Lake Frances fishing

Fishing at Lake Frances is on a reservoir, stocked with Walleye. It is stocked about once a year since 2012, most often in June and July. Species guides list dawn, dusk, and night as the active times.

Last stocked

June 17, 2025

Plants on record

14

Since 2012

Species recorded

1

Average size

1.7 in

Elevation

3,810.8 ft

Access and facts

Water type
reservoir
Nearest town
Valier

A 3,618-acre reservoir just southwest of Valier, a popular destination for anglers and ice fishermen targeting northern pike, walleye, and perch.

Sources: water_type , shore_notes , nearest_town , fishing_notes

View larger map · Open on Google Maps

How Lake Frances is stocked

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

No plants recorded in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021.

Mission Lake (25 mi), Ostle Reservoir (27.7 mi), and Kipp Lake (32.6 mi) were stocked more recently.

Fish at Lake Frances

Fishing Lake Frances is most likely to be for Walleye. All 14 plants on record are Walleye.

Around the dates Lake Frances is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 60.6°F in June, 69.2°F in July. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo

Walleye 14 plants
Plants
14 of 14
Last stocked
June 17, 2025
Average length
1.7 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Walleye guide.

Fishing Lake Frances

Lake Frances is a lake located southwest of Valier, Montana. It is a common destination for fisherman and water recreationists. The lake has Northern Pike, Walleye, and Perch as the major game fish. Additionally, the lake is a hot spot for many ice fisherman.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Fish stocked per year

  • 41,4272012
  • 50,1612014
  • 53,7222016
  • 29,7632018
  • 52,4532020
  • 50,6402022
  • 50,4152023
  • 61,2742024
  • 50,0002025

Stocking history

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
June 17, 2025 Walleye 50,000 1.07 in report
July 30, 2024 Walleye 10,274 2.55 in report
June 19, 2024 Walleye 51,000 1.19 in report
July 11, 2023 Walleye 11,247 2 in report
June 22, 2023 Walleye 19,584 1.76 in report
June 22, 2023 Walleye 19,584 1.76 in report
June 22, 2022 Walleye 50,640 1.25 in report
June 16, 2020 Walleye 52,453 1.62 in report
June 27, 2018 Walleye 9,921 2.05 in report
June 27, 2018 Walleye 9,921 2.05 in report
June 27, 2018 Walleye 9,921 2.05 in report
June 20, 2016 Walleye 53,722 1.31 in report
June 24, 2014 Walleye 50,161 1.54 in report
July 5, 2012 Walleye 41,427 2.02 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