Yellow Water Reservoir fishing

Fishing at Yellow Water Reservoir is on a reservoir, stocked with Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout, and Tiger Muskie. It is stocked about 1.7 times a year since 2011, most often in May and June. Species guides list dawn and dusk as the active times.

Last stocked

May 22, 2026

Plants on record

27

Since 2011

Species recorded

3

Average size

5.5 in

Elevation

3,110.5 ft

Access and facts

Water type
reservoir
Nearest town
Winnett

Yellow Water Reservoir is a Montana DNRC-owned irrigation reservoir (dam built 1938) within War Horse National Wildlife Refuge's Yellow Water Unit near Winnett. Water levels fluctuate greatly with irrigation draws; the State occasionally stocks rainbow trout.

Sources: water_type , shore_notes , nearest_town

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How Yellow Water Reservoir is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the fourth week of May. In 2026 it was May 22, 2026, about when it usually is.

No plants recorded in 2015.

Fish at Yellow Water Reservoir

Fishing Yellow Water Reservoir is most likely to be for Rainbow Trout. Rainbow Trout accounts for 24 of 27 plants on record, ahead of Tiger Muskie and one more.

Around the dates Yellow Water Reservoir is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 55.7°F in May, 65.9°F in June, 44.2°F in April, 74.8°F in July. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo

Rainbow Trout 24 plants
Plants
24 of 27
Last stocked
May 22, 2026
Average length
5.4 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Rainbow Trout guide.

Tiger Muskie 2 plants
Plants
2 of 27
Last stocked
July 14, 2020
Average length
7.4 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Tiger Muskie guide.

Cutthroat Trout 1 plant
Plants
1 of 27
Last stocked
November 12, 2013
Average length
2.6 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Cutthroat Trout guide.

Fish stocked per year

  • 22,8832011
  • 11,0132012
  • 21,2162013
  • 16,0272014
  • 1,0052016
  • 1,0002017
  • 1,0022018
  • 2,5012019
  • 1,7702020
  • 1,0022021
  • 1,0302022
  • 9,8322023
  • 1,0062024
  • 5,2832025
  • 5,0402026

Stocking history

Showing 15 of 27 plants Showing 27 plants

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
May 22, 2026 Rainbow Trout 5,040 4.21 in report
June 5, 2025 Rainbow Trout 5,283 4.99 in report
May 28, 2024 Rainbow Trout 1,006 4.51 in report
May 24, 2023 Rainbow Trout 3,023 4.43 in report
May 9, 2023 Rainbow Trout 6,809 7.52 in report
June 10, 2022 Rainbow Trout 1,030 4.45 in report
June 2, 2021 Rainbow Trout 1,002 5.16 in report
July 14, 2020 Tiger Muskie 769 11.08 in report
June 10, 2020 Rainbow Trout 1,001 4.4 in report
June 13, 2019 Tiger Muskie 1,500 3.71 in report
May 31, 2019 Rainbow Trout 1,001 4.5 in report
May 16, 2018 Rainbow Trout 1,002 4.2 in report
May 23, 2017 Rainbow Trout 1,000 4.19 in report
May 4, 2016 Rainbow Trout 1,005 4.87 in report
May 21, 2014 Rainbow Trout 15,027 4.05 in report
May 1, 2014 Rainbow Trout 1,000 7.23 in report
November 12, 2013 Cutthroat Trout 10,187 2.57 in report
June 21, 2013 Rainbow Trout 1,029 8.98 in report
June 21, 2013 Rainbow Trout 10,000 4.78 in report
April 23, 2012 Rainbow Trout 1,018 7.24 in report
April 23, 2012 Rainbow Trout 9,995 3.5 in report
July 8, 2011 Rainbow Trout 3,629 3.6 in report
June 17, 2011 Rainbow Trout 3,410 7.85 in report
June 17, 2011 Rainbow Trout 3,146 7.85 in report
June 16, 2011 Rainbow Trout 2,640 7.85 in report
May 19, 2011 Rainbow Trout 9,543 4.9 in report
May 19, 2011 Rainbow Trout 515 4.86 in report
Show 12 more plants Show less

Species stocked here

Depth-by-season, top lures, and bait notes for each species stocked here are on its own species guide, linked above.

Nearest lakes