Cooney Reservoir fishing

Cooney Reservoir fishing is stocked with Rainbow Trout and Cutthroat Trout on a reservoir. Also recorded: Walleye, Yellow Perch, Burbot, Brown Trout, Black Crappie, Brook Trout, and 5 more. It is stocked about 6.5 times a year since 2011, most often in May and October. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout, dawn, dusk, and night for Walleye and Black Crappie, and dawn, day, and dusk for Yellow Perch, Brown Trout, and Brook Trout.

AI-generated illustration, not a photo of this lake
Last stocked
May 21, 2026
· Rainbow Trout
Plants on record
104
Since 2011
Species stocked
2 (+11 also recorded)
Average size
7.9 in
Elevation
4,253 ft

Fish at Cooney Reservoir

2 stocked · 11 confirmed present

Around the dates Cooney Reservoir is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 52.1°F in May, 44.5°F in October, 41.1°F in April, 62.6°F in June. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo

Rainbow Trout Stocked · 102 plants · last May 21, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked May 21, 2026 · avg 7.9 in · 102 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide
Cutthroat Trout Stocked · 2 plants · last September 26, 2012

Last stocked September 26, 2012 · avg 5.5 in · 2 plants

Cutthroat Trout species guide

Cooney Reservoir at Cooney State Park is a popular fishing destination in south central Montana, featuring excellent walleye and rainbow trout fishing. Visitors can head to Cooney State Park's reservoir to fish, boat, and camp. (fwp.mt.gov, accessed September 22, 2026)

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

How Cooney Reservoir is stocked

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

Wild Bill Lake (21 mi), Laurel Pond (26.2 mi), Emerald Lake (26.2 mi), and West Rosebud Lake (27.2 mi) were stocked more recently. Wild Bill Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Laurel Pond is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Cutthroat Trout, Emerald Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, and West Rosebud Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Cutthroat Trout.

Fish stocked in 2011

167,794

Fish stocked in 2012

62,708

Fish stocked in 2013

59,035

Fish stocked in 2014

82,096

Fish stocked in 2015

42,094

Fish stocked in 2016

56,857

Fish stocked in 2017

58,684

Fish stocked in 2018

37,754

Fish stocked in 2019

36,318

Fish stocked in 2020

63,070

Fish stocked in 2021

71,970

Fish stocked in 2022

26,884

Fish stocked in 2023

68,698

Fish stocked in 2024

34,608

Fish stocked in 2025

66,084

Fish stocked in 2026

22,990

Stocking history

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
May 21, 2026Rainbow Trout5,1819 inreport
May 20, 2026Rainbow Trout7,8509 inreport
March 9, 2026Rainbow Trout9,9592.4 inreport
October 16, 2025Rainbow Trout5,5259.67 inreport
October 14, 2025Rainbow Trout4,41011.64 inreport
October 14, 2025Rainbow Trout4,41011.64 inreport
October 14, 2025Rainbow Trout4,41011.64 inreport
October 14, 2025Rainbow Trout4,41011.64 inreport
October 13, 2025Rainbow Trout3,40012 inreport
May 20, 2025Rainbow Trout7,4389.64 inreport
May 20, 2025Rainbow Trout8,5989.75 inreport
May 20, 2025Rainbow Trout8,0019.6 inreport
May 19, 2025Rainbow Trout7,2909.85 inreport
May 19, 2025Rainbow Trout8,1929.85 inreport
September 4, 2024Rainbow Trout57212.44 inreport
September 3, 2024Rainbow Trout1,17012.44 inreport
May 30, 2024Rainbow Trout7,3009.27 inreport
May 29, 2024Rainbow Trout3,2669.08 inreport
May 29, 2024Rainbow Trout4,6539.38 inreport
May 28, 2024Rainbow Trout8,4939.34 inreport
May 28, 2024Rainbow Trout9,1549.27 inreport
October 5, 2023Rainbow Trout8,3709.09 inreport
October 4, 2023Rainbow Trout8,8028.94 inreport
October 4, 2023Rainbow Trout8,4508.94 inreport
May 31, 2023Rainbow Trout4007.37 inreport
May 31, 2023Rainbow Trout3,8517.37 inreport
May 31, 2023Rainbow Trout10,7288.04 inreport
May 29, 2023Rainbow Trout13,2938.11 inreport
May 29, 2023Rainbow Trout14,8047.85 inreport
June 2, 2022Rainbow Trout13,7287.35 inreport
June 1, 2022Rainbow Trout13,1567.35 inreport
October 18, 2021Rainbow Trout9,4148.4 inreport
October 18, 2021Rainbow Trout8,7908.35 inreport
October 18, 2021Rainbow Trout11,0898.37 inreport
June 4, 2021Rainbow Trout7,2097.58 inreport
June 4, 2021Rainbow Trout7,2097.55 inreport
June 2, 2021Rainbow Trout7,1547.69 inreport
June 2, 2021Rainbow Trout7,1287.61 inreport
June 1, 2021Rainbow Trout7,1567.57 inreport
June 1, 2021Rainbow Trout6,8217.7 inreport
September 18, 2020Rainbow Trout6,6648.3 inreport
September 18, 2020Rainbow Trout10,8688.03 inreport
June 4, 2020Rainbow Trout2,2818.54 inreport
June 3, 2020Rainbow Trout7,4808.54 inreport
June 2, 2020Rainbow Trout6,9608.99 inreport
June 1, 2020Rainbow Trout6,3209.03 inreport
May 22, 2020Rainbow Trout8498.57 inreport
May 21, 2020Rainbow Trout7,7478.51 inreport
May 21, 2020Rainbow Trout7,5658.57 inreport
May 20, 2020Rainbow Trout6,3368.37 inreport
October 15, 2019Rainbow Trout6,4267.42 inreport
October 15, 2019Rainbow Trout9,4987.25 inreport
May 1, 2019Rainbow Trout10,6597.36 inreport
May 1, 2019Rainbow Trout9,7357.27 inreport
October 22, 2018Rainbow Trout9,7247.33 inreport
October 22, 2018Rainbow Trout8,5887.62 inreport
September 7, 2018Rainbow Trout1,8307.63 inreport
June 28, 2018Rainbow Trout8,2507.69 inreport
June 28, 2018Rainbow Trout9,3627.45 inreport
October 16, 2017Rainbow Trout9,6208.12 inreport
October 16, 2017Rainbow Trout8,7368.43 inreport
May 5, 2017Rainbow Trout9,4166.63 inreport
May 5, 2017Rainbow Trout10,4306.62 inreport
April 11, 2017Rainbow Trout10,9096.22 inreport
April 10, 2017Rainbow Trout9,5736.11 inreport
September 26, 2016Rainbow Trout7,4468.72 inreport
September 26, 2016Rainbow Trout7,7558.68 inreport
May 4, 2016Rainbow Trout9,4807.34 inreport
May 4, 2016Rainbow Trout11,6997.01 inreport
April 25, 2016Rainbow Trout11,7896.75 inreport
April 25, 2016Rainbow Trout8,6887.11 inreport
May 4, 2015Rainbow Trout8,8927.3 inreport
May 4, 2015Rainbow Trout11,6007.01 inreport
May 4, 2015Rainbow Trout10,9317.11 inreport
May 4, 2015Rainbow Trout10,6717.02 inreport
October 17, 2014Rainbow Trout6,7488.03 inreport
October 17, 2014Rainbow Trout7,3647.8 inreport
October 16, 2014Rainbow Trout6,0848.11 inreport
April 30, 2014Rainbow Trout12,2826.66 inreport
April 30, 2014Rainbow Trout11,5296.91 inreport
April 29, 2014Rainbow Trout8,9327.32 inreport
April 29, 2014Rainbow Trout11,4006.78 inreport
April 25, 2014Rainbow Trout9,1654.44 inreport
April 24, 2014Rainbow Trout8,5924.44 inreport
October 15, 2013Rainbow Trout7,0308.15 inreport
October 15, 2013Rainbow Trout6,3278.26 inreport
October 15, 2013Rainbow Trout5,9578.42 inreport
April 25, 2013Rainbow Trout11,1596.97 inreport
April 25, 2013Rainbow Trout10,0607.16 inreport
April 24, 2013Rainbow Trout8,8837.39 inreport
April 23, 2013Rainbow Trout9,6197.32 inreport
September 26, 2012Cutthroat Trout20,0765.25 inreport
April 26, 2012Rainbow Trout11,1317.14 inreport
April 26, 2012Rainbow Trout10,8527.13 inreport
April 25, 2012Rainbow Trout11,0727.12 inreport
April 25, 2012Rainbow Trout9,5777.35 inreport
October 14, 2011Cutthroat Trout16,7225.75 inreport
June 6, 2011Rainbow Trout3,1824.73 inreport
May 4, 2011Rainbow Trout8,7937.67 inreport
May 4, 2011Rainbow Trout8,6947.76 inreport
May 3, 2011Rainbow Trout9,2147.53 inreport
May 3, 2011Rainbow Trout8,7987.62 inreport
January 31, 2011Rainbow Trout60,2621.93 inreport
January 31, 2011Rainbow Trout52,1291.89 inreport

Access and facts

Water type
reservoir
Nearest town
Roberts
Shore access
Yes
Boat ramp
Yes
ADA accessible
Yes
Fee required
Yes
Facilities
restrooms, camping, dock, cleaning station

Cooney State Park has three boat ramps with docks and a fish cleaning station at Red Lodge Arm, five campgrounds with 82 campsites, and ADA-accessible facilities. Day use is $8 for nonresident vehicles, camping runs $4 to $34 a night depending on season.

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.

About Cooney Reservoir

Cooney State Park is the most popular recreation area serving south central Montana, and it is always a busy place in the summer. Additionally, anglers should help protect Montana's waters, as Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) can be easily spread from one waterbody to another, so it is important to prevent their spread. (fwp.mt.gov, accessed September 22, 2026)

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

Nearest lakes

Wild Bill Lake 21 mi last stocked August 24, 2026 Laurel Pond 26.2 mi last stocked September 1, 2026 Emerald Lake 26.2 mi last stocked June 3, 2026 East Rosebud Lake 26.6 mi last stocked June 18, 2025 West Rosebud Lake 27.2 mi last stocked June 3, 2026

Public land at Cooney Reservoir

Cooney Reservoir is 0.2 miles outside the edge of Cooney State Park.

Boundaries from Public Lands DB, part of the same network.

Common questions

What fish are at Cooney Reservoir?

Fishing Cooney Reservoir usually means Rainbow Trout: Rainbow Trout accounts for 102 of 104 plants on record, ahead of Cutthroat Trout. Rainbow Trout was last stocked May 21, 2026, averaging 7.9 in. Cutthroat Trout was last stocked September 26, 2012, averaging 5.5 in. Walleye, Yellow Perch, Burbot, and Brown Trout, plus 7 more are recorded here outside the stocking reports.

When is Cooney Reservoir stocked?

Last stocked May 21, 2026. It is stocked about 6.5 times a year since 2011, most often in May and October.

How big are the fish stocked at Cooney Reservoir?

Stocked fish average 7.9 in. Rainbow Trout average 7.9 in. Cutthroat Trout average 5.5 in.

How do you get on Cooney Reservoir?

Shore fishing is available, there is a boat ramp, it is ADA accessible, and a fee is required. The nearest town is Roberts. Facilities include restrooms, camping, dock, and cleaning station. Cooney State Park has three boat ramps with docks and a fish cleaning station at Red Lodge Arm, five campgrounds with 82 campsites, and ADA-accessible facilities. Day use is $8 for nonresident vehicles, camping runs $4 to $34 a night depending on season.

Which lakes near Cooney Reservoir were stocked more recently?

Wild Bill Lake (21 mi), Laurel Pond (26.2 mi), Emerald Lake (26.2 mi), and West Rosebud Lake (27.2 mi) were stocked more recently. Wild Bill Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Laurel Pond is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Cutthroat Trout, Emerald Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, and West Rosebud Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Cutthroat Trout.

Sources (5) +