Nelson Reservoir fishing

Fishing at Nelson Reservoir is on a reservoir, stocked with Northern Pike, Walleye, Rainbow Trout, and Channel Catfish. It is stocked about 3.3 times a year since 2011, most often in June and July. Species guides list dawn, day, and dusk for Northern Pike, dawn, dusk, and night for Walleye, and dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout.

Last stocked

June 25, 2025

Plants on record

49

Since 2011

Species recorded

4

Average size

2.6 in

Elevation

2,219.2 ft

Access and facts

Water type
reservoir
Nearest town
Malta
Facilities
camping

An irrigation reservoir on the Milk River northeast of Malta, built 1914-15 and enlarged in the 1920s by the Bureau of Reclamation. A recreation area and campground sit alongside the water, with both open-water and ice fishing.

Sources: water_type , shore_notes , nearest_town , fishing_notes

View larger map · Open on Google Maps

How Nelson Reservoir is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the third week of June. In 2025 it was May 7, 2025, earlier than usual.

No plants recorded in 2017.

Cole Pond NNW (19.6 mi), Paulo Reservoir (20.7 mi), and Glasgow Base Pond (22.5 mi) were stocked more recently. Cole Pond NNW is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Glasgow Base Pond is also stocked with Rainbow Trout.

Fish at Nelson Reservoir

Fishing Nelson Reservoir is most likely to be for Walleye. Walleye accounts for 37 of 49 plants on record, ahead of Rainbow Trout and 2 more.

Around the dates Nelson Reservoir is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 66.3°F in June, 73.4°F in July, 56.2°F in May, 71.5°F in August. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo

Walleye 37 plants
Plants
37 of 49
Last stocked
June 25, 2025
Average length
1.7 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Walleye guide.

Rainbow Trout 8 plants
Plants
8 of 49
Last stocked
May 7, 2025
Average length
6.8 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Rainbow Trout guide.

Channel Catfish 2 plants
Plants
2 of 49
Last stocked
September 9, 2021
Average length
1.8 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Channel Catfish guide.

Northern Pike 2 plants
Plants
2 of 49
Last stocked
June 1, 2012
Average length
2.6 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Northern Pike guide.

Fishing Nelson Reservoir

Nelson Reservoir, located in Phillips County, Montana, is a reservoir created by damming the Milk River. It is stocked annually with 100,000 walleye, as well as yellow perch and northern pike. Anglers can enjoy both warm-weather and ice fishing opportunities at this reservoir.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Fish stocked per year

  • 102,3932011
  • 102,6162012
  • 102,7022013
  • 50,1712014
  • 105,6152015
  • 108,3192016
  • 49,8462018
  • 109,6022019
  • 123,1772020
  • 104,9252021
  • 105,4542022
  • 100,3842023
  • 101,3512024
  • 115,3692025

Stocking history

Showing 15 of 49 plants Showing 49 plants

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
June 25, 2025 Walleye 5,000 1.3 in report
June 25, 2025 Walleye 44,169 1.3 in report
June 25, 2025 Walleye 65,950 1.3 in report
May 7, 2025 Rainbow Trout 250 6.79 in report
July 18, 2024 Rainbow Trout 250 7.24 in report
June 21, 2024 Walleye 91,871 1.45 in report
June 21, 2024 Walleye 9,230 1.39 in report
July 12, 2023 Walleye 11,867 2.01 in report
July 12, 2023 Walleye 24,510 2.24 in report
July 11, 2023 Walleye 38,666 2.09 in report
July 10, 2023 Walleye 25,091 2.23 in report
June 19, 2023 Rainbow Trout 250 6.7 in report
June 30, 2022 Walleye 5,058 1.4 in report
June 27, 2022 Walleye 100,146 1.4 in report
May 23, 2022 Rainbow Trout 250 7.08 in report
September 9, 2021 Channel Catfish 4,000 1.91 in report
June 25, 2021 Walleye 13,200 1.62 in report
June 21, 2021 Walleye 25,983 1.3 in report
June 21, 2021 Walleye 61,492 1.37 in report
May 14, 2021 Rainbow Trout 250 6.83 in report
August 20, 2020 Channel Catfish 4,000 1.63 in report
June 26, 2020 Walleye 62,019 1.91 in report
June 24, 2020 Walleye 52,267 1.95 in report
June 18, 2020 Walleye 4,629 1.78 in report
May 6, 2020 Rainbow Trout 262 6.59 in report
June 27, 2019 Walleye 25,101 1.73 in report
June 26, 2019 Walleye 5,000 1.56 in report
June 25, 2019 Walleye 20,743 1.61 in report
June 24, 2019 Walleye 39,556 1.52 in report
June 19, 2019 Walleye 18,952 1.36 in report
May 29, 2019 Rainbow Trout 250 7.26 in report
July 2, 2018 Walleye 11,173 2.18 in report
July 2, 2018 Walleye 11,173 2.18 in report
June 29, 2018 Walleye 27,224 1.98 in report
June 18, 2018 Rainbow Trout 276 6.04 in report
June 28, 2016 Walleye 56,387 1.72 in report
June 23, 2016 Walleye 5,030 1.57 in report
June 20, 2016 Walleye 46,902 1.64 in report
June 22, 2015 Walleye 105,615 1.55 in report
June 18, 2014 Walleye 50,171 1.35 in report
July 15, 2013 Walleye 15,046 2.18 in report
July 2, 2013 Walleye 30,887 1.92 in report
July 2, 2013 Walleye 10,507 2.28 in report
June 26, 2013 Walleye 46,262 1.51 in report
July 3, 2012 Walleye 84,986 2.02 in report
July 3, 2012 Walleye 15,066 2.14 in report
June 1, 2012 Northern Pike 2,564 2.64 in report
July 8, 2011 Walleye 100,147 1.62 in report
June 23, 2011 Northern Pike 2,246 2.58 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