Kokanee Salmon Stocked · 13 plants · last May 8, 2024 Best: dawn, dusk Salmon Lake fishing
Salmon Lake fishing is stocked with Kokanee Salmon and Cutthroat Trout on a natural lake. Also recorded: Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Pumpkinseed, Bull Trout, and 8 more. It is stocked about 1.2 times a year since 2011, most often in April and May. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Kokanee Salmon, Smallmouth Bass, and Largemouth Bass, dawn, day, and dusk for Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, and Brown Trout, and dusk for Pumpkinseed.
- Last stocked
- May 8, 2024
- · Kokanee Salmon
- Plants on record
- 17
- Since 2011
- Species stocked
- 2 (+14 also recorded)
- Average size
- 2.8 in
- Elevation
- 3,909.4 ft
Fish at Salmon Lake
Around the dates Salmon Lake is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 51.2°F in May, 40.5°F in April, 59.9°F in June, 69.4°F in July. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo
Kokanee Salmon Stocked · 13 plants · last May 8, 2024 Best: dawn, dusk 
Cutthroat Trout Stocked · 4 plants · last July 19, 2014 Last stocked July 19, 2014 · avg 4.3 in · 4 plants
Cutthroat Trout species guide
Northern Pike Confirmed present Best: dawn, day, dusk Best: dawn, day, dusk
Northern Pike species guide
Smallmouth Bass Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk Best: dawn, dusk
Smallmouth Bass species guide
Largemouth Bass Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk Best: dawn, dusk
Largemouth Bass species guide
Yellow Perch Confirmed present Best: dawn, day, dusk Best: dawn, day, dusk
Yellow Perch species guide
Pumpkinseed Confirmed present Best: dusk Best: dusk
Pumpkinseed species guide Bull Trout Confirmed present
Brown Trout Confirmed present Best: dawn, day, dusk Best: dawn, day, dusk
Brown Trout species guide
Brook Trout Confirmed present Best: dawn, day, dusk Best: dawn, day, dusk
Brook Trout species guide
Rainbow Trout Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk Best: dawn, dusk
Rainbow Trout species guide Mountain Whitefish Confirmed present
Northern Pikeminnow Confirmed present
Peamouth Confirmed present
Largescale Sucker Confirmed present
Longnose Sucker Confirmed present
The lake is home to fish including rainbow, cutthroat, brown, brook and bull trout. Anglers may also find largemouth bass, white mountain whitefish, kokanee salmon, yellow perch, and northern pike. Visitors can try their luck reeling in a fresh catch at Salmon Lake. (fwp.mt.gov, accessed September 22, 2026)
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
How Salmon Lake is stocked
No plants recorded in 2018.
Fish stocked in 2011
110,000
Fish stocked in 2012
50,516
Fish stocked in 2013
70,008
Fish stocked in 2014
21,707
Fish stocked in 2015
15,444
Fish stocked in 2016
15,012
Fish stocked in 2017
19,872
Fish stocked in 2019
50,007
Fish stocked in 2020
40,000
Fish stocked in 2021
43,560
Fish stocked in 2022
50,001
Fish stocked in 2023
32,356
Fish stocked in 2024
43,014
Stocking history
| Date | Species | Quantity | Avg. length | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 2024 | Kokanee Salmon | 43,014 | 2.5 in | report |
| April 28, 2023 | Kokanee Salmon | 32,356 | 2.68 in | report |
| May 9, 2022 | Kokanee Salmon | 50,001 | 2.25 in | report |
| May 5, 2021 | Kokanee Salmon | 43,560 | 2.74 in | report |
| May 21, 2020 | Kokanee Salmon | 40,000 | 2.5 in | report |
| June 5, 2019 | Kokanee Salmon | 50,007 | 2.5 in | report |
| May 14, 2017 | Kokanee Salmon | 19,872 | 2.22 in | report |
| April 27, 2016 | Kokanee Salmon | 15,012 | 2.01 in | report |
| May 6, 2015 | Kokanee Salmon | 15,444 | 2.5 in | report |
| July 19, 2014 | Cutthroat Trout | 21,707 | 3.8 in | report |
| May 30, 2013 | Cutthroat Trout | 10,008 | 3.9 in | report |
| May 30, 2013 | Cutthroat Trout | 10,000 | 4.85 in | report |
| April 30, 2013 | Kokanee Salmon | 50,000 | 2 in | report |
| May 2, 2012 | Kokanee Salmon | 50,516 | 2.3 in | report |
| June 6, 2011 | Cutthroat Trout | 10,000 | 4.78 in | report |
| June 6, 2011 | Kokanee Salmon | 50,000 | 2 in | report |
| May 23, 2011 | Kokanee Salmon | 50,000 | 2 in | report |
Access and facts
- Water type
- natural lake
- Nearest town
- Seeley Lake
- Boat ramp
- Yes
- ADA accessible
- Yes
- Fee required
- Yes
- Facilities
- restrooms, camping
Salmon Lake State Park has a boat launch, 24 campsites including one hike-bike site, flush and vault toilets, and ADA-accessible facilities. About 32 miles northeast of Missoula near Seeley Lake.
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.
Nearest lakes
Public land at Salmon Lake
Salmon Lake is 0.1 miles outside the edge of Salmon Lake State Park.
It is 0.2 miles outside the edge of Lolo National Forest.
Boundaries from Public Lands DB, part of the same network.
Common questions
What fish are at Salmon Lake?
Fishing Salmon Lake usually means Kokanee Salmon: Kokanee Salmon accounts for 13 of 17 plants on record, ahead of Cutthroat Trout. Kokanee Salmon was last stocked May 8, 2024, averaging 2.3 in. Cutthroat Trout was last stocked July 19, 2014, averaging 4.3 in. Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, and Yellow Perch, plus 10 more are recorded here outside the stocking reports.
When is Salmon Lake stocked?
Last stocked May 8, 2024. It is stocked about 1.2 times a year since 2011, most often in April and May. No plants recorded in 2018.
How big are the fish stocked at Salmon Lake?
Stocked fish average 2.8 in. Kokanee Salmon average 2.3 in. Cutthroat Trout average 4.3 in.
How do you get on Salmon Lake?
There is a boat ramp, it is ADA accessible, and a fee is required. The nearest town is Seeley Lake. Facilities include restrooms and camping. Salmon Lake State Park has a boat launch, 24 campsites including one hike-bike site, flush and vault toilets, and ADA-accessible facilities. About 32 miles northeast of Missoula near Seeley Lake.
Which lakes near Salmon Lake were stocked more recently?
Harpers Lake (4.8 mi), Placid Lake (5.9 mi), and Upsata Lake (8.5 mi) were stocked more recently. Harpers Lake is also stocked with Cutthroat Trout and Placid Lake is also stocked with Kokanee Salmon and Cutthroat Trout.