Willow Creek Reservoir fishing

Willow Creek Reservoir fishing is stocked with Rainbow Trout, Kokanee Salmon, and Tiger Muskie on a reservoir. Also recorded: Brown Trout. It is stocked about 5.5 times a year since 2011, most often in June and September. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout and Kokanee Salmon and dawn, day, and dusk for Brown Trout.

AI-generated illustration, not a photo of this lake
Last stocked
July 13, 2026
· Rainbow Trout
Plants on record
88
Since 2011
Species stocked
3 (+1 also recorded)
Average size
5.2 in
Elevation
4,397.4 ft

Fish at Willow Creek Reservoir

3 stocked · 1 confirmed present

Around the dates Willow Creek Reservoir is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 58.9°F in June, 57.1°F in September, 50.1°F in May, 42.7°F in October. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo

Rainbow Trout Stocked · 76 plants · last July 13, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked July 13, 2026 · avg 5.4 in · 76 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide
Kokanee Salmon Stocked · 7 plants · last April 29, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked April 29, 2026 · avg 3 in · 7 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Kokanee Salmon species guide
Tiger Muskie Stocked · 5 plants · last October 26, 2022

Last stocked October 26, 2022 · avg 4.7 in · 5 plants

Tiger Muskie species guide

The reservoir contains five species of fish, including rainbow trout, brook trout, tiger muskie, brook stickleback, and white sucker for those fishing. (en.wikipedia.org, accessed September 22, 2026)

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

How Willow Creek Reservoir is stocked

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

Crystal Lake (18 mi) was stocked more recently. Crystal Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Kokanee Salmon.

Fish stocked in 2011

75,269

Fish stocked in 2012

100,575

Fish stocked in 2013

149,114

Fish stocked in 2014

247,867

Fish stocked in 2015

138,007

Fish stocked in 2016

89,607

Fish stocked in 2017

121,719

Fish stocked in 2018

121,460

Fish stocked in 2019

57,361

Fish stocked in 2020

89,266

Fish stocked in 2021

123,452

Fish stocked in 2022

94,651

Fish stocked in 2023

140,684

Fish stocked in 2024

94,365

Fish stocked in 2025

123,992

Fish stocked in 2026

161,773

Stocking history

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
July 13, 2026Rainbow Trout34,6294.63 inreport
June 15, 2026Rainbow Trout31,9403.4 inreport
June 1, 2026Rainbow Trout7,3065.5 inreport
June 1, 2026Rainbow Trout37,8985.5 inreport
May 28, 2026Rainbow Trout20,0005.46 inreport
May 28, 2026Rainbow Trout20,0005.52 inreport
April 29, 2026Kokanee Salmon10,0003.39 inreport
June 23, 2025Rainbow Trout10,7483.7 inreport
June 23, 2025Rainbow Trout22,1853.7 inreport
June 19, 2025Rainbow Trout20,7353.86 inreport
June 2, 2025Rainbow Trout30,1625.54 inreport
June 2, 2025Rainbow Trout30,1625.54 inreport
May 6, 2025Kokanee Salmon10,0003.42 inreport
October 16, 2024Rainbow Trout10,5047.99 inreport
October 16, 2024Rainbow Trout11,6687.56 inreport
June 17, 2024Rainbow Trout22,9564.78 inreport
June 17, 2024Rainbow Trout29,2373.55 inreport
May 13, 2024Kokanee Salmon20,0003.38 inreport
September 20, 2023Rainbow Trout12,9615.98 inreport
September 20, 2023Rainbow Trout17,4955.72 inreport
June 27, 2023Rainbow Trout15,0005.92 inreport
June 27, 2023Rainbow Trout15,0006.13 inreport
June 15, 2023Rainbow Trout27,7043.73 inreport
June 7, 2023Rainbow Trout35,2664.67 inreport
May 12, 2023Kokanee Salmon17,2583.4 inreport
October 26, 2022Tiger Muskie8008.43 inreport
September 14, 2022Rainbow Trout17,1726.01 inreport
September 14, 2022Rainbow Trout10,5705.96 inreport
June 22, 2022Rainbow Trout16,2755.77 inreport
June 22, 2022Rainbow Trout14,8465.92 inreport
June 15, 2022Rainbow Trout34,9883.18 inreport
October 7, 2021Rainbow Trout8,2407.87 inreport
October 6, 2021Rainbow Trout12,4727.46 inreport
October 6, 2021Rainbow Trout9,2887.66 inreport
June 29, 2021Rainbow Trout14,5065.36 inreport
June 28, 2021Rainbow Trout17,2556.18 inreport
June 28, 2021Rainbow Trout18,1626.13 inreport
June 23, 2021Rainbow Trout15,9875.39 inreport
June 7, 2021Rainbow Trout27,5423.51 inreport
September 23, 2020Rainbow Trout8,2056.78 inreport
September 23, 2020Rainbow Trout10,5986.78 inreport
June 23, 2020Rainbow Trout22,0173.82 inreport
June 19, 2020Rainbow Trout18,9323.41 inreport
June 9, 2020Rainbow Trout50013.29 inreport
June 9, 2020Rainbow Trout14,6285.69 inreport
June 9, 2020Rainbow Trout14,1865.69 inreport
March 31, 2020Rainbow Trout20017.71 inreport
July 8, 2019Tiger Muskie8004.93 inreport
June 18, 2019Rainbow Trout47,1503.83 inreport
June 10, 2019Rainbow Trout9,4115.65 inreport
June 28, 2018Rainbow Trout65,2763.71 inreport
June 13, 2018Rainbow Trout24,2355.27 inreport
June 13, 2018Rainbow Trout22,1405.43 inreport
June 11, 2018Rainbow Trout9,8095.7 inreport
September 20, 2017Rainbow Trout6,8057.19 inreport
September 20, 2017Rainbow Trout7,4237.19 inreport
July 18, 2017Tiger Muskie854.8 inreport
June 19, 2017Rainbow Trout5,3126.3 inreport
June 15, 2017Rainbow Trout17,7056.2 inreport
June 15, 2017Rainbow Trout46,6453.05 inreport
June 15, 2017Rainbow Trout17,7056.2 inreport
June 12, 2017Rainbow Trout20,0395.95 inreport
September 21, 2016Rainbow Trout7,2467.8 inreport
September 20, 2016Rainbow Trout7,9717.8 inreport
June 14, 2016Rainbow Trout45,4403.43 inreport
June 6, 2016Rainbow Trout19,9506.19 inreport
May 26, 2016Kokanee Salmon9,0002.25 inreport
September 23, 2015Rainbow Trout5,1927.31 inreport
September 23, 2015Rainbow Trout10,0497.59 inreport
July 15, 2015Tiger Muskie8004 inreport
June 15, 2015Rainbow Trout18,7326.08 inreport
June 11, 2015Rainbow Trout53,0822.97 inreport
May 28, 2015Tiger Muskie2,0001.25 inreport
May 27, 2015Rainbow Trout38,1354.16 inreport
May 19, 2015Kokanee Salmon10,0172.2 inreport
June 18, 2014Rainbow Trout76,0783.75 inreport
June 18, 2014Rainbow Trout76,0783.75 inreport
June 9, 2014Rainbow Trout35,6753.89 inreport
May 15, 2014Kokanee Salmon10,1162.64 inreport
April 10, 2014Rainbow Trout49,9204.48 inreport
June 18, 2013Rainbow Trout49,9013.66 inreport
June 18, 2013Rainbow Trout24,9633.79 inreport
April 29, 2013Rainbow Trout74,2502.72 inreport
September 25, 2012Rainbow Trout23,8002.07 inreport
June 21, 2012Rainbow Trout31,7753.42 inreport
June 4, 2012Rainbow Trout45,0002.8 inreport
June 15, 2011Rainbow Trout30,2693.26 inreport
June 14, 2011Rainbow Trout45,0003 inreport

Access and facts

Water type
reservoir
Nearest town
Augusta
Boat ramp
Yes
Facilities
camping, restrooms

Willow Creek Reservoir and its dam were built as part of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Sun River Project, about 7 miles northwest of Augusta on Gibson Reservoir Road. Drawn down for irrigation with seasonally fluctuating levels; a concrete boat ramp and camping shelters are on site.

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.

About Willow Creek Reservoir

Anglers should be aware that ice fishing at Willow Creek Reservoir can be affected by conditions, as events have been canceled due to inclement weather and a lack of ice on the reservoir. (en.wikipedia.org, accessed September 22, 2026)

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

Nearest lakes

Nilan Reservoir 10.3 mi last stocked May 26, 2026 Clemons Coulee Reservoir 13 mi last stocked June 17, 2026 Wood Lake 13.5 mi last stocked May 21, 2026 Crystal Lake 18 mi last stocked September 4, 2026 Tunnel Lake 21 mi last stocked May 21, 2026

Common questions

What fish are at Willow Creek Reservoir?

Fishing Willow Creek Reservoir usually means Rainbow Trout: Rainbow Trout accounts for 76 of 88 plants on record, ahead of Kokanee Salmon and one more. Rainbow Trout was last stocked July 13, 2026, averaging 5.4 in. Kokanee Salmon was last stocked April 29, 2026, averaging 3 in. Tiger Muskie was last stocked October 26, 2022, averaging 4.7 in. Brown Trout is recorded here outside the stocking reports.

When is Willow Creek Reservoir stocked?

Last stocked July 13, 2026. It is stocked about 5.5 times a year since 2011, most often in June and September.

How big are the fish stocked at Willow Creek Reservoir?

Stocked fish average 5.2 in. Rainbow Trout average 5.4 in. Kokanee Salmon average 3 in. Tiger Muskie average 4.7 in.

How do you get on Willow Creek Reservoir?

There is a boat ramp. The nearest town is Augusta. Facilities include camping and restrooms. Willow Creek Reservoir and its dam were built as part of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Sun River Project, about 7 miles northwest of Augusta on Gibson Reservoir Road. Drawn down for irrigation with seasonally fluctuating levels; a concrete boat ramp and camping shelters are on site.

Which lakes near Willow Creek Reservoir were stocked more recently?

Crystal Lake (18 mi) was stocked more recently. Crystal Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Kokanee Salmon.

Sources (2) +