Heart Lake fishing

Fishing at Heart Lake has Cutthroat Trout, Golden Trout, and Arctic Grayling on the stocking report. It is stocked about 0.7 times a year since 2011, most often in June and September. Species guides list dawn and dusk as the active times.

Last stocked

September 17, 2025

Plants on record

11

Since 2011

Species recorded

3

Average size

1.6 in

Elevation

6,588.8 ft

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How Heart Lake is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the third week of August. In 2025 it was September 17, 2025, later than usual.

No plants recorded in 2013, 2015, 2018, 2020, and 2023.

Lindbergh Lake (9.3 mi) and Echo Lake (9.5 mi) were stocked more recently. Lindbergh Lake is also stocked with Cutthroat Trout.

Fish at Heart Lake

Fishing Heart Lake is most likely to be for Cutthroat Trout. Cutthroat Trout accounts for 6 of 11 plants on record, ahead of Golden Trout and one more.

Around the dates Heart Lake is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 49.6°F in September, 49.6°F in June, 60.3°F in July, 58.6°F in August. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo

Cutthroat Trout 6 plants
Plants
6 of 11
Last stocked
September 17, 2025
Average length
2 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Cutthroat Trout guide.

Golden Trout 3 plants
Plants
3 of 11
Last stocked
September 30, 2024
Average length
1.2 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Golden Trout guide.

Arctic Grayling 2 plants
Plants
2 of 11
Last stocked
June 8, 2021
Average length
1 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Arctic Grayling guide.

Fishing Heart Lake

Heart Lake is a 32-acre glacial valley lake found within the Scapegoat Wilderness of Helena National Forest. This lake is home to Arctic grayling and westslope cutthroat trout, offering opportunities to catch these fish. It is approximately 5 miles from the Indian Meadows Trailhead, providing access to this Montana fishing destination.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Fish stocked per year

  • 3,0002011
  • 4,0002012
  • 3002014
  • 2,0002016
  • 2,0002017
  • 3002019
  • 4,5002021
  • 4,2002022
  • 1,0002024
  • 3002025

Stocking history

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
September 17, 2025 Cutthroat Trout 300 2.23 in report
September 30, 2024 Golden Trout 1,000 1.53 in report
October 19, 2022 Cutthroat Trout 4,200 2.25 in report
June 8, 2021 Arctic Grayling 4,500 1 in report
July 31, 2019 Cutthroat Trout 300 1.93 in report
September 12, 2017 Golden Trout 2,000 1.09 in report
August 16, 2016 Cutthroat Trout 2,000 1.31 in report
July 29, 2014 Cutthroat Trout 300 1.79 in report
June 5, 2012 Arctic Grayling 4,000 1 in report
September 12, 2011 Golden Trout 1,000 0.93 in report
August 31, 2011 Cutthroat Trout 2,000 2.21 in report

Species stocked here

Depth-by-season, top lures, and bait notes for each species stocked here are on its own species guide, linked above.

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