Angler's Field Guide
Fishing Tips & Stocking Guide for Yellowstone 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 Yellowstone 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 Yellowstone River was last stocked October 7, 2010, 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 Yellowstone 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.
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.
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 Yellowstone 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.
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 Yellowstone River, freshest activity first.
Knudsen Bros Pond
23 mi3 species · 13 records
Last stocked June 2025
Hofman Reservoir
24 mi2 species · 69 records
Last stocked May 2025
Crusch Reservoir
18 mi2 species · 30 records
Last stocked May 2025
Missouri River
4 mi19 species · 1417 records
Last stocked October 2010
Bainville RR Pond #1
17 mi9 species · 28 records
Last stocked May 1996
Ericksen Reservoir
24 mi3 species · 12 records
Last stocked July 1983
Stocking history
Most recent stockings first. Dates shown at the precision the agency reported.
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 7, 2010 | Pallid Sturgeon | 250 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 7, 2010 | Pallid Sturgeon | 250 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 4, 2010 | Pallid Sturgeon | 1,072 | 10" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 4, 2010 | Pallid Sturgeon | 1,072 | 10" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 7, 2009 | Pallid Sturgeon | 378 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 7, 2009 | Pallid Sturgeon | 17 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 7, 2009 | Pallid Sturgeon | 378 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 7, 2009 | Pallid Sturgeon | 17 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Show 42 more stocking records →
| Date | Species | Number | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 7, 2009 | Pallid Sturgeon | 67 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 7, 2009 | Pallid Sturgeon | 67 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 7, 2009 | Pallid Sturgeon | 17 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 7, 2009 | Pallid Sturgeon | 17 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 7, 2009 | Pallid Sturgeon | 378 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 7, 2009 | Pallid Sturgeon | 67 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 7, 2009 | Pallid Sturgeon | 378 | 4" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| October 7, 2009 | Pallid Sturgeon | 67 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 24, 2008 | Pallid Sturgeon | 1,591 | 5.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 24, 2008 | Pallid Sturgeon | 3,847 | 4.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 24, 2008 | Pallid Sturgeon | 4,046 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 24, 2008 | Pallid Sturgeon | 4,046 | 5" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 24, 2008 | Pallid Sturgeon | 7,419 | 5.1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 24, 2008 | Pallid Sturgeon | 1,591 | 5.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 24, 2008 | Pallid Sturgeon | 3,847 | 4.7" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 24, 2008 | Pallid Sturgeon | 7,419 | 5.1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 14, 2008 | Pallid Sturgeon | 1,046 | 6.17" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 14, 2008 | Pallid Sturgeon | 2,490 | 6.17" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 14, 2008 | Pallid Sturgeon | 2,490 | 6.17" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 14, 2008 | Pallid Sturgeon | 3,002 | 6.17" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 14, 2008 | Pallid Sturgeon | 3,002 | 6.17" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 14, 2008 | Pallid Sturgeon | 2,492 | 6.17" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 14, 2008 | Pallid Sturgeon | 1,046 | 6.17" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 14, 2008 | Pallid Sturgeon | 2,492 | 6.17" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 31, 2008 | Pallid Sturgeon | 412 | 8.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 31, 2008 | Pallid Sturgeon | 404 | 8.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 31, 2008 | Pallid Sturgeon | 412 | 8.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 31, 2008 | Pallid Sturgeon | 404 | 8.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 31, 2008 | Pallid Sturgeon | 685 | 8.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| July 31, 2008 | Pallid Sturgeon | 685 | 8.2" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 22, 2008 | Pallid Sturgeon | 111 | 10" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 4, 2008 | Pallid Sturgeon | 319 | 10" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 4, 2008 | Pallid Sturgeon | 319 | 10" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 3, 2008 | Pallid Sturgeon | 170 | 10" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 3, 2008 | Pallid Sturgeon | 438 | 10" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 3, 2008 | Pallid Sturgeon | 438 | 10" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| May 3, 2008 | Pallid Sturgeon | 170 | 10" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 12, 2007 | Pallid Sturgeon | 293 | 2.1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 12, 2007 | Pallid Sturgeon | 293 | 2.1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 12, 2007 | Pallid Sturgeon | 293 | 2.1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| September 12, 2007 | Pallid Sturgeon | 293 | 2.1" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
| August 27, 2007 | Pallid Sturgeon | 336 | 1.9" | Montana fish & wildlife agency |
Showing 50 of 500 stocking records.
Frequently asked
When was Yellowstone River last stocked?
According to Montana fish & wildlife agency, Yellowstone River was last stocked October 7, 2010 with Pallid Sturgeon.
What fish species are stocked in Yellowstone River?
Yellowstone River is stocked with Pallid Sturgeon, Cutthroat Trout, Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, and Largemouth Bass.
What time of year is Yellowstone River stocked?
Yellowstone River is typically stocked in summer, most often in July.
How often is Yellowstone River stocked?
Yellowstone River has been stocked about 21 times a year — 1,781 recorded stockings between 1928 and 2010.
How many fish have been stocked in Yellowstone River?
About 11,905,772 fish have been stocked in Yellowstone River across 1,781 recorded events since 1928, per Montana fish & wildlife agency.
What size are the fish stocked in Yellowstone River?
Fish stocked in Yellowstone River average about 5.5 inches, based on the sizes the agency reported.
Do you need a fishing license to fish Yellowstone 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 Yellowstone River?
Freshly stocked trout in Yellowstone 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.