Bair Reservoir fishing

Bair Reservoir fishing is stocked with Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout, and Tiger Trout on a reservoir. Also recorded: Brown Trout, White Sucker, and Longnose Sucker. It is stocked about 2 times a year since 2011, most often in May and June. Species guides list dawn, day, and dusk for Brook Trout and Brown Trout and dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout and Tiger Trout.

AI-generated illustration, not a photo of this lake
Last stocked
June 3, 2026
· Rainbow Trout
Plants on record
32
Since 2011
Species stocked
4 (+3 also recorded)
Average size
3.8 in
Elevation
5,328.3 ft

Fish at Bair Reservoir

4 stocked · 3 confirmed present

Around the dates Bair Reservoir is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 46.7°F in May, 56.6°F in June, 55°F in September, 40.4°F in October. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo

Rainbow Trout Stocked · 24 plants · last June 3, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked June 3, 2026 · avg 3.6 in · 24 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide
Tiger Trout Stocked · 2 plants · last September 18, 2025 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked September 18, 2025 · avg 5.2 in · 2 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Tiger Trout species guide
Brook Trout Stocked · 1 plant · last June 16, 2011 Best: dawn, day, dusk

Last stocked June 16, 2011 · avg 3.4 in · 1 plant

Best: dawn, day, dusk

Brook Trout species guide

How Bair Reservoir is stocked

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

Lake Sutherlin (8.5 mi), Newlan Reservoir (17.4 mi), and Chief Joseph Pond (36.3 mi) were stocked more recently. Lake Sutherlin is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Newlan Reservoir is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Cutthroat Trout, and Chief Joseph Pond is also stocked with Rainbow Trout.

Fish stocked in 2011

34,024

Fish stocked in 2012

19,503

Fish stocked in 2013

27,655

Fish stocked in 2014

20,025

Fish stocked in 2015

26,149

Fish stocked in 2016

15,023

Fish stocked in 2017

15,087

Fish stocked in 2018

15,352

Fish stocked in 2019

12,508

Fish stocked in 2020

12,007

Fish stocked in 2021

11,477

Fish stocked in 2022

12,322

Fish stocked in 2023

9,429

Fish stocked in 2024

7,522

Fish stocked in 2025

8,512

Fish stocked in 2026

5,073

Stocking history

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
June 3, 2026Rainbow Trout5,0733.09 inreport
September 18, 2025Tiger Trout1,5006.28 inreport
June 23, 2025Tiger Trout2,0004.11 inreport
May 28, 2025Rainbow Trout5,0123.31 inreport
May 16, 2024Rainbow Trout7,5222.81 inreport
May 23, 2023Rainbow Trout9,4293.4 inreport
October 6, 2022Rainbow Trout2,0104.63 inreport
May 26, 2022Rainbow Trout10,3122.77 inreport
August 17, 2021Rainbow Trout1,4453.73 inreport
May 14, 2021Rainbow Trout10,0323.19 inreport
October 1, 2020Rainbow Trout2,0024.45 inreport
May 11, 2020Rainbow Trout10,0052.77 inreport
September 25, 2019Rainbow Trout2,0084.23 inreport
May 30, 2019Rainbow Trout10,5003.33 inreport
September 19, 2018Rainbow Trout4,4955.47 inreport
June 8, 2018Rainbow Trout10,8573.26 inreport
September 20, 2017Rainbow Trout5,0124.97 inreport
May 15, 2017Rainbow Trout10,0753.13 inreport
September 19, 2016Rainbow Trout5,0204.83 inreport
May 17, 2016Rainbow Trout10,0032.86 inreport
October 29, 2015Rainbow Trout9,9324.48 inreport
May 21, 2015Rainbow Trout16,2172.88 inreport
June 10, 2014Cutthroat Trout5,0004.63 inreport
May 28, 2014Rainbow Trout15,0253.01 inreport
October 30, 2013Cutthroat Trout7,6822.57 inreport
June 19, 2013Cutthroat Trout5,0004.54 inreport
May 22, 2013Rainbow Trout14,9732.89 inreport
July 3, 2012Cutthroat Trout4,5006.3 inreport
June 1, 2012Rainbow Trout15,0033.17 inreport
June 22, 2011Cutthroat Trout5,0005 inreport
June 20, 2011Rainbow Trout15,0243.38 inreport
June 16, 2011Brook Trout14,0003.4 inreport

Access and facts

Water type
reservoir
Nearest town
Checkerboard

Irrigation storage reservoir on the North Fork Musselshell River beside Checkerboard, built in 1939 by the State Water Conservation Board. Water levels are run for irrigation and can swing sharply.

Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.

View larger map · Open in Google Maps · Directions

Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks before you go.

Nearest lakes

Lake Sutherlin 8.5 mi last stocked June 30, 2026 Martinsdale Reservoir 17.1 mi last stocked May 28, 2026 Newlan Reservoir 17.4 mi last stocked July 2, 2026 Doggett Reservoir 31.8 mi last stocked July 11, 2023 Chief Joseph Pond 36.3 mi last stocked June 5, 2026

Common questions

What fish are at Bair Reservoir?

Fishing Bair Reservoir usually means Rainbow Trout: Rainbow Trout accounts for 24 of 32 plants on record, ahead of Cutthroat Trout and 2 more. Rainbow Trout was last stocked June 3, 2026, averaging 3.6 in. Cutthroat Trout was last stocked June 10, 2014, averaging 4.6 in. Tiger Trout was last stocked September 18, 2025, averaging 5.2 in. Brook Trout was last stocked June 16, 2011, averaging 3.4 in. Brown Trout, White Sucker, and Longnose Sucker are recorded here outside the stocking reports.

When is Bair Reservoir stocked?

Last stocked June 3, 2026. It is stocked about 2 times a year since 2011, most often in May and June.

How big are the fish stocked at Bair Reservoir?

Stocked fish average 3.8 in. Rainbow Trout average 3.6 in. Cutthroat Trout average 4.6 in. Tiger Trout average 5.2 in. Brook Trout average 3.4 in.

How do you get on Bair Reservoir?

The nearest town is Checkerboard. Irrigation storage reservoir on the North Fork Musselshell River beside Checkerboard, built in 1939 by the State Water Conservation Board. Water levels are run for irrigation and can swing sharply.

Which lakes near Bair Reservoir were stocked more recently?

Lake Sutherlin (8.5 mi), Newlan Reservoir (17.4 mi), and Chief Joseph Pond (36.3 mi) were stocked more recently. Lake Sutherlin is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Newlan Reservoir is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Cutthroat Trout, and Chief Joseph Pond is also stocked with Rainbow Trout.

Sources (3) +