Rainbow Trout Stocked · 15 plants · last May 21, 2025 Best: dawn, dusk Boxelder Lake fishing
Boxelder Lake fishing is stocked with Walleye, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, and Yellow Perch on a reservoir. Also recorded: Black Bullhead, Common Carp, White Sucker, Black Crappie, and Yellow Bullhead. It is stocked about 2.3 times a year since 2011, most often in May and June. Species guides list dawn, dusk, and night for Walleye and Black Crappie, dawn, day, and dusk for Northern Pike and Yellow Perch, and dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout and Common Carp.
- Last stocked
- July 2, 2026
- · Yellow Perch
- Plants on record
- 37
- Since 2011
- Species stocked
- 4 (+5 also recorded)
- Average size
- 2.6 in
- Elevation
- 2,089.4 ft
Fish at Boxelder Lake
Around the dates Boxelder Lake is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 54.7°F in May, 64.5°F in June, 39.1°F in April, 70°F in July. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo
Rainbow Trout Stocked · 15 plants · last May 21, 2025 Best: dawn, dusk 
Walleye Stocked · 13 plants · last June 30, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk, night 
Northern Pike Stocked · 6 plants · last June 18, 2018 Best: dawn, day, dusk Last stocked June 18, 2018 · avg 1.8 in · 6 plants
Best: dawn, day, dusk
Northern Pike species guide
Yellow Perch Stocked · 3 plants · last July 2, 2026 Best: dawn, day, dusk 
Black Bullhead Confirmed present Best: dusk, night Best: dusk, night
Black Bullhead species guide
Common Carp Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk Best: dawn, dusk
Common Carp species guide White Sucker Confirmed present
Black Crappie Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk, night Best: dawn, dusk, night
Black Crappie species guide Yellow Bullhead Confirmed present
How Boxelder Lake is stocked
No plants recorded in 2012, 2013, 2017, and 2019.
Fish stocked in 2011
25,000
Fish stocked in 2014
55,432
Fish stocked in 2015
270,036
Fish stocked in 2016
283,288
Fish stocked in 2018
25,003
Fish stocked in 2020
305,271
Fish stocked in 2021
263,685
Fish stocked in 2022
30,153
Fish stocked in 2023
10,262
Fish stocked in 2024
35,600
Fish stocked in 2025
15,797
Fish stocked in 2026
25,000
Stocking history
| Date | Species | Quantity | Avg. length | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 2, 2026 | Yellow Perch | 20,000 | 1.8 in | report |
| June 30, 2026 | Walleye | 2,500 | 1.36 in | report |
| June 30, 2026 | Walleye | 2,500 | 1.36 in | report |
| June 30, 2025 | Walleye | 1,440 | 1.55 in | report |
| June 30, 2025 | Walleye | 3,978 | 1.71 in | report |
| May 21, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 5,000 | 3.17 in | report |
| May 1, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 5,379 | 2.87 in | report |
| August 1, 2024 | Yellow Perch | 20,000 | 1.33 in | report |
| June 20, 2024 | Walleye | 5,600 | 1.19 in | report |
| May 30, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | 5,000 | 3.23 in | report |
| May 30, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | 5,000 | 3.23 in | report |
| July 12, 2023 | Walleye | 5,031 | 2.63 in | report |
| May 16, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 5,231 | 2.63 in | report |
| June 29, 2022 | Yellow Perch | 20,000 | 0.85 in | report |
| June 28, 2022 | Walleye | 5,115 | 1.6 in | report |
| May 17, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 5,038 | 3.25 in | report |
| June 15, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 1,507 | 7.08 in | report |
| June 14, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 10,173 | 3.37 in | report |
| May 21, 2021 | Walleye | 250,000 | 0.33 in | report |
| May 21, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 2,005 | 6.83 in | report |
| May 6, 2020 | Walleye | 300,000 | 0.33 in | report |
| May 6, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 5,271 | 3.08 in | report |
| June 18, 2018 | Northern Pike | 5,003 | 3.56 in | report |
| May 22, 2018 | Northern Pike | 20,000 | 0.75 in | report |
| May 26, 2016 | Northern Pike | 8,288 | 2.57 in | report |
| May 3, 2016 | Walleye | 250,000 | 0.33 in | report |
| May 3, 2016 | Rainbow Trout | 5,000 | 7.12 in | report |
| May 3, 2016 | Northern Pike | 20,000 | 0.37 in | report |
| May 22, 2015 | Rainbow Trout | 4,917 | 7.58 in | report |
| May 1, 2015 | Rainbow Trout | 10,034 | 2.17 in | report |
| April 29, 2015 | Walleye | 250,000 | 0.33 in | report |
| April 29, 2015 | Rainbow Trout | 5,085 | 6.8 in | report |
| June 5, 2014 | Northern Pike | 5,332 | 2.59 in | report |
| May 20, 2014 | Walleye | 25,000 | 0.33 in | report |
| May 20, 2014 | Rainbow Trout | 5,100 | 5.83 in | report |
| May 20, 2014 | Northern Pike | 20,000 | 0.75 in | report |
| May 20, 2011 | Walleye | 25,000 | 0.25 in | report |
Access and facts
- Water type
- reservoir
- Nearest town
- Plentywood
Public water about a half mile north of Plentywood. Two boat ramps provide access, per Montana FWP.
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks before you go.
Nearest lakes
Common questions
What fish are at Boxelder Lake?
Fishing Boxelder Lake usually means Rainbow Trout: Rainbow Trout accounts for 15 of 37 plants on record, ahead of Walleye and 2 more. Rainbow Trout was last stocked May 21, 2025, averaging 4.5 in. Walleye was last stocked June 30, 2026, averaging 1 in. Northern Pike was last stocked June 18, 2018, averaging 1.8 in. Yellow Perch was last stocked July 2, 2026, averaging 1.3 in. Black Bullhead, Common Carp, White Sucker, and Black Crappie, plus 1 more are recorded here outside the stocking reports.
When is Boxelder Lake stocked?
Last stocked July 2, 2026. It is stocked about 2.3 times a year since 2011, most often in May and June. No plants recorded in 2012, 2013, 2017, and 2019.
How big are the fish stocked at Boxelder Lake?
Stocked fish average 2.6 in. Rainbow Trout average 4.5 in. Walleye average 1 in. Northern Pike average 1.8 in. Yellow Perch average 1.3 in.
How do you get on Boxelder Lake?
The nearest town is Plentywood. Public water about a half mile north of Plentywood. Two boat ramps provide access, per Montana FWP.