Smith Lake fishing

Smith Lake fishing 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.

AI-generated illustration, not a photo of this lake
Last stocked
May 27, 2026
· Rainbow Trout
Plants on record
27
Since 2011
Species recorded
2
Average size
5.7 in
Elevation
5,057.3 ft

Fish at Smith Lake

2 stocked · 0 confirmed present

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 Stocked · 17 plants · last May 27, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked May 27, 2026 · avg 7.4 in · 17 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide
Cutthroat Trout Stocked · 10 plants · last August 8, 2025

Last stocked August 8, 2025 · avg 2.7 in · 10 plants

Cutthroat Trout species guide

How Smith Lake is stocked

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

No plants recorded in 2018.

Fish stocked in 2011

736

Fish stocked in 2012

1,977

Fish stocked in 2013

1,759

Fish stocked in 2014

1,511

Fish stocked in 2015

1,523

Fish stocked in 2016

500

Fish stocked in 2017

1,490

Fish stocked in 2019

1,500

Fish stocked in 2020

500

Fish stocked in 2021

1,528

Fish stocked in 2022

1,740

Fish stocked in 2023

1,528

Fish stocked in 2024

1,540

Fish stocked in 2025

1,500

Fish stocked in 2026

493

Stocking history

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
May 27, 2026Rainbow Trout4938.23 inreport
August 8, 2025Cutthroat Trout1,0001.5 inreport
June 18, 2025Rainbow Trout5008 inreport
August 17, 2024Cutthroat Trout1,0002 inreport
May 21, 2024Rainbow Trout5407.74 inreport
July 14, 2023Cutthroat Trout1,0001.14 inreport
June 7, 2023Rainbow Trout5288.05 inreport
August 20, 2022Cutthroat Trout9901.66 inreport
June 28, 2022Rainbow Trout7508.88 inreport
August 31, 2021Cutthroat Trout1,0002 inreport
June 4, 2021Rainbow Trout5289.82 inreport
May 6, 2020Rainbow Trout5008.59 inreport
August 5, 2019Cutthroat Trout1,0001.21 inreport
June 28, 2019Rainbow Trout50011.26 inreport
August 28, 2017Cutthroat Trout9901.41 inreport
May 25, 2017Rainbow Trout5009.81 inreport
April 7, 2016Rainbow Trout5009.81 inreport
May 18, 2015Cutthroat Trout1,0236.1 inreport
April 21, 2015Rainbow Trout50010.1 inreport
July 28, 2014Rainbow Trout1,0111.13 inreport
May 14, 2014Rainbow Trout50010.05 inreport
August 5, 2013Rainbow Trout1,0071.19 inreport
May 10, 2013Cutthroat Trout2509.29 inreport
May 10, 2013Rainbow Trout50210.15 inreport
November 7, 2012Cutthroat Trout1,5001 inreport
July 31, 2012Rainbow Trout4771.71 inreport
August 8, 2011Rainbow Trout7361.63 inreport

Access and facts

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Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks before you go.

Nearest lakes

Rock Lake 5.9 mi last stocked September 27, 2023 Black Lake 8.1 mi last stocked July 20, 2022 Finger Lake 9.8 mi last stocked May 8, 2026 Murray Lake 10.3 mi last stocked June 10, 2026 Smokey Lake 10.9 mi last stocked May 8, 2026

Public land at Smith Lake

Smith Lake is inside Flathead National Forest.

Boundaries from Public Lands DB, part of the same network.

Common questions

What fish are at Smith Lake?

Fishing Smith Lake usually means Rainbow Trout: Rainbow Trout accounts for 17 of 27 plants on record, ahead of Cutthroat Trout. Rainbow Trout was last stocked May 27, 2026, averaging 7.4 in. Cutthroat Trout was last stocked August 8, 2025, averaging 2.7 in.

When is Smith Lake stocked?

Last stocked May 27, 2026. It is stocked about 1.7 times a year since 2011, most often in May and August. No plants recorded in 2018.

How big are the fish stocked at Smith Lake?

Stocked fish average 5.7 in. Rainbow Trout average 7.4 in. Cutthroat Trout average 2.7 in.

Which lakes near Smith Lake were stocked more recently?

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