Lake Elmo fishing

Lake Elmo fishing is stocked with Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Channel Catfish, Brown Trout, Tiger Muskie, Largemouth Bass, and 5 more on a reservoir. Also recorded: Pumpkinseed, Burbot, and Common Carp. It is stocked about 8.1 times a year since 2011, most often in April and May. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass, dusk and night for Channel Catfish and Burbot, and dawn, day, and dusk for Brown Trout, Yellow Perch, and Bluegill.

Lake Elmo
Photo: Sara goth, CC BY-SA 3.0
Last stocked
September 14, 2026
· Rainbow Trout
Plants on record
129
Since 2011
Species stocked
11 (+3 also recorded)
Average size
9.4 in
Elevation
3,193.9 ft

Fish at Lake Elmo

11 stocked · 3 confirmed present

Around the dates Lake Elmo is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 56.2°F in May, 44.9°F in April, 73.8°F in August, 36.3°F in March. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo

Cutthroat Trout Stocked · 49 plants · last March 26, 2026

Last stocked March 26, 2026 · avg 13.7 in · 49 plants

Cutthroat Trout species guide
Rainbow Trout Stocked · 49 plants · last September 14, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked September 14, 2026 · avg 7.6 in · 49 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide
Brown Trout Stocked · 7 plants · last April 25, 2024 Best: dawn, day, dusk

Last stocked April 25, 2024 · avg 4.1 in · 7 plants

Best: dawn, day, dusk

Brown Trout species guide
Channel Catfish Stocked · 5 plants · last July 19, 2022 Best: dusk, night

Last stocked July 19, 2022 · avg 11 in · 5 plants

Best: dusk, night

Channel Catfish species guide
Tiger Muskie Stocked · 5 plants · last October 27, 2022

Last stocked October 27, 2022 · avg 6.8 in · 5 plants

Tiger Muskie species guide
Bluegill Stocked · 4 plants · last September 4, 2025 Best: dawn, day, dusk

Last stocked September 4, 2025 · avg 1.4 in · 4 plants

Best: dawn, day, dusk

Bluegill species guide
Largemouth Bass Stocked · 3 plants · last August 6, 2025 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked August 6, 2025 · avg 1.5 in · 3 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Largemouth Bass species guide
Smallmouth Bass Stocked · 3 plants · last May 16, 2019 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked May 16, 2019 · avg 8.2 in · 3 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Smallmouth Bass species guide
Yellow Perch Stocked · 2 plants · last June 29, 2022 Best: dawn, day, dusk

Last stocked June 29, 2022 · avg 4.7 in · 2 plants

Best: dawn, day, dusk

Yellow Perch species guide
Crappie Stocked · 1 plant · last October 14, 2025 Best: dawn, dusk, night

Last stocked October 14, 2025 · avg 1.6 in · 1 plant

Best: dawn, dusk, night

Crappie species guide

Lake Elmo State Park is a popular urban park where visitors can fish. This 64-acre Reservoir inside the city limits of Billings is a great place for fishing. Anglers can stop by the south shore to fish from Roger's Pier. The park also provides an ADA accessible fishing pier. (fwp.mt.gov, accessed September 22, 2026)

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

How Lake Elmo is stocked

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

Fish stocked in 2011

29,758

Fish stocked in 2012

10,694

Fish stocked in 2013

10,862

Fish stocked in 2014

10,485

Fish stocked in 2015

17,837

Fish stocked in 2016

19,306

Fish stocked in 2017

22,279

Fish stocked in 2018

6,198

Fish stocked in 2019

9,783

Fish stocked in 2020

5,602

Fish stocked in 2021

4,944

Fish stocked in 2022

140,451

Fish stocked in 2023

35,116

Fish stocked in 2024

74,620

Fish stocked in 2025

34,060

Fish stocked in 2026

9,920

Stocking history

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
September 14, 2026Rainbow Trout4,83810.24 inreport
June 3, 2026Rainbow Trout4648.4 inreport
May 5, 2026Rainbow Trout1,4108.1 inreport
April 21, 2026Rainbow Trout1,5337.88 inreport
April 14, 2026Rainbow Trout1,4257.7 inreport
March 26, 2026Cutthroat Trout10017.24 inreport
February 25, 2026Cutthroat Trout15016 inreport
December 3, 2025Cutthroat Trout3509.52 inreport
October 14, 2025Crappie1,8551.58 inreport
September 15, 2025Rainbow Trout4,8519.05 inreport
September 4, 2025Bluegill6,5001.61 inreport
August 13, 2025Cutthroat Trout9,0542.72 inreport
August 6, 2025Largemouth Bass5,0001.46 inreport
June 3, 2025Cutthroat Trout1,5006.69 inreport
April 29, 2025Rainbow Trout4,8008.5 inreport
April 8, 2025Cutthroat Trout15017.24 inreport
October 8, 2024Bluegill65,0001.6 inreport
August 6, 2024Cutthroat Trout1,3887.38 inreport
June 10, 2024Cutthroat Trout10011.37 inreport
June 3, 2024Cutthroat Trout3005.19 inreport
May 3, 2024Rainbow Trout4,8327.68 inreport
April 25, 2024Brown Trout3,0006.9 inreport
September 21, 2023Rainbow Trout5,1128.64 inreport
August 14, 2023Cutthroat Trout15,7893 inreport
July 19, 2023Bluegill6,5001.45 inreport
July 7, 2023Cutthroat Trout1,0617.3 inreport
June 21, 2023Cutthroat Trout7046.74 inreport
June 16, 2023Cutthroat Trout1,0006.9 inreport
May 1, 2023Rainbow Trout4,9507.75 inreport
October 27, 2022Tiger Muskie758.43 inreport
August 5, 2022Bluegill32,0650.75 inreport
July 19, 2022Rainbow Trout1,0418.96 inreport
July 19, 2022Channel Catfish3724.26 inreport
June 29, 2022Yellow Perch20,0000.85 inreport
June 6, 2022Brown Trout4,0764.09 inreport
May 26, 2022Cutthroat Trout5716.7 inreport
May 24, 2022Cutthroat Trout5718 inreport
May 24, 2022Rainbow Trout5,2507.34 inreport
May 20, 2022Cutthroat Trout13016.7 inreport
May 19, 2022Cutthroat Trout12515.8 inreport
May 19, 2022Rainbow Trout15,7753.81 inreport
May 12, 2022Yellow Perch1348.5 inreport
May 12, 2022Fathead Minnow10,0001.5 inreport
May 12, 2022Channel Catfish3124 inreport
May 9, 2022Cutthroat Trout12518 inreport
May 5, 2022Rainbow Trout51,3482.15 inreport
April 10, 2022Cutthroat Trout12518 inreport
May 4, 2021Rainbow Trout4,8196.65 inreport
March 17, 2021Cutthroat Trout6320.45 inreport
March 17, 2021Cutthroat Trout6220.45 inreport
June 16, 2020Cutthroat Trout3008.06 inreport
June 2, 2020Cutthroat Trout10217.86 inreport
May 1, 2020Rainbow Trout20012.6 inreport
May 1, 2020Rainbow Trout4,8007.39 inreport
March 4, 2020Cutthroat Trout10020.45 inreport
February 18, 2020Cutthroat Trout10020.77 inreport
August 26, 2019Rainbow Trout4,7588 inreport
August 26, 2019Rainbow Trout10010.5 inreport
June 13, 2019Tiger Muskie1653.7 inreport
May 16, 2019Smallmouth Bass15012.95 inreport
May 8, 2019Cutthroat Trout10012.86 inreport
April 23, 2019Rainbow Trout1,8467.05 inreport
April 17, 2019Rainbow Trout2,6647.21 inreport
August 20, 2018Rainbow Trout3,0467.28 inreport
August 17, 2018Smallmouth Bass727.25 inreport
August 17, 2018Smallmouth Bass2584.43 inreport
May 21, 2018Cutthroat Trout27516 inreport
May 10, 2018Rainbow Trout2,4177.06 inreport
April 17, 2018Cutthroat Trout13015.08 inreport
August 23, 2017Rainbow Trout4,7858.31 inreport
August 22, 2017Channel Catfish3,6722 inreport
July 18, 2017Largemouth Bass5,0001.28 inreport
June 14, 2017Rainbow Trout3,2075.98 inreport
May 15, 2017Cutthroat Trout15017 inreport
April 26, 2017Rainbow Trout2,3886.8 inreport
April 24, 2017Rainbow Trout2,4116.66 inreport
April 19, 2017Rainbow Trout837.04 inreport
April 19, 2017Rainbow Trout8311.7 inreport
April 19, 2017Brown Trout5003.21 inreport
October 18, 2016Cutthroat Trout2,6004.17 inreport
October 5, 2016Cutthroat Trout9709.31 inreport
August 22, 2016Rainbow Trout4,8489.38 inreport
August 11, 2016Largemouth Bass5,0001.9 inreport
July 12, 2016Tiger Muskie1611.86 inreport
June 20, 2016Tiger Muskie1205.8 inreport
May 13, 2016Brown Trout5023.73 inreport
May 10, 2016Cutthroat Trout20016.55 inreport
May 9, 2016Cutthroat Trout10010 inreport
April 11, 2016Cutthroat Trout10016.55 inreport
March 17, 2016Rainbow Trout2,4066.93 inreport
March 16, 2016Rainbow Trout2,4446.93 inreport
October 21, 2015Cutthroat Trout17516.68 inreport
August 24, 2015Rainbow Trout5,2218.2 inreport
July 22, 2015Channel Catfish6,5002.5 inreport
July 2, 2015Tiger Muskie1004 inreport
May 18, 2015Cutthroat Trout13415.9 inreport
April 28, 2015Rainbow Trout7977.12 inreport
April 28, 2015Brown Trout5003.32 inreport
April 13, 2015Cutthroat Trout16013.5 inreport
April 9, 2015Rainbow Trout4,0006.3 inreport
March 11, 2015Cutthroat Trout25016 inreport
August 26, 2014Rainbow Trout4,8018.67 inreport
May 19, 2014Cutthroat Trout20015 inreport
May 12, 2014Brown Trout5003.63 inreport
April 9, 2014Rainbow Trout8136.39 inreport
April 7, 2014Rainbow Trout3,9966.39 inreport
March 19, 2014Cutthroat Trout17516 inreport
August 23, 2013Rainbow Trout5,1008.99 inreport
June 10, 2013Brown Trout5004.07 inreport
May 20, 2013Cutthroat Trout10016 inreport
April 15, 2013Rainbow Trout2,4556.8 inreport
April 10, 2013Rainbow Trout2,4576.73 inreport
March 13, 2013Cutthroat Trout16516 inreport
March 13, 2013Cutthroat Trout8516 inreport
October 15, 2012Cutthroat Trout30010 inreport
August 30, 2012Rainbow Trout4,0159.38 inreport
May 21, 2012Cutthroat Trout17515 inreport
May 18, 2012Rainbow Trout1,0979.78 inreport
April 5, 2012Rainbow Trout2,0578.74 inreport
March 15, 2012Cutthroat Trout12516 inreport
March 7, 2012Rainbow Trout2,9257.53 inreport
September 5, 2011Channel Catfish6,5002 inreport
August 30, 2011Rainbow Trout5,4297.91 inreport
August 17, 2011Rainbow Trout2,5204.48 inreport
May 24, 2011Cutthroat Trout12515 inreport
April 21, 2011Rainbow Trout4,8227.47 inreport
April 18, 2011Rainbow Trout10,0871.86 inreport
March 30, 2011Cutthroat Trout20012.2 inreport
March 30, 2011Cutthroat Trout7515 inreport

Access and facts

Water type
reservoir
Nearest town
Billings
Shore access
Yes
Boat ramp
Yes
ADA accessible
Yes
Fee required
Yes
Facilities
restrooms, dock

64-acre reservoir in Lake Elmo State Park, 2300 Lake Elmo Drive, Billings. Fish from Roger's Pier on the south shore, the park's ADA-accessible fishing pier, or a canoe or kayak; the launch is for non-motorized boats. Day use only, no camping; nonresident day-use fee is $8 per vehicle.

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 Elmo

Photo of Lake Elmo
Sara goth, CC BY-SA 3.0

Nearest lakes

Lake Josephine 7.2 mi last stocked September 4, 2025 Shiloh Conservation Pond 1 9.3 mi last stocked August 11, 2026 Laurel Pond 19.2 mi last stocked September 1, 2026 Broadview Pond 26.7 mi last stocked May 4, 2026 Sage Creek 42.8 mi last stocked September 25, 2014

Public land at Lake Elmo

Lake Elmo is inside Lake Elmo State Park.

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

Common questions

What fish are at Lake Elmo?

Fishing Lake Elmo is as likely for Cutthroat Trout and Rainbow Trout. Each accounts for 49 of 129 plants on record. Cutthroat Trout was last stocked March 26, 2026, averaging 13.7 in. Rainbow Trout was last stocked September 14, 2026, averaging 7.6 in. Brown Trout was last stocked April 25, 2024, averaging 4.1 in. Channel Catfish was last stocked July 19, 2022, averaging 11 in. 7 more species are on the stocking report. Pumpkinseed, Burbot, and Common Carp are recorded here outside the stocking reports.

When is Lake Elmo stocked?

Last stocked September 14, 2026. It is stocked about 8.1 times a year since 2011, most often in April and May.

How big are the fish stocked at Lake Elmo?

Stocked fish average 9.4 in. Cutthroat Trout average 13.7 in. Rainbow Trout average 7.6 in. Brown Trout average 4.1 in. Channel Catfish average 11 in.

How do you get on Lake Elmo?

Shore fishing is available, there is a boat ramp, it is ADA accessible, and a fee is required. The nearest town is Billings. Facilities include restrooms and dock. 64-acre reservoir in Lake Elmo State Park, 2300 Lake Elmo Drive, Billings. Fish from Roger's Pier on the south shore, the park's ADA-accessible fishing pier, or a canoe or kayak; the launch is for non-motorized boats. Day use only, no camping; nonresident day-use fee is $8 per vehicle.

Sources (6) +