Northern Pike Stocked · 20 plants · last June 6, 2025 Best: dawn, day, dusk Last stocked June 6, 2025 · avg 1.7 in · 20 plants
Best: dawn, day, dusk
Northern Pike species guideMedicine Lake fishing
Medicine Lake fishing has Northern Pike and Cutthroat Trout on the stocking report. It is stocked about 1.5 times a year since 2011, most often in May and June. Species guides list dawn, day, and dusk as the active times.
- Last stocked
- June 6, 2025
- · Northern Pike
- Plants on record
- 22
- Since 2011
- Species recorded
- 2
- Average size
- 1.8 in
- Elevation
- 2,060.7 ft
Fish at Medicine Lake
Around the dates Medicine Lake is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 56.4°F in May, 66.8°F in June, 73.1°F in July. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo
Northern Pike Stocked · 20 plants · last June 6, 2025 Best: dawn, day, dusk 
Cutthroat Trout Stocked · 2 plants · last July 29, 2024 Last stocked July 29, 2024 · avg 2.6 in · 2 plants
Cutthroat Trout species guideHow Medicine Lake is stocked
No plants recorded in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023.
Fish stocked in 2011
867,018
Fish stocked in 2012
532,701
Fish stocked in 2013
3,030
Fish stocked in 2016
514,305
Fish stocked in 2018
195,562
Fish stocked in 2020
11,094
Fish stocked in 2022
106,211
Fish stocked in 2024
300
Fish stocked in 2025
446,397
Stocking history
| Date | Species | Quantity | Avg. length | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 6, 2025 | Northern Pike | 12,397 | 3.01 in | report |
| May 7, 2025 | Northern Pike | 182,000 | 1.02 in | report |
| May 5, 2025 | Northern Pike | 252,000 | 1.02 in | report |
| July 29, 2024 | Cutthroat Trout | 300 | 2.32 in | report |
| June 16, 2022 | Northern Pike | 1,211 | 2.3 in | report |
| May 17, 2022 | Northern Pike | 105,000 | 0.5 in | report |
| June 9, 2020 | Northern Pike | 3,784 | 3.43 in | report |
| June 8, 2020 | Northern Pike | 7,310 | 3.88 in | report |
| June 19, 2018 | Northern Pike | 4,586 | 3.56 in | report |
| June 19, 2018 | Northern Pike | 2,476 | 3.36 in | report |
| May 22, 2018 | Northern Pike | 188,500 | 0.75 in | report |
| May 26, 2016 | Northern Pike | 14,305 | 2.04 in | report |
| May 3, 2016 | Northern Pike | 500,000 | 0.37 in | report |
| July 29, 2013 | Cutthroat Trout | 3,030 | 2.8 in | report |
| May 31, 2012 | Northern Pike | 32,201 | 2.64 in | report |
| May 7, 2012 | Northern Pike | 381,500 | 0.37 in | report |
| May 1, 2012 | Northern Pike | 119,000 | 0.37 in | report |
| June 23, 2011 | Northern Pike | 30,724 | 2.63 in | report |
| June 23, 2011 | Northern Pike | 9,294 | 2.58 in | report |
| May 20, 2011 | Northern Pike | 291,000 | 0.37 in | report |
| May 20, 2011 | Northern Pike | 32,000 | 0.37 in | report |
| May 16, 2011 | Northern Pike | 504,000 | 0.37 in | report |
Access and facts
- Shore access
- Yes
The 8,700-acre centerpiece of Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Montana (headquarters at 223 North Shore Road). The refuge lists boat, shore, and ice fishing for northern pike. The lake is designated wilderness and is boated with non-motorized craft.
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 Medicine Lake
Nearest lakes
Common questions
What fish are at Medicine Lake?
Fishing Medicine Lake usually means Northern Pike: Northern Pike accounts for 20 of 22 plants on record, ahead of Cutthroat Trout. Northern Pike was last stocked June 6, 2025, averaging 1.7 in. Cutthroat Trout was last stocked July 29, 2024, averaging 2.6 in.
When is Medicine Lake stocked?
Last stocked June 6, 2025. It is stocked about 1.5 times a year since 2011, most often in May and June. No plants recorded in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023.
How big are the fish stocked at Medicine Lake?
Stocked fish average 1.8 in. Northern Pike average 1.7 in. Cutthroat Trout average 2.6 in.
How do you get on Medicine Lake?
Shore fishing is available. The 8,700-acre centerpiece of Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Montana (headquarters at 223 North Shore Road). The refuge lists boat, shore, and ice fishing for northern pike. The lake is designated wilderness and is boated with non-motorized craft.
Which lakes near Medicine Lake were stocked more recently?
Hofman Reservoir (22.1 mi), Crusch Reservoir (33.1 mi), and Kuester Lake (33.2 mi) were stocked more recently.