Lake Alva fishing

Lake Alva fishing is stocked with Kokanee Salmon and Cutthroat Trout on a natural lake. Also recorded: Bull Trout, Mountain Whitefish, Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, and 1 more. It is stocked about 1.8 times a year since 2011, most often in May and June. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Kokanee Salmon and Rainbow Trout, dawn, day, and dusk for Brook Trout, Northern Pike, and Yellow Perch, and dusk for Pumpkinseed.

Lake Alva
Photo: CV1958 (Colin Viney), CC BY-SA 4.0
Last stocked
June 12, 2026
· Cutthroat Trout
Plants on record
28
Since 2011
Species stocked
2 (+7 also recorded)
Average size
3.7 in
Elevation
4,074.7 ft

Fish at Lake Alva

2 stocked · 7 confirmed present

Around the dates Lake Alva is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 48°F in May, 58.2°F in June, 38.1°F in April. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo

Kokanee Salmon Stocked · 12 plants · last May 3, 2024 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked May 3, 2024 · avg 2.3 in · 12 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Kokanee Salmon species guide

How Lake Alva is stocked

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

Echo Lake (6.9 mi) was stocked more recently. Echo Lake is also stocked with Kokanee Salmon.

Fish stocked in 2011

58,000

Fish stocked in 2012

59,000

Fish stocked in 2013

60,839

Fish stocked in 2014

9,000

Fish stocked in 2015

18,000

Fish stocked in 2016

18,179

Fish stocked in 2017

17,460

Fish stocked in 2018

8,000

Fish stocked in 2019

20,373

Fish stocked in 2020

20,000

Fish stocked in 2021

19,100

Fish stocked in 2022

20,010

Fish stocked in 2023

15,800

Fish stocked in 2024

17,000

Fish stocked in 2025

7,980

Fish stocked in 2026

8,060

Stocking history

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
June 12, 2026Cutthroat Trout8,0604.52 inreport
June 16, 2025Cutthroat Trout7,9804.22 inreport
June 12, 2024Cutthroat Trout8,0003.85 inreport
May 3, 2024Kokanee Salmon9,0002.5 inreport
May 26, 2023Cutthroat Trout10,0004.67 inreport
May 18, 2023Kokanee Salmon5,8002.74 inreport
May 9, 2022Kokanee Salmon10,0102.25 inreport
May 5, 2022Cutthroat Trout10,0004.65 inreport
May 25, 2021Cutthroat Trout10,0004.71 inreport
May 6, 2021Kokanee Salmon9,1002.74 inreport
May 14, 2020Cutthroat Trout10,0004.98 inreport
May 13, 2020Kokanee Salmon10,0002.5 inreport
May 16, 2019Cutthroat Trout10,0005.08 inreport
May 16, 2019Kokanee Salmon10,3732.65 inreport
May 31, 2018Cutthroat Trout8,0004.84 inreport
June 14, 2017Cutthroat Trout7,5245.25 inreport
May 16, 2017Kokanee Salmon9,9362.22 inreport
June 9, 2016Cutthroat Trout8,0005.29 inreport
April 25, 2016Kokanee Salmon10,1791.96 inreport
June 30, 2015Cutthroat Trout8,0004.88 inreport
April 29, 2015Kokanee Salmon10,0002 inreport
June 20, 2014Cutthroat Trout9,0004.81 inreport
June 3, 2013Cutthroat Trout10,0004.95 inreport
May 7, 2013Kokanee Salmon50,8392 inreport
May 24, 2012Cutthroat Trout9,0005.33 inreport
May 4, 2012Kokanee Salmon50,0002.3 inreport
June 6, 2011Cutthroat Trout10,0004.78 inreport
May 23, 2011Kokanee Salmon48,0002 inreport

Access and facts

Water type
natural lake
Nearest town
Seeley Lake
Shore access
Yes
Boat ramp
Yes
Fee required
No
Facilities
camping, restrooms

USFS campground on the north shore, 11 miles north of Seeley Lake off Hwy 83. The free, year-round day-use area has a concrete boat ramp, paved trailer parking, a swimming beach and picnic areas. 39 campsites in two loops with accessible vault toilets; sites are $20/night.

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

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Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks before you go.

About Lake Alva

The area contains a wide variety of wildlife, such as deer, elk, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, moose, grizzly and black bears. Visitors must review the Food/Wildlife Attractant Storage Order to help reduce the likelihood of human-to-bear conflicts. Accessibility for the Day-Use/Boat Launch is determined by snow load. (fs.usda.gov, accessed September 22, 2026)

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

Photo of Lake Alva
CV1958 (Colin Viney), CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo of Lake Alva
USDA Forest Service, Public domain (US federal government work, 17 U.S.C. 105)

Nearest lakes

Lake Inez 2.3 mi last stocked June 12, 2026 Clearwater Lake 5.1 mi last stocked June 10, 2026 Lena Lake 5.2 mi last stocked October 16, 2021 Pierce Lake 5.7 mi last stocked June 5, 2025 Echo Lake 6.9 mi last stocked September 8, 2026

Public land at Lake Alva

Lake Alva is 0.1 miles outside the edge of Lolo National Forest.

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

Common questions

What fish are at Lake Alva?

Fishing Lake Alva usually means Cutthroat Trout: Cutthroat Trout accounts for 16 of 28 plants on record, ahead of Kokanee Salmon. Cutthroat Trout was last stocked June 12, 2026, averaging 4.8 in. Kokanee Salmon was last stocked May 3, 2024, averaging 2.3 in. Bull Trout, Mountain Whitefish, Brook Trout, and Rainbow Trout, plus 3 more are recorded here outside the stocking reports.

When is Lake Alva stocked?

Last stocked June 12, 2026. It is stocked about 1.8 times a year since 2011, most often in May and June.

How big are the fish stocked at Lake Alva?

Stocked fish average 3.7 in. Cutthroat Trout average 4.8 in. Kokanee Salmon average 2.3 in.

How do you get on Lake Alva?

Shore fishing is available, there is a boat ramp, and no fee is required. The nearest town is Seeley Lake. Facilities include camping and restrooms. USFS campground on the north shore, 11 miles north of Seeley Lake off Hwy 83. The free, year-round day-use area has a concrete boat ramp, paved trailer parking, a swimming beach and picnic areas. 39 campsites in two loops with accessible vault toilets; sites are $20/night.

Which lakes near Lake Alva were stocked more recently?

Echo Lake (6.9 mi) was stocked more recently. Echo Lake is also stocked with Kokanee Salmon.

Sources (4) +