Rainbow Lake fishing

Fishing at Rainbow Lake has Cutthroat Trout and Golden Trout on the stocking report. It is stocked about 1.6 times a year since 2011, most often in August and September. Species guides list dawn and dusk as the active times.

Last stocked

September 30, 2025

Plants on record

24

Since 2011

Species recorded

2

Average size

1.7 in

Elevation

3,231.4 ft

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How Rainbow Lake is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the second week of August. In 2025 it was September 30, 2025, later than usual.

No plants recorded in 2016 and 2020.

Lake Mary Ronan (14.7 mi), Ninepipes Pond (Allentown) (25.6 mi), and Little Mcgregor Lake (28.2 mi) were stocked more recently. Lake Mary Ronan is also stocked with Cutthroat Trout.

Fish at Rainbow Lake

Fishing Rainbow Lake is most likely to be for Cutthroat Trout. Cutthroat Trout accounts for 22 of 24 plants on record, ahead of Golden Trout.

Around the dates Rainbow Lake is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 69.7°F in August, 59.7°F in September, 44.6°F in October, 71.8°F in July. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo

Cutthroat Trout 22 plants
Plants
22 of 24
Last stocked
September 30, 2025
Average length
1.8 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Cutthroat Trout guide.

Golden Trout 2 plants
Plants
2 of 24
Last stocked
October 6, 2017
Average length
1.2 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Golden Trout guide.

Fish stocked per year

  • 1,6132011
  • 2,9222012
  • 9992013
  • 2,6852014
  • 9862015
  • 2,0002017
  • 6002018
  • 3,0002019
  • 2,6002021
  • 9962022
  • 2,7002023
  • 5,3002024
  • 2,7002025

Stocking history

Showing 15 of 24 plants Showing 24 plants

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
September 30, 2025 Cutthroat Trout 2,700 2 in report
October 1, 2024 Cutthroat Trout 2,700 2 in report
August 24, 2024 Cutthroat Trout 600 1.66 in report
August 9, 2024 Cutthroat Trout 1,000 1.5 in report
August 6, 2024 Cutthroat Trout 1,000 1.5 in report
October 19, 2023 Cutthroat Trout 2,700 1.98 in report
July 25, 2022 Cutthroat Trout 996 1.31 in report
September 4, 2021 Cutthroat Trout 600 1.99 in report
August 10, 2021 Cutthroat Trout 1,000 2 in report
July 13, 2021 Cutthroat Trout 1,000 2 in report
August 5, 2019 Cutthroat Trout 3,000 1.37 in report
September 1, 2018 Cutthroat Trout 600 2.43 in report
October 6, 2017 Golden Trout 1,000 1.33 in report
September 29, 2017 Cutthroat Trout 1,000 1.99 in report
August 28, 2015 Cutthroat Trout 986 1.65 in report
September 21, 2014 Cutthroat Trout 634 2.11 in report
September 4, 2014 Cutthroat Trout 1,051 1.45 in report
September 4, 2014 Golden Trout 1,000 1 in report
August 5, 2013 Cutthroat Trout 999 1.1 in report
September 18, 2012 Cutthroat Trout 922 2.07 in report
August 14, 2012 Cutthroat Trout 1,000 1.81 in report
August 5, 2012 Cutthroat Trout 1,000 1.81 in report
September 5, 2011 Cutthroat Trout 600 2.21 in report
August 8, 2011 Cutthroat Trout 1,013 1.52 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.

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