Emerald Lake fishing

Emerald Lake fishing has Rainbow Trout on the stocking report. Also recorded: Brown Trout, Brook Trout, and Mountain Whitefish. It is stocked about 2.6 times a year since 2011, most often in June and July. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout and dawn, day, and dusk for Brown Trout and Brook Trout.

AI-generated illustration, not a photo of this lake
Last stocked
June 3, 2026
· Rainbow Trout
Plants on record
41
Since 2011
Species stocked
1 (+3 also recorded)
Average size
8.1 in
Elevation
6,312 ft

Fish at Emerald Lake

1 stocked · 3 confirmed present

Rainbow Trout Stocked · 41 plants · last June 3, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked June 3, 2026 · avg 8.1 in · 41 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide

Emerald Lake offers wonderful opportunities for trout fishing, as it is stocked regularly by the State of Montana. This lake is in the West Rosebud drainage, providing an accessible fishing destination. The Emerald Lake Fishing Access is one of several fishing access parking sites in this drainage. (fs.usda.gov, accessed October 5, 2026)(fs.usda.gov, accessed October 5, 2026)

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

How Emerald Lake is stocked

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

No plants recorded in 2022.

Fish stocked in 2011

1,814

Fish stocked in 2012

1,864

Fish stocked in 2013

1,195

Fish stocked in 2014

1,840

Fish stocked in 2015

1,799

Fish stocked in 2016

1,868

Fish stocked in 2017

1,863

Fish stocked in 2018

902

Fish stocked in 2019

1,510

Fish stocked in 2020

1,801

Fish stocked in 2021

1,816

Fish stocked in 2023

1,982

Fish stocked in 2024

1,102

Fish stocked in 2025

1,800

Fish stocked in 2026

1,800

Stocking history

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
June 3, 2026Rainbow Trout1,8006.15 inreport
July 8, 2025Rainbow Trout6009.5 inreport
June 22, 2025Rainbow Trout6009.5 inreport
May 12, 2025Rainbow Trout6009.41 inreport
June 20, 2024Rainbow Trout5007.77 inreport
June 5, 2024Rainbow Trout6029.18 inreport
July 18, 2023Rainbow Trout6858.67 inreport
June 27, 2023Rainbow Trout6948.12 inreport
May 17, 2023Rainbow Trout6038.14 inreport
July 20, 2021Rainbow Trout6128.64 inreport
June 16, 2021Rainbow Trout6027.33 inreport
May 24, 2021Rainbow Trout6027.52 inreport
July 28, 2020Rainbow Trout6009.46 inreport
June 24, 2020Rainbow Trout6008.23 inreport
May 27, 2020Rainbow Trout6018 inreport
July 19, 2019Rainbow Trout5107.47 inreport
June 19, 2019Rainbow Trout5006.73 inreport
May 14, 2019Rainbow Trout5007.3 inreport
August 2, 2018Rainbow Trout3006.69 inreport
June 27, 2018Rainbow Trout3037.69 inreport
May 18, 2018Rainbow Trout2996.16 inreport
July 12, 2017Rainbow Trout6128.3 inreport
June 19, 2017Rainbow Trout6088.42 inreport
April 13, 2017Rainbow Trout6436.32 inreport
July 13, 2016Rainbow Trout6108.69 inreport
June 20, 2016Rainbow Trout6447.75 inreport
April 20, 2016Rainbow Trout6148.19 inreport
July 15, 2015Rainbow Trout6008.51 inreport
June 22, 2015Rainbow Trout6007.13 inreport
May 5, 2015Rainbow Trout5997.47 inreport
July 16, 2014Rainbow Trout5998.32 inreport
June 23, 2014Rainbow Trout6037.62 inreport
May 5, 2014Rainbow Trout6387.31 inreport
July 17, 2013Rainbow Trout6007.71 inreport
May 13, 2013Rainbow Trout5958.4 inreport
July 18, 2012Rainbow Trout6009.93 inreport
June 25, 2012Rainbow Trout6128.85 inreport
May 15, 2012Rainbow Trout65210.18 inreport
July 25, 2011Rainbow Trout6088.52 inreport
July 7, 2011Rainbow Trout6068.12 inreport
May 18, 2011Rainbow Trout6008.73 inreport

Access and facts

Nearest town
Fishtail
Facilities
restrooms, camping

A shallow 28.5-acre lake, about 4 feet at its deepest, on West Rosebud Creek outside the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. Drive about 19 miles south of Fishtail on West Rosebud Road; the Forest Service fishing access has a vault toilet and sits just before the Emerald Lake Campground entrance.

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

West Rosebud Lake 0.9 mi last stocked June 3, 2026 East Rosebud Lake 5 mi last stocked June 18, 2025 Moon Lake 17 mi last stocked August 1, 2023 Wild Bill Lake 17.3 mi last stocked August 24, 2026 Kersey Lake 17.3 mi last stocked July 28, 2014

Public land at Emerald Lake

Emerald Lake is inside Custer Gallatin National Forest.

It is 0.2 miles outside the edge of Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness.

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

Common questions

What fish are at Emerald Lake?

Fishing Emerald Lake usually means Rainbow Trout. All 41 plants on record are Rainbow Trout. Rainbow Trout was last stocked June 3, 2026, averaging 8.1 in. Brown Trout, Brook Trout, and Mountain Whitefish are recorded here outside the stocking reports.

When is Emerald Lake stocked?

Last stocked June 3, 2026. It is stocked about 2.6 times a year since 2011, most often in June and July. No plants recorded in 2022.

How big are the fish stocked at Emerald Lake?

Rainbow Trout stocked at Emerald Lake average 8.1 in.

How do you get on Emerald Lake?

The nearest town is Fishtail. Facilities include restrooms and camping. A shallow 28.5-acre lake, about 4 feet at its deepest, on West Rosebud Creek outside the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. Drive about 19 miles south of Fishtail on West Rosebud Road; the Forest Service fishing access has a vault toilet and sits just before the Emerald Lake Campground entrance.

Which lakes near Emerald Lake were stocked more recently?

Wild Bill Lake (17.3 mi) was stocked more recently. Wild Bill Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout.

Sources (3) +