Johnson Reservoir fishing

Fishing at Johnson Reservoir has Rainbow Trout and Yellow Perch on the stocking report. It is stocked about 0.7 times a year since 2012, most often in April and May. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout and dawn, day, and dusk for Yellow Perch.

Last stocked

May 17, 2025

Plants on record

10

Since 2012

Species recorded

2

Average size

3.8 in

Elevation

2,604.1 ft

Access and facts

Nearest town
Glendive
Boat ramp
No

FWP access site about 21 miles northwest of Glendive: Hwy 200 to Lindsay, north 6 miles on County Rd 470, east 2.5 miles, then 1.5 miles to a cattle-guard entrance. No boat ramp, dock, camping, or toilet; parking for about 8 vehicles. Road may be impassable when wet; trailer access is tight.

Sources: access , shore_notes , nearest_town

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How Johnson Reservoir is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the third week of May. In 2025 it was May 17, 2025, about when it usually is.

No plants recorded in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Medicine Lake (37.2 mi) was stocked more recently.

Fish at Johnson Reservoir

Fishing Johnson Reservoir is most likely to be for Rainbow Trout. Rainbow Trout accounts for 7 of 10 plants on record, ahead of Yellow Perch.

Around the dates Johnson Reservoir is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 55.3°F in May, 41.4°F in April, 65.9°F in June, 61.6°F in September. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo

Rainbow Trout 7 plants
Plants
7 of 10
Last stocked
May 17, 2025
Average length
3.9 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Rainbow Trout guide.

Yellow Perch 3 plants
Plants
3 of 10
Last stocked
September 3, 2019
Average length
3.5 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Yellow Perch guide.

Fish stocked per year

  • 2,5072012
  • 2,5002014
  • 2,5002016
  • 1,4482018
  • 5,0002019
  • 2052020
  • 2,5002021
  • 2,5002025

Stocking history

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
May 17, 2025 Rainbow Trout 2,500 3.17 in report
June 2, 2021 Rainbow Trout 2,500 3.37 in report
June 2, 2020 Rainbow Trout 205 11.3 in report
September 3, 2019 Yellow Perch 2,500 2.92 in report
May 14, 2019 Rainbow Trout 2,500 2.65 in report
November 5, 2018 Yellow Perch 1,000 4.14 in report
September 6, 2018 Yellow Perch 448 3.5 in report
April 8, 2016 Rainbow Trout 2,500 2.09 in report
April 17, 2014 Rainbow Trout 2,500 2.08 in report
May 17, 2012 Rainbow Trout 2,507 2.72 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.

Nearest lakes