Cutthroat Trout Stocked · 17 plants · last August 12, 2024 Last stocked August 12, 2024 · avg 2.5 in · 17 plants
Cutthroat Trout species guideSunburst Lake fishing
Sunburst Lake fishing has Cutthroat Trout on the stocking report. It is stocked about 2.4 times a year since 2018, most often in August and October.
- Last stocked
- August 12, 2024
- · Cutthroat Trout
- Plants on record
- 17
- Since 2018
- Species recorded
- 1
- Average size
- 2.5 in
- Elevation
- 5,316.9 ft
Fish at Sunburst Lake
Around the dates Sunburst Lake is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 61.6°F in August, 37°F in October. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo
Cutthroat Trout Stocked · 17 plants · last August 12, 2024 Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks re-stocked Sunburst Lake with westslope cutthroat trout, which are native to the drainage. (hungryhorsenews.com, accessed October 5, 2026)(flatheadbeacon.com, accessed October 5, 2026)
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
How Sunburst Lake is stocked
Van Lake (7.8 mi), Shay Lake (10.9 mi), Fran Lake (14.1 mi), and Russ Lake (14.3 mi) were stocked more recently. Russ Lake is also stocked with Cutthroat Trout.
Fish stocked in 2018
17,789
Fish stocked in 2019
26,208
Fish stocked in 2020
44,814
Fish stocked in 2021
24,586
Fish stocked in 2022
11,000
Fish stocked in 2023
24,134
Fish stocked in 2024
6,330
Stocking history
| Date | Species | Quantity | Avg. length | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 12, 2024 | Cutthroat Trout | 6,330 | 1.49 in | report |
| October 6, 2023 | Cutthroat Trout | 24,134 | 1.98 in | report |
| August 19, 2022 | Cutthroat Trout | 11,000 | 2 in | report |
| October 16, 2021 | Cutthroat Trout | 24,586 | 2 in | report |
| October 3, 2020 | Cutthroat Trout | 14,938 | 2 in | report |
| October 3, 2020 | Cutthroat Trout | 14,938 | 2 in | report |
| October 3, 2020 | Cutthroat Trout | 14,938 | 2 in | report |
| August 19, 2019 | Cutthroat Trout | 8,881 | 1.12 in | report |
| August 19, 2019 | Cutthroat Trout | 10,193 | 1.23 in | report |
| August 19, 2019 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,132 | 1.6 in | report |
| August 19, 2019 | Cutthroat Trout | 3,963 | 1.42 in | report |
| August 19, 2019 | Cutthroat Trout | 2,039 | 11.37 in | report |
| August 23, 2018 | Cutthroat Trout | 4,590 | 1.7 in | report |
| August 23, 2018 | Cutthroat Trout | 3,220 | 1.85 in | report |
| August 23, 2018 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,626 | 5.3 in | report |
| August 23, 2018 | Cutthroat Trout | 3,203 | 2.25 in | report |
| August 23, 2018 | Cutthroat Trout | 5,150 | 2 in | report |
Access and facts
A 148-acre lake in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, at the head of Gorge Creek at the base of Swan Mountain in the South Fork Flathead drainage, near Spotted Bear.
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.
About Sunburst Lake
Sunburst Lake is situated in a high elevation basin. Stocking occurs after the lake thaws out, which is likely in July. (hungryhorsenews.com, accessed October 5, 2026)
According to Matt Boyer, the state’s lead biologist for the project, the effort to restore genetically pure westslope cutthroat populations in lakes like Sunburst Lake has proven to be biologically successful. (flatheadbeacon.com, accessed October 5, 2026)
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
Nearest lakes
Public land at Sunburst Lake
Sunburst Lake is inside Bob Marshall Wilderness and Flathead National Forest.
Boundaries from Public Lands DB, part of the same network.
Common questions
What fish are at Sunburst Lake?
Fishing Sunburst Lake usually means Cutthroat Trout. All 17 plants on record are Cutthroat Trout. Cutthroat Trout was last stocked August 12, 2024, averaging 2.5 in.
When is Sunburst Lake stocked?
Last stocked August 12, 2024. It is stocked about 2.4 times a year since 2018, most often in August and October.
How big are the fish stocked at Sunburst Lake?
Cutthroat Trout stocked at Sunburst Lake average 2.5 in.
How do you get on Sunburst Lake?
A 148-acre lake in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, at the head of Gorge Creek at the base of Swan Mountain in the South Fork Flathead drainage, near Spotted Bear.
Which lakes near Sunburst Lake were stocked more recently?
Van Lake (7.8 mi), Shay Lake (10.9 mi), Fran Lake (14.1 mi), and Russ Lake (14.3 mi) were stocked more recently. Russ Lake is also stocked with Cutthroat Trout.