Payola Reservoir fishing

Fishing at Payola Reservoir is on a reservoir, stocked with Largemouth Bass. It is stocked about 0.9 times a year since 2011, most often in July and August. Species guides list dawn and dusk as the active times.

Last stocked

August 7, 2025

Plants on record

13

Since 2011

Species recorded

1

Average size

1.8 in

Elevation

3,039.8 ft

Access and facts

Water type
reservoir
Nearest town
Winnett

A BLM day-use site with a picnic cabana and fire pits above the reservoir, reached via Cemetery Road about 8 miles northwest of Winnett.

Sources: water_type , shore_notes , nearest_town

View larger map · Open on Google Maps

How Payola Reservoir is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the fourth week of July. In 2025 it was August 7, 2025, later than usual.

No plants recorded in 2021 and 2022.

Yellow Water Reservoir (15 mi) and Drag Creek Reservoir (24.1 mi) were stocked more recently. Drag Creek Reservoir is also stocked with Largemouth Bass.

Fish at Payola Reservoir

Fishing Payola Reservoir is most likely to be for Largemouth Bass. All 13 plants on record are Largemouth Bass.

Around the dates Payola Reservoir is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 74.4°F in July, 72.2°F in August. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo

Largemouth Bass 13 plants
Plants
13 of 13
Last stocked
August 7, 2025
Average length
1.8 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Largemouth Bass guide.

Fish stocked per year

  • 3,0002011
  • 3,0002012
  • 3,0002013
  • 1,5002014
  • 1,5002015
  • 1,5002016
  • 1,5002017
  • 1,5002018
  • 1,0002019
  • 3,0002020
  • 3,0002023
  • 3,0002024
  • 3,0002025

Stocking history

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
August 7, 2025 Largemouth Bass 3,000 1.62 in report
August 12, 2024 Largemouth Bass 3,000 1.49 in report
August 4, 2023 Largemouth Bass 3,000 2.71 in report
July 13, 2020 Largemouth Bass 3,000 0.8 in report
July 24, 2019 Largemouth Bass 1,000 1.55 in report
July 23, 2018 Largemouth Bass 1,500 2.26 in report
August 3, 2017 Largemouth Bass 1,500 1.4 in report
July 28, 2016 Largemouth Bass 1,500 1.89 in report
July 31, 2015 Largemouth Bass 1,500 2.3 in report
July 31, 2014 Largemouth Bass 1,500 1.84 in report
July 16, 2013 Largemouth Bass 3,000 2.3 in report
July 16, 2012 Largemouth Bass 3,000 1.75 in report
July 26, 2011 Largemouth Bass 3,000 1.6 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