Largemouth Bass Stocked · 10 plants · last August 6, 2025 Best: dawn, dusk Lake Josephine fishing
Lake Josephine fishing is stocked with Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Tiger Muskie, Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch, and Bluegill on a community pond. Also recorded: Crappie, Pumpkinseed, and Golden Shiner. 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
- · Bluegill
- Plants on record
- 24
- Since 2011
- Species stocked
- 6 (+3 also recorded)
- Average size
- 2.9 in
- Elevation
- 3,134.5 ft
Fish at Lake Josephine
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 Stocked · 10 plants · last August 6, 2025 Best: dawn, dusk 
Channel Catfish Stocked · 6 plants · last August 20, 2021 Best: dusk, night 
Tiger Muskie Stocked · 3 plants · last October 7, 2022 Last stocked October 7, 2022 · avg 5.4 in · 3 plants
Tiger Muskie species guide
Bluegill Stocked · 2 plants · last September 4, 2025 Best: dawn, day, dusk 
Yellow Perch Stocked · 2 plants · last August 19, 2020 Best: dawn, day, dusk Last stocked August 19, 2020 · avg 3.7 in · 2 plants
Best: dawn, day, dusk
Yellow Perch species guide
Smallmouth Bass Stocked · 1 plant · last May 16, 2019 Best: dawn, dusk 
Crappie Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk, night Best: dawn, dusk, night
Crappie species guide
Pumpkinseed Confirmed present Best: dusk Best: dusk
Pumpkinseed species guide Golden Shiner Confirmed present
Jimmy Lee Boles III of Laurel caught a new state record golden shiner while fly fishing at Lake Josephine in Riverfront Park in Billings on April 28. Boles’ record golden shiner weighed 0.39 pounds, which was more than double the previous record of 0.18 pounds, and measured 8.88 inches in total length with a girth of 6 inches. Golden shiners are in the minnow family. (fwp.mt.gov, accessed October 5, 2026)
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
How Lake Josephine is stocked
No plants recorded in 2014, 2016, and 2024.
Fish stocked in 2011
2,000
Fish stocked in 2012
5,000
Fish stocked in 2013
10,000
Fish stocked in 2015
12,060
Fish stocked in 2017
12,000
Fish stocked in 2018
1,200
Fish stocked in 2019
9,349
Fish stocked in 2020
3,593
Fish stocked in 2021
7,000
Fish stocked in 2022
100
Fish stocked in 2023
12,500
Fish stocked in 2025
12,500
Stocking history
| 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 |
Access and facts
- Water type
- community pond
- Nearest town
- Billings
- Facilities
- restrooms
A 20-acre, groundwater-fed former gravel pit in the City of Billings' Riverfront Park, off South Billings Boulevard about a mile south of the I-90 interchange. The developed area around the lake is used for picnicking, lake-edge walking and fishing.
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks before you go.
About Lake Josephine
According to Jimmy Lee Boles III, his record-setting angling experience was a fun way to kick off the fishing season. (fwp.mt.gov, accessed October 5, 2026)
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
Nearest lakes
Common questions
What fish are at Lake Josephine?
Fishing Lake Josephine usually means Largemouth Bass: Largemouth Bass accounts for 10 of 24 plants on record, ahead of Channel Catfish and 4 more. Largemouth Bass was last stocked August 6, 2025, averaging 1.9 in. Channel Catfish was last stocked August 20, 2021, averaging 2 in. Tiger Muskie was last stocked October 7, 2022, averaging 5.4 in. Bluegill was last stocked September 4, 2025, averaging 1.6 in. 2 more species are on the stocking report. Crappie, Pumpkinseed, and Golden Shiner are recorded here outside the stocking reports.
When is Lake Josephine stocked?
Last stocked September 4, 2025. It is stocked about 1.6 times a year since 2011, most often in July and August. No plants recorded in 2014, 2016, and 2024.
How big are the fish stocked at Lake Josephine?
Stocked fish average 2.9 in. Largemouth Bass average 1.9 in. Channel Catfish average 2 in. Tiger Muskie average 5.4 in. Bluegill average 1.6 in.
How do you get on Lake Josephine?
The nearest town is Billings. Facilities include restrooms. A 20-acre, groundwater-fed former gravel pit in the City of Billings' Riverfront Park, off South Billings Boulevard about a mile south of the I-90 interchange. The developed area around the lake is used for picnicking, lake-edge walking and fishing.
Which lakes near Lake Josephine were stocked more recently?
Shiloh Conservation Pond 1 (4.4 mi), Lake Elmo (7.2 mi), Laurel Pond (13.5 mi), and Broadview Pond (30.3 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.