Lake Josephine fishing

Fishing at Lake Josephine has Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Tiger Muskie, Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch, and Bluegill on the stocking report. It is stocked about 1.6 times a year since 2011, most often in July and August. Species guides list dusk and night for Channel Catfish, dawn and dusk for Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass, and dawn, day, and dusk for Yellow Perch and Bluegill.

Last stocked

September 4, 2025

Plants on record

24

Since 2011

Species recorded

6

Average size

2.9 in

Elevation

3,134.5 ft

How Lake Josephine is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the fourth week of July. In 2025 it was August 6, 2025, later than usual.

No plants recorded in 2014, 2016, and 2024.

Shiloh Conservation Pond 1 (4.4 mi), Lake Elmo (7.2 mi), Laurel Pond (13.5 mi), Broadview Pond (30.3 mi), and Cooney Reservoir (39.5 mi) were stocked more recently. Shiloh Conservation Pond 1 is also stocked with Largemouth Bass, Lake Elmo is also stocked with Channel Catfish, Tiger Muskie, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch, and Bluegill, Laurel Pond is also stocked with Largemouth Bass, and Broadview Pond is also stocked with Largemouth Bass.

Fish at Lake Josephine

Fishing Lake Josephine is most likely to be for Largemouth Bass. Largemouth Bass accounts for 10 of 24 plants on record, ahead of Channel Catfish and 4 more.

Around the dates Lake Josephine is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 75.3°F in July, 73.1°F in August, 63.6°F in September, 48°F in October. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo

Largemouth Bass 10 plants
Plants
10 of 24
Last stocked
August 6, 2025
Average length
1.9 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Largemouth Bass guide.

Channel Catfish 6 plants
Plants
6 of 24
Last stocked
August 20, 2021
Average length
2 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Channel Catfish guide.

Tiger Muskie 3 plants
Plants
3 of 24
Last stocked
October 7, 2022
Average length
5.4 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Tiger Muskie guide.

Bluegill 2 plants
Plants
2 of 24
Last stocked
September 4, 2025
Average length
1.6 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Bluegill guide.

Yellow Perch 2 plants
Plants
2 of 24
Last stocked
August 19, 2020
Average length
3.7 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Yellow Perch guide.

Smallmouth Bass 1 plant
Plants
1 of 24
Last stocked
May 16, 2019
Average length
13 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Smallmouth Bass guide.

Fish stocked per year

  • 2,0002011
  • 5,0002012
  • 10,0002013
  • 12,0602015
  • 12,0002017
  • 1,2002018
  • 9,3492019
  • 3,5932020
  • 7,0002021
  • 1002022
  • 12,5002023
  • 12,5002025

Stocking history

Showing 15 of 24 plants Showing 24 plants

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
September 4, 2025 Bluegill 2,500 1.61 in report
August 6, 2025 Largemouth Bass 10,000 1.46 in report
July 28, 2023 Largemouth Bass 10,000 1.6 in report
July 19, 2023 Bluegill 2,500 1.62 in report
October 7, 2022 Tiger Muskie 100 8.6 in report
August 20, 2021 Channel Catfish 2,000 1.69 in report
July 27, 2021 Largemouth Bass 5,000 1.79 in report
August 19, 2020 Yellow Perch 1,593 5.1 in report
August 19, 2020 Channel Catfish 2,000 1.61 in report
October 3, 2019 Channel Catfish 1,174 2.27 in report
July 24, 2019 Yellow Perch 3,000 2.21 in report
July 24, 2019 Largemouth Bass 5,000 1.55 in report
June 13, 2019 Tiger Muskie 125 3.68 in report
May 16, 2019 Smallmouth Bass 50 12.95 in report
July 3, 2018 Largemouth Bass 200 2.39 in report
July 3, 2018 Largemouth Bass 1,000 3.22 in report
August 22, 2017 Channel Catfish 2,000 2 in report
July 18, 2017 Largemouth Bass 10,000 1.28 in report
August 18, 2015 Largemouth Bass 10,000 2 in report
July 22, 2015 Channel Catfish 2,000 2.5 in report
July 2, 2015 Tiger Muskie 60 4 in report
July 25, 2013 Largemouth Bass 10,000 2.3 in report
August 6, 2012 Largemouth Bass 5,000 1 in report
September 5, 2011 Channel Catfish 2,000 2 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.

Nearest lakes