Smith Lake fishing

Fishing at Smith Lake has Rainbow Trout and Cutthroat Trout on the stocking report. It is stocked about 1.7 times a year since 2011, most often in May and August. Species guides list dawn and dusk as the active times.

Last stocked

May 27, 2026

Plants on record

27

Since 2011

Species recorded

2

Average size

5.7 in

Elevation

5,057.3 ft

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How Smith Lake is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the last week of May. In 2026 it was May 27, 2026, about when it usually is.

No plants recorded in 2018.

Murray Lake (10.3 mi) was stocked more recently. Murray Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Cutthroat Trout.

Fish at Smith Lake

Fishing Smith Lake is most likely to be for Rainbow Trout. Rainbow Trout accounts for 17 of 27 plants on record, ahead of Cutthroat Trout.

Around the dates Smith Lake is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 46.2°F in May, 60.9°F in August, 53.7°F in June, 62.3°F in July. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo

Rainbow Trout 17 plants
Plants
17 of 27
Last stocked
May 27, 2026
Average length
7.4 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Rainbow Trout guide.

Cutthroat Trout 10 plants
Plants
10 of 27
Last stocked
August 8, 2025
Average length
2.7 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Cutthroat Trout guide.

Fish stocked per year

  • 7362011
  • 1,9772012
  • 1,7592013
  • 1,5112014
  • 1,5232015
  • 5002016
  • 1,4902017
  • 1,5002019
  • 5002020
  • 1,5282021
  • 1,7402022
  • 1,5282023
  • 1,5402024
  • 1,5002025
  • 4932026

Stocking history

Showing 15 of 27 plants Showing 27 plants

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
May 27, 2026 Rainbow Trout 493 8.23 in report
August 8, 2025 Cutthroat Trout 1,000 1.5 in report
June 18, 2025 Rainbow Trout 500 8 in report
August 17, 2024 Cutthroat Trout 1,000 2 in report
May 21, 2024 Rainbow Trout 540 7.74 in report
July 14, 2023 Cutthroat Trout 1,000 1.14 in report
June 7, 2023 Rainbow Trout 528 8.05 in report
August 20, 2022 Cutthroat Trout 990 1.66 in report
June 28, 2022 Rainbow Trout 750 8.88 in report
August 31, 2021 Cutthroat Trout 1,000 2 in report
June 4, 2021 Rainbow Trout 528 9.82 in report
May 6, 2020 Rainbow Trout 500 8.59 in report
August 5, 2019 Cutthroat Trout 1,000 1.21 in report
June 28, 2019 Rainbow Trout 500 11.26 in report
August 28, 2017 Cutthroat Trout 990 1.41 in report
May 25, 2017 Rainbow Trout 500 9.81 in report
April 7, 2016 Rainbow Trout 500 9.81 in report
May 18, 2015 Cutthroat Trout 1,023 6.1 in report
April 21, 2015 Rainbow Trout 500 10.1 in report
July 28, 2014 Rainbow Trout 1,011 1.13 in report
May 14, 2014 Rainbow Trout 500 10.05 in report
August 5, 2013 Rainbow Trout 1,007 1.19 in report
May 10, 2013 Cutthroat Trout 250 9.29 in report
May 10, 2013 Rainbow Trout 502 10.15 in report
November 7, 2012 Cutthroat Trout 1,500 1 in report
July 31, 2012 Rainbow Trout 477 1.71 in report
August 8, 2011 Rainbow Trout 736 1.63 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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