Wild Bill Lake fishing

Wild Bill Lake fishing has Rainbow Trout on the stocking report. Also recorded: Brook Trout. It is stocked about 4.2 times a year since 2011, most often in June and August. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout and dawn, day, and dusk for Brook Trout.

AI-generated illustration, not a photo of this lake
Last stocked
August 24, 2026
· Rainbow Trout
Plants on record
67
Since 2011
Species stocked
1 (+1 also recorded)
Average size
8.8 in
Elevation
6,745.5 ft

Fish at Wild Bill Lake

1 stocked · 1 confirmed present

Rainbow Trout Stocked · 67 plants · last August 24, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked August 24, 2026 · avg 8.8 in · 67 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide

Wild Bill Lake is a barrier-free fishing lake in Carbon County, Montana. This 3-acre lake is located six miles southwest of Red Lodge, in the United States. It is part of the Custer Gallatin National Forest and is regularly stocked with rainbow trout. (en.wikipedia.org, accessed September 22, 2026)

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

How Wild Bill Lake is stocked

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

Greenough Lake (7.6 mi) was stocked more recently. Greenough Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout.

Fish stocked in 2011

5,839

Fish stocked in 2012

6,234

Fish stocked in 2013

6,050

Fish stocked in 2014

6,134

Fish stocked in 2015

6,017

Fish stocked in 2016

6,013

Fish stocked in 2017

6,039

Fish stocked in 2018

5,382

Fish stocked in 2019

6,030

Fish stocked in 2020

3,955

Fish stocked in 2021

6,042

Fish stocked in 2022

1,500

Fish stocked in 2023

6,346

Fish stocked in 2024

3,071

Fish stocked in 2025

6,028

Fish stocked in 2026

6,015

Stocking history

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
August 24, 2026Rainbow Trout1,49910.41 inreport
June 8, 2026Rainbow Trout1,5018.5 inreport
June 8, 2026Rainbow Trout1,5018.5 inreport
May 11, 2026Rainbow Trout1,5146.68 inreport
August 25, 2025Rainbow Trout75411.7 inreport
August 25, 2025Rainbow Trout75411.7 inreport
August 6, 2025Rainbow Trout1,00010.51 inreport
August 6, 2025Rainbow Trout52012.1 inreport
June 9, 2025Rainbow Trout1,5008.9 inreport
May 13, 2025Rainbow Trout1,5009.41 inreport
June 21, 2024Rainbow Trout39012.7 inreport
June 21, 2024Rainbow Trout1,2107.73 inreport
May 30, 2024Rainbow Trout1,4719.06 inreport
September 8, 2023Rainbow Trout1,5008.42 inreport
August 14, 2023Rainbow Trout1,1507.42 inreport
August 14, 2023Rainbow Trout50010.19 inreport
June 15, 2023Rainbow Trout1,6927.91 inreport
May 29, 2023Rainbow Trout1,5048.52 inreport
May 24, 2022Rainbow Trout1,5007.58 inreport
September 7, 2021Rainbow Trout1,5058.15 inreport
August 18, 2021Rainbow Trout1,5007.59 inreport
June 24, 2021Rainbow Trout1,5367.69 inreport
May 7, 2021Rainbow Trout1,5016.65 inreport
September 9, 2020Rainbow Trout7637.71 inreport
June 15, 2020Rainbow Trout10013.48 inreport
June 15, 2020Rainbow Trout1,5018.12 inreport
May 11, 2020Rainbow Trout1,4917.54 inreport
May 11, 2020Rainbow Trout10012.57 inreport
August 12, 2019Rainbow Trout1,5007.56 inreport
August 12, 2019Rainbow Trout309.68 inreport
July 11, 2019Rainbow Trout1,5007.16 inreport
June 4, 2019Rainbow Trout1,5008.2 inreport
May 16, 2019Rainbow Trout1,5007.3 inreport
August 28, 2018Rainbow Trout1,6077.4 inreport
July 27, 2018Rainbow Trout1,5137.69 inreport
June 18, 2018Rainbow Trout1,5107.03 inreport
May 17, 2018Rainbow Trout7527.32 inreport
August 25, 2017Rainbow Trout1,49810.32 inreport
July 20, 2017Rainbow Trout1,5118.52 inreport
June 9, 2017Rainbow Trout1,5308.3 inreport
May 3, 2017Rainbow Trout1,5006.93 inreport
August 17, 2016Rainbow Trout1,49410.12 inreport
July 22, 2016Rainbow Trout1,5139.19 inreport
June 22, 2016Rainbow Trout1,5047.75 inreport
April 21, 2016Rainbow Trout1,5028.19 inreport
August 20, 2015Rainbow Trout9559.02 inreport
August 20, 2015Rainbow Trout5469.71 inreport
July 21, 2015Rainbow Trout1,5008.37 inreport
June 24, 2015Rainbow Trout1,5187.13 inreport
May 6, 2015Rainbow Trout1,4987.47 inreport
August 21, 2014Rainbow Trout1,5108.09 inreport
July 22, 2014Rainbow Trout1,5038.27 inreport
June 26, 2014Rainbow Trout1,5037.61 inreport
May 21, 2014Rainbow Trout1,6188.07 inreport
August 20, 2013Rainbow Trout1,50610.12 inreport
July 22, 2013Rainbow Trout1,5018.94 inreport
June 26, 2013Rainbow Trout1,5217.53 inreport
May 6, 2013Rainbow Trout1,5227.85 inreport
August 20, 2012Rainbow Trout1,5228.97 inreport
July 24, 2012Rainbow Trout1,50210.04 inreport
June 28, 2012Rainbow Trout20312.16 inreport
June 28, 2012Rainbow Trout1,3609.02 inreport
May 8, 2012Rainbow Trout1,6479.58 inreport
August 10, 2011Rainbow Trout1,5058.79 inreport
July 18, 2011Rainbow Trout1,5008.54 inreport
June 21, 2011Rainbow Trout1,5027.36 inreport
May 20, 2011Rainbow Trout1,3328.77 inreport

Access and facts

Nearest town
Red Lodge
Shore access
Yes
ADA accessible
Yes
Fee required
No
Facilities
restrooms, dock

Off West Fork Rock Creek Road about 6 miles southwest of Red Lodge. The 0.4-mile Wild Bill National Recreation Trail circles the lake, with hard-surfaced paths on about half of it, two wheelchair-accessible fishing decks, accessible picnic tables and toilets. Day use only, no fee.

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

View larger map · Open in Google Maps · Directions

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

Nearest lakes

Greenough Lake 7.6 mi last stocked August 25, 2026 Moon Lake 11.5 mi last stocked August 1, 2023 Glacier Lake 13.3 mi last stocked August 4, 2025 East Rosebud Lake 13.6 mi last stocked June 18, 2025 Albino Lake 14.2 mi last stocked August 5, 2025

Camping near Wild Bill Lake

Campgrounds within 15 miles of Wild Bill Lake's mapped point, nearest first: Cascade camping (4.1 miles), Sheridan camping (5 miles), Rattin camping (5.3 miles), Parkside camping (6.9 miles), and Limber Pine camping (7.1 miles), each with its own campground page on campgroundsdb.com.

Straight-line distances.

Public land at Wild Bill Lake

Wild Bill Lake is inside Custer Gallatin National Forest.

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

Common questions

What fish are at Wild Bill Lake?

Fishing Wild Bill Lake usually means Rainbow Trout. All 67 plants on record are Rainbow Trout. Rainbow Trout was last stocked August 24, 2026, averaging 8.8 in. Brook Trout is recorded here outside the stocking reports.

When is Wild Bill Lake stocked?

Last stocked August 24, 2026. It is stocked about 4.2 times a year since 2011, most often in June and August.

How big are the fish stocked at Wild Bill Lake?

Rainbow Trout stocked at Wild Bill Lake average 8.8 in.

How do you get on Wild Bill Lake?

Shore fishing is available, it is ADA accessible, and no fee is required. The nearest town is Red Lodge. Facilities include restrooms and dock. Off West Fork Rock Creek Road about 6 miles southwest of Red Lodge. The 0.4-mile Wild Bill National Recreation Trail circles the lake, with hard-surfaced paths on about half of it, two wheelchair-accessible fishing decks, accessible picnic tables and toilets. Day use only, no fee.

Which lakes near Wild Bill Lake were stocked more recently?

Greenough Lake (7.6 mi) was stocked more recently. Greenough Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout.

Sources (2) +