Rainbow Trout Stocked · 14 plants · last June 24, 2025 Best: dawn, dusk Shay Lake fishing
Shay Lake fishing is stocked with Rainbow Trout on a natural lake. Also recorded: Arctic Grayling and Mountain Whitefish. It is stocked about 0.9 times a year since 2011, most often in June and July. Species guides list dawn and dusk as the active times.
- Last stocked
- June 24, 2025
- · Rainbow Trout
- Plants on record
- 14
- Since 2011
- Species stocked
- 1 (+2 also recorded)
- Average size
- 3.9 in
- Elevation
- 3,474.4 ft
Fish at Shay Lake
Around the dates Shay Lake is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 59.6°F in June, 69.2°F in July, 39.9°F in April, 58.4°F in September. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo
Rainbow Trout Stocked · 14 plants · last June 24, 2025 Best: dawn, dusk 
Arctic Grayling Confirmed present Mountain Whitefish Confirmed present
How Shay Lake is stocked
No plants recorded in 2012.
Fish stocked in 2011
1,009
Fish stocked in 2013
1,200
Fish stocked in 2014
1,000
Fish stocked in 2015
1,100
Fish stocked in 2016
2,040
Fish stocked in 2017
2,000
Fish stocked in 2018
2,000
Fish stocked in 2019
2,000
Fish stocked in 2020
2,000
Fish stocked in 2021
1,998
Fish stocked in 2022
2,198
Fish stocked in 2023
2,003
Fish stocked in 2024
2,013
Fish stocked in 2025
2,024
Stocking history
| Date | Species | Quantity | Avg. length | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 2,024 | 3.7 in | report |
| June 27, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | 2,013 | 3.96 in | report |
| June 30, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 2,003 | 3.83 in | report |
| June 30, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 2,198 | 3.75 in | report |
| June 3, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 1,998 | 3.28 in | report |
| July 14, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 2,000 | 4.08 in | report |
| June 24, 2019 | Rainbow Trout | 2,000 | 3.33 in | report |
| June 12, 2018 | Rainbow Trout | 2,000 | 3.8 in | report |
| June 22, 2017 | Rainbow Trout | 2,000 | 4.07 in | report |
| September 26, 2016 | Rainbow Trout | 2,040 | 4.97 in | report |
| April 29, 2015 | Rainbow Trout | 1,100 | 3.73 in | report |
| June 19, 2014 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 4.28 in | report |
| June 18, 2013 | Rainbow Trout | 1,200 | 3.88 in | report |
| July 19, 2011 | Rainbow Trout | 1,009 | 4.35 in | report |
Access and facts
- Water type
- natural lake
A 16.6-acre valley-bottom lake at about 3,398 feet in the Swan River drainage. FWP says Shay, Van, Fran, and Peck lakes have no defined boat ramps, and calls them scenic, put-grow-and-take rainbow trout fisheries with relative solitude.
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 Shay Lake
Shay Lake is inside Flathead National Forest.
Boundaries from Public Lands DB, part of the same network.
Common questions
What fish are at Shay Lake?
Fishing Shay Lake usually means Rainbow Trout. All 14 plants on record are Rainbow Trout. Rainbow Trout was last stocked June 24, 2025, averaging 3.9 in. Arctic Grayling and Mountain Whitefish are recorded here outside the stocking reports.
When is Shay Lake stocked?
Last stocked June 24, 2025. It is stocked about 0.9 times a year since 2011, most often in June and July. No plants recorded in 2012.
How big are the fish stocked at Shay Lake?
Rainbow Trout stocked at Shay Lake average 3.9 in.
How do you get on Shay Lake?
A 16.6-acre valley-bottom lake at about 3,398 feet in the Swan River drainage. FWP says Shay, Van, Fran, and Peck lakes have no defined boat ramps, and calls them scenic, put-grow-and-take rainbow trout fisheries with relative solitude.
Which lakes near Shay Lake were stocked more recently?
Van Lake (3.2 mi), Fran Lake (8.8 mi), and Russ Lake (8.9 mi) were stocked more recently. Van Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Fran Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, and Russ Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout.