Lake Elmo fishing

Fishing at Lake Elmo has Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Channel Catfish, Brown Trout, Tiger Muskie, and Largemouth Bass, and 5 more on the stocking report. It is stocked about 8 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 dawn, day, and dusk for Brown Trout, Yellow Perch, and Bluegill.

Last stocked

June 3, 2026

Plants on record

128

Since 2011

Species recorded

11

Average size

9.4 in

Elevation

3,193.9 ft

Access and facts

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

Lake Elmo State Park sits inside Billings city limits with a boat launch, a fishing pier on the south shore, and ADA-accessible facilities. Day use only, no camping; nonresident day-use fee is $8 per vehicle.

Sources: access , shore_notes , nearest_town , facilities , fishing_notes

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How Lake Elmo is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the last week of March. In 2026 it was February 25, 2026, earlier than usual.

Shiloh Conservation Pond 1 (9.3 mi) was stocked more recently. Shiloh Conservation Pond 1 is also stocked with Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, and Cutthroat Trout.

Fish at Lake Elmo

Fishing Lake Elmo is most likely to be for Cutthroat Trout. Cutthroat Trout accounts for 49 of 128 plants on record, ahead of Rainbow Trout and 9 more.

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 49 plants
Plants
49 of 128
Last stocked
March 26, 2026
Average length
13.7 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Cutthroat Trout guide.

Rainbow Trout 48 plants
Plants
48 of 128
Last stocked
June 3, 2026
Average length
7.5 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Rainbow Trout guide.

Brown Trout 7 plants
Plants
7 of 128
Last stocked
April 25, 2024
Average length
4.1 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Brown Trout guide.

Channel Catfish 5 plants
Plants
5 of 128
Last stocked
July 19, 2022
Average length
11 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Channel Catfish guide.

Tiger Muskie 5 plants
Plants
5 of 128
Last stocked
October 27, 2022
Average length
6.8 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Tiger Muskie guide.

Bluegill 4 plants
Plants
4 of 128
Last stocked
September 4, 2025
Average length
1.4 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Bluegill guide.

Largemouth Bass 3 plants
Plants
3 of 128
Last stocked
August 6, 2025
Average length
1.5 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Largemouth Bass guide.

Smallmouth Bass 3 plants
Plants
3 of 128
Last stocked
May 16, 2019
Average length
8.2 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Smallmouth Bass guide.

Yellow Perch 2 plants
Plants
2 of 128
Last stocked
June 29, 2022
Average length
4.7 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Yellow Perch guide.

Crappie 1 plant
Plants
1 of 128
Last stocked
October 14, 2025
Average length
1.6 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Crappie guide.

Fathead Minnow 1 plant
Plants
1 of 128
Last stocked
May 12, 2022
Average length
1.5 in

Fishing Lake Elmo

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.

Sources: fwp.mt.gov

Fish stocked per year

  • 29,7582011
  • 10,6942012
  • 10,8622013
  • 10,4852014
  • 17,8372015
  • 19,3062016
  • 22,2792017
  • 6,1982018
  • 9,7832019
  • 5,6022020
  • 4,9442021
  • 140,4512022
  • 35,1162023
  • 74,6202024
  • 34,0602025
  • 5,0822026

Stocking history

Showing 15 of 128 plants Showing 128 plants

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
June 3, 2026 Rainbow Trout 464 8.4 in report
May 5, 2026 Rainbow Trout 1,410 8.1 in report
April 21, 2026 Rainbow Trout 1,533 7.88 in report
April 14, 2026 Rainbow Trout 1,425 7.7 in report
March 26, 2026 Cutthroat Trout 100 17.24 in report
February 25, 2026 Cutthroat Trout 150 16 in report
December 3, 2025 Cutthroat Trout 350 9.52 in report
October 14, 2025 Crappie 1,855 1.58 in report
September 15, 2025 Rainbow Trout 4,851 9.05 in report
September 4, 2025 Bluegill 6,500 1.61 in report
August 13, 2025 Cutthroat Trout 9,054 2.72 in report
August 6, 2025 Largemouth Bass 5,000 1.46 in report
June 3, 2025 Cutthroat Trout 1,500 6.69 in report
April 29, 2025 Rainbow Trout 4,800 8.5 in report
April 8, 2025 Cutthroat Trout 150 17.24 in report
October 8, 2024 Bluegill 65,000 1.6 in report
August 6, 2024 Cutthroat Trout 1,388 7.38 in report
June 10, 2024 Cutthroat Trout 100 11.37 in report
June 3, 2024 Cutthroat Trout 300 5.19 in report
May 3, 2024 Rainbow Trout 4,832 7.68 in report
April 25, 2024 Brown Trout 3,000 6.9 in report
September 21, 2023 Rainbow Trout 5,112 8.64 in report
August 14, 2023 Cutthroat Trout 15,789 3 in report
July 19, 2023 Bluegill 6,500 1.45 in report
July 7, 2023 Cutthroat Trout 1,061 7.3 in report
June 21, 2023 Cutthroat Trout 704 6.74 in report
June 16, 2023 Cutthroat Trout 1,000 6.9 in report
May 1, 2023 Rainbow Trout 4,950 7.75 in report
October 27, 2022 Tiger Muskie 75 8.43 in report
August 5, 2022 Bluegill 32,065 0.75 in report
July 19, 2022 Rainbow Trout 1,041 8.96 in report
July 19, 2022 Channel Catfish 37 24.26 in report
June 29, 2022 Yellow Perch 20,000 0.85 in report
June 6, 2022 Brown Trout 4,076 4.09 in report
May 26, 2022 Cutthroat Trout 57 16.7 in report
May 24, 2022 Cutthroat Trout 57 18 in report
May 24, 2022 Rainbow Trout 5,250 7.34 in report
May 20, 2022 Cutthroat Trout 130 16.7 in report
May 19, 2022 Cutthroat Trout 125 15.8 in report
May 19, 2022 Rainbow Trout 15,775 3.81 in report
May 12, 2022 Yellow Perch 134 8.5 in report
May 12, 2022 Fathead Minnow 10,000 1.5 in report
May 12, 2022 Channel Catfish 31 24 in report
May 9, 2022 Cutthroat Trout 125 18 in report
May 5, 2022 Rainbow Trout 51,348 2.15 in report
April 10, 2022 Cutthroat Trout 125 18 in report
May 4, 2021 Rainbow Trout 4,819 6.65 in report
March 17, 2021 Cutthroat Trout 63 20.45 in report
March 17, 2021 Cutthroat Trout 62 20.45 in report
June 16, 2020 Cutthroat Trout 300 8.06 in report
June 2, 2020 Cutthroat Trout 102 17.86 in report
May 1, 2020 Rainbow Trout 200 12.6 in report
May 1, 2020 Rainbow Trout 4,800 7.39 in report
March 4, 2020 Cutthroat Trout 100 20.45 in report
February 18, 2020 Cutthroat Trout 100 20.77 in report
August 26, 2019 Rainbow Trout 4,758 8 in report
August 26, 2019 Rainbow Trout 100 10.5 in report
June 13, 2019 Tiger Muskie 165 3.7 in report
May 16, 2019 Smallmouth Bass 150 12.95 in report
May 8, 2019 Cutthroat Trout 100 12.86 in report
April 23, 2019 Rainbow Trout 1,846 7.05 in report
April 17, 2019 Rainbow Trout 2,664 7.21 in report
August 20, 2018 Rainbow Trout 3,046 7.28 in report
August 17, 2018 Smallmouth Bass 72 7.25 in report
August 17, 2018 Smallmouth Bass 258 4.43 in report
May 21, 2018 Cutthroat Trout 275 16 in report
May 10, 2018 Rainbow Trout 2,417 7.06 in report
April 17, 2018 Cutthroat Trout 130 15.08 in report
August 23, 2017 Rainbow Trout 4,785 8.31 in report
August 22, 2017 Channel Catfish 3,672 2 in report
July 18, 2017 Largemouth Bass 5,000 1.28 in report
June 14, 2017 Rainbow Trout 3,207 5.98 in report
May 15, 2017 Cutthroat Trout 150 17 in report
April 26, 2017 Rainbow Trout 2,388 6.8 in report
April 24, 2017 Rainbow Trout 2,411 6.66 in report
April 19, 2017 Rainbow Trout 83 7.04 in report
April 19, 2017 Rainbow Trout 83 11.7 in report
April 19, 2017 Brown Trout 500 3.21 in report
October 18, 2016 Cutthroat Trout 2,600 4.17 in report
October 5, 2016 Cutthroat Trout 970 9.31 in report
August 22, 2016 Rainbow Trout 4,848 9.38 in report
August 11, 2016 Largemouth Bass 5,000 1.9 in report
July 12, 2016 Tiger Muskie 16 11.86 in report
June 20, 2016 Tiger Muskie 120 5.8 in report
May 13, 2016 Brown Trout 502 3.73 in report
May 10, 2016 Cutthroat Trout 200 16.55 in report
May 9, 2016 Cutthroat Trout 100 10 in report
April 11, 2016 Cutthroat Trout 100 16.55 in report
March 17, 2016 Rainbow Trout 2,406 6.93 in report
March 16, 2016 Rainbow Trout 2,444 6.93 in report
October 21, 2015 Cutthroat Trout 175 16.68 in report
August 24, 2015 Rainbow Trout 5,221 8.2 in report
July 22, 2015 Channel Catfish 6,500 2.5 in report
July 2, 2015 Tiger Muskie 100 4 in report
May 18, 2015 Cutthroat Trout 134 15.9 in report
April 28, 2015 Rainbow Trout 797 7.12 in report
April 28, 2015 Brown Trout 500 3.32 in report
April 13, 2015 Cutthroat Trout 160 13.5 in report
April 9, 2015 Rainbow Trout 4,000 6.3 in report
March 11, 2015 Cutthroat Trout 250 16 in report
August 26, 2014 Rainbow Trout 4,801 8.67 in report
May 19, 2014 Cutthroat Trout 200 15 in report
May 12, 2014 Brown Trout 500 3.63 in report
April 9, 2014 Rainbow Trout 813 6.39 in report
April 7, 2014 Rainbow Trout 3,996 6.39 in report
March 19, 2014 Cutthroat Trout 175 16 in report
August 23, 2013 Rainbow Trout 5,100 8.99 in report
June 10, 2013 Brown Trout 500 4.07 in report
May 20, 2013 Cutthroat Trout 100 16 in report
April 15, 2013 Rainbow Trout 2,455 6.8 in report
April 10, 2013 Rainbow Trout 2,457 6.73 in report
March 13, 2013 Cutthroat Trout 165 16 in report
March 13, 2013 Cutthroat Trout 85 16 in report
October 15, 2012 Cutthroat Trout 300 10 in report
August 30, 2012 Rainbow Trout 4,015 9.38 in report
May 21, 2012 Cutthroat Trout 175 15 in report
May 18, 2012 Rainbow Trout 1,097 9.78 in report
April 5, 2012 Rainbow Trout 2,057 8.74 in report
March 15, 2012 Cutthroat Trout 125 16 in report
March 7, 2012 Rainbow Trout 2,925 7.53 in report
September 5, 2011 Channel Catfish 6,500 2 in report
August 30, 2011 Rainbow Trout 5,429 7.91 in report
August 17, 2011 Rainbow Trout 2,520 4.48 in report
May 24, 2011 Cutthroat Trout 125 15 in report
April 21, 2011 Rainbow Trout 4,822 7.47 in report
April 18, 2011 Rainbow Trout 10,087 1.86 in report
March 30, 2011 Cutthroat Trout 200 12.2 in report
March 30, 2011 Cutthroat Trout 75 15 in report
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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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