Crystal Lake fishing

Crystal Lake fishing has Rainbow Trout, Kokanee Salmon, and Cutthroat Trout on the stocking report. It is stocked about 4.8 times a year since 2011, most often in June and July. Species guides list dawn and dusk as the active times.

AI-generated illustration, not a photo of this lake
Last stocked
September 4, 2026
· Rainbow Trout
Plants on record
76
Since 2011
Species recorded
3
Average size
6.9 in
Elevation
6,355.9 ft

Fish at Crystal Lake

3 stocked · 0 confirmed present

Around the dates Crystal Lake is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 49.5°F in June, 59.6°F in July, 39.7°F in May, 30°F in April. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo

Rainbow Trout Stocked · 52 plants · last September 4, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked September 4, 2026 · avg 8.4 in · 52 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide
Kokanee Salmon Stocked · 12 plants · last April 24, 2024 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked April 24, 2024 · avg 2.3 in · 12 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Kokanee Salmon species guide

How Crystal Lake is stocked

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

Fish stocked in 2011

51,942

Fish stocked in 2012

54,845

Fish stocked in 2013

56,145

Fish stocked in 2014

14,128

Fish stocked in 2015

41,266

Fish stocked in 2016

37,069

Fish stocked in 2017

36,500

Fish stocked in 2018

8,945

Fish stocked in 2019

40,223

Fish stocked in 2020

38,998

Fish stocked in 2021

33,740

Fish stocked in 2022

39,392

Fish stocked in 2023

33,395

Fish stocked in 2024

30,969

Fish stocked in 2025

3,294

Fish stocked in 2026

6,590

Stocking history

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
September 4, 2026Rainbow Trout5,0454.92 inreport
June 18, 2026Cutthroat Trout9328.94 inreport
June 12, 2026Rainbow Trout61313.24 inreport
September 17, 2025Cutthroat Trout5002.23 inreport
June 26, 2025Rainbow Trout1,2048.14 inreport
June 17, 2025Cutthroat Trout9906.82 inreport
June 12, 2025Rainbow Trout60013.15 inreport
September 13, 2024Rainbow Trout5,3135.37 inreport
June 27, 2024Cutthroat Trout1,0008.3 inreport
June 10, 2024Rainbow Trout54613.44 inreport
April 24, 2024Kokanee Salmon24,1102.5 inreport
October 10, 2023Rainbow Trout1,9004.65 inreport
September 11, 2023Rainbow Trout2,0975.63 inreport
September 11, 2023Rainbow Trout2,8984.94 inreport
July 11, 2023Cutthroat Trout1,0009.09 inreport
June 12, 2023Rainbow Trout50012.2 inreport
April 27, 2023Kokanee Salmon25,0002.76 inreport
July 25, 2022Cutthroat Trout2,7502.36 inreport
July 7, 2022Rainbow Trout5,0003.78 inreport
June 29, 2022Cutthroat Trout1,0008.47 inreport
June 15, 2022Rainbow Trout15312.78 inreport
June 15, 2022Rainbow Trout3657.76 inreport
April 27, 2022Kokanee Salmon30,1242 inreport
June 17, 2021Rainbow Trout91012.85 inreport
June 9, 2021Rainbow Trout5,3303.38 inreport
April 26, 2021Kokanee Salmon27,5003 inreport
June 23, 2020Rainbow Trout5507.27 inreport
May 29, 2020Rainbow Trout1,08814.22 inreport
May 19, 2020Rainbow Trout7,0003.87 inreport
May 5, 2020Kokanee Salmon30,3602.5 inreport
October 7, 2019Rainbow Trout2,2034.2 inreport
July 31, 2019Cutthroat Trout6001.93 inreport
June 25, 2019Rainbow Trout5,0004.26 inreport
May 24, 2019Rainbow Trout46513.02 inreport
May 8, 2019Kokanee Salmon31,9552 inreport
July 30, 2018Cutthroat Trout2,4452.34 inreport
July 23, 2018Cutthroat Trout1,5002.17 inreport
June 5, 2018Rainbow Trout5,0004.16 inreport
July 14, 2017Rainbow Trout5,0003.91 inreport
July 3, 2017Rainbow Trout7509.6 inreport
June 5, 2017Rainbow Trout75013.02 inreport
May 24, 2017Kokanee Salmon30,0002.14 inreport
July 12, 2016Rainbow Trout5,0003.54 inreport
July 1, 2016Rainbow Trout1,0209.68 inreport
June 9, 2016Rainbow Trout65013.15 inreport
June 9, 2016Rainbow Trout3749.34 inreport
May 11, 2016Kokanee Salmon30,0252.1 inreport
July 15, 2015Rainbow Trout1,0069.76 inreport
June 16, 2015Rainbow Trout4626 inreport
June 11, 2015Rainbow Trout5057.84 inreport
June 3, 2015Rainbow Trout90113.19 inreport
June 3, 2015Rainbow Trout998.7 inreport
May 27, 2015Kokanee Salmon33,2882.4 inreport
May 21, 2015Rainbow Trout5,0056.1 inreport
November 10, 2014Rainbow Trout1,4917.52 inreport
October 3, 2014Rainbow Trout5,0002.6 inreport
July 29, 2014Cutthroat Trout6001.8 inreport
July 18, 2014Rainbow Trout1,0049.1 inreport
June 9, 2014Rainbow Trout6898.19 inreport
June 9, 2014Rainbow Trout32712.78 inreport
April 23, 2014Rainbow Trout3,6775.71 inreport
April 23, 2014Rainbow Trout1,3405.71 inreport
July 29, 2013Cutthroat Trout2,0002.4 inreport
July 2, 2013Rainbow Trout5199.35 inreport
July 2, 2013Rainbow Trout48113.87 inreport
June 20, 2013Rainbow Trout1,00613.52 inreport
May 28, 2013Rainbow Trout1,6145.46 inreport
May 14, 2013Kokanee Salmon46,3202 inreport
May 9, 2013Rainbow Trout3,2655.95 inreport
May 9, 2013Rainbow Trout47013.9 inreport
May 9, 2013Rainbow Trout47012.07 inreport
July 11, 2012Rainbow Trout2,0038.5 inreport
May 7, 2012Kokanee Salmon50,0002.3 inreport
May 4, 2012Rainbow Trout2,8426.14 inreport
June 14, 2011Kokanee Salmon50,0002 inreport
April 22, 2011Rainbow Trout1,9425.9 inreport

Access and facts

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

Margaret Lake 7 mi last stocked August 4, 2024 Nilan Reservoir 10.8 mi last stocked May 26, 2026 Wood Lake 16.7 mi last stocked May 21, 2026 Tunnel Lake 17.8 mi last stocked May 21, 2026 Willow Creek Reservoir 18 mi last stocked July 13, 2026

Public land at Crystal Lake

Crystal Lake is 0.6 miles outside the edge of Scapegoat Wilderness.

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

Common questions

What fish are at Crystal Lake?

Fishing Crystal Lake usually means Rainbow Trout: Rainbow Trout accounts for 52 of 76 plants on record, ahead of Cutthroat Trout and one more. Rainbow Trout was last stocked September 4, 2026, averaging 8.4 in. Cutthroat Trout was last stocked June 18, 2026, averaging 4.7 in. Kokanee Salmon was last stocked April 24, 2024, averaging 2.3 in.

When is Crystal Lake stocked?

Last stocked September 4, 2026. It is stocked about 4.8 times a year since 2011, most often in June and July.

How big are the fish stocked at Crystal Lake?

Stocked fish average 6.9 in. Rainbow Trout average 8.4 in. Cutthroat Trout average 4.7 in. Kokanee Salmon average 2.3 in.