Van Lake fishing

Van Lake fishing has Rainbow Trout on the stocking report. Also recorded: Redside Shiner. It is stocked about 2.8 times a year since 2011, most often in May and June. Species guides list dawn and dusk as the active times.

AI-generated illustration, not a photo of this lake
Last stocked
July 1, 2026
· Rainbow Trout
Plants on record
45
Since 2011
Species stocked
1 (+1 also recorded)
Average size
9.6 in
Elevation
3,640.2 ft

Fish at Van Lake

1 stocked · 1 confirmed present

Rainbow Trout Stocked · 45 plants · last July 1, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked July 1, 2026 · avg 9.6 in · 45 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide

How Van Lake is stocked

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

Fish stocked in 2011

5,214

Fish stocked in 2012

5,607

Fish stocked in 2013

5,612

Fish stocked in 2014

5,088

Fish stocked in 2015

5,603

Fish stocked in 2016

7,649

Fish stocked in 2017

5,100

Fish stocked in 2018

5,150

Fish stocked in 2019

5,100

Fish stocked in 2020

11,459

Fish stocked in 2021

5,848

Fish stocked in 2022

6,069

Fish stocked in 2023

7,145

Fish stocked in 2024

6,077

Fish stocked in 2025

2,156

Fish stocked in 2026

7,997

Stocking history

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
July 1, 2026Rainbow Trout1,9894.77 inreport
June 10, 2026Rainbow Trout4,9983.9 inreport
May 22, 2026Rainbow Trout3016.3 inreport
May 22, 2026Rainbow Trout9808.61 inreport
June 30, 2025Rainbow Trout1,0198.14 inreport
April 24, 2025Rainbow Trout1,1027.42 inreport
April 24, 2025Rainbow Trout3515.83 inreport
June 5, 2024Rainbow Trout5,0003.57 inreport
May 23, 2024Rainbow Trout3515.3 inreport
May 23, 2024Rainbow Trout1,0427.83 inreport
September 12, 2023Rainbow Trout6,0034.94 inreport
July 6, 2023Rainbow Trout3516.44 inreport
May 31, 2023Rainbow Trout1,1077.41 inreport
September 26, 2022Rainbow Trout3519.08 inreport
June 30, 2022Rainbow Trout5,0003.75 inreport
April 28, 2022Rainbow Trout1,0347.13 inreport
September 28, 2021Rainbow Trout20417.03 inreport
June 3, 2021Rainbow Trout4,7443.28 inreport
May 10, 2021Rainbow Trout9008.67 inreport
July 14, 2020Rainbow Trout2,4334.08 inreport
May 21, 2020Rainbow Trout5017.16 inreport
May 21, 2020Rainbow Trout47610.17 inreport
April 29, 2020Rainbow Trout8,5003.53 inreport
July 10, 2019Rainbow Trout5,0003.39 inreport
June 19, 2019Rainbow Trout10011.26 inreport
June 12, 2018Rainbow Trout5,0003.8 inreport
June 7, 2018Rainbow Trout5016.78 inreport
June 7, 2018Rainbow Trout10011.04 inreport
July 18, 2017Rainbow Trout10012.19 inreport
June 22, 2017Rainbow Trout5,0004.07 inreport
September 26, 2016Rainbow Trout2,5404.97 inreport
June 16, 2016Rainbow Trout4,9593.77 inreport
May 4, 2016Rainbow Trout10011.65 inreport
May 4, 2016Rainbow Trout5018.02 inreport
May 7, 2015Rainbow Trout5,4783.82 inreport
May 7, 2015Rainbow Trout12510.53 inreport
June 25, 2014Rainbow Trout8823.7 inreport
May 28, 2014Rainbow Trout5,0003.62 inreport
June 18, 2013Rainbow Trout10212.52 inreport
June 18, 2013Rainbow Trout1029.16 inreport
May 21, 2013Rainbow Trout5,5004.02 inreport
July 10, 2012Rainbow Trout4,6313.75 inreport
July 10, 2012Rainbow Trout8764.62 inreport
June 5, 2012Rainbow Trout10018 inreport
May 18, 2011Rainbow Trout5,2144.19 inreport

Access and facts

Boat ramp
No

A 55 to 57-acre Swan Valley lake at about 3,640 feet with access listed by FWP as DNRC and Plum Creek land. Reach it by Van Lake Road (#9882) to Road #558; the road is rough and needs a high-clearance vehicle. There is no defined boat ramp, and FWP rates shoreline fishing difficult.

Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.

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

Nearest lakes

Shay Lake 3.2 mi last stocked June 24, 2025 Sunburst Lake 7.8 mi last stocked August 12, 2024 Fran Lake 9.2 mi last stocked July 1, 2026 Russ Lake 9.4 mi last stocked July 1, 2026 Woodward Lake 17.6 mi last stocked August 11, 2020

Public land at Van Lake

Van Lake is 0.1 miles outside the edge of Flathead National Forest.

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

Common questions

What fish are at Van Lake?

Fishing Van Lake usually means Rainbow Trout. All 45 plants on record are Rainbow Trout. Rainbow Trout was last stocked July 1, 2026, averaging 9.6 in. Redside Shiner is recorded here outside the stocking reports.

When is Van Lake stocked?

Last stocked July 1, 2026. It is stocked about 2.8 times a year since 2011, most often in May and June.

How big are the fish stocked at Van Lake?

Rainbow Trout stocked at Van Lake average 9.6 in.

How do you get on Van Lake?

There is no boat ramp. A 55 to 57-acre Swan Valley lake at about 3,640 feet with access listed by FWP as DNRC and Plum Creek land. Reach it by Van Lake Road (#9882) to Road #558; the road is rough and needs a high-clearance vehicle. There is no defined boat ramp, and FWP rates shoreline fishing difficult.

Sources (4) +