Rainbow Trout Stocked · 24 plants · last May 22, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk Yellow Water Reservoir fishing
Yellow Water Reservoir fishing is stocked with Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout, and Tiger Muskie on a reservoir. Also recorded: Walleye, Yellow Perch, Common Carp, White Sucker, and Longnose Sucker. It is stocked about 1.7 times a year since 2011, most often in May and June. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout and Common Carp, dawn, dusk, and night for Walleye, and dawn, day, and dusk for Yellow Perch.
- Last stocked
- May 22, 2026
- · Rainbow Trout
- Plants on record
- 27
- Since 2011
- Species stocked
- 3 (+5 also recorded)
- Average size
- 5.5 in
- Elevation
- 3,110.5 ft
Fish at Yellow Water Reservoir
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 Stocked · 24 plants · last May 22, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk 
Tiger Muskie Stocked · 2 plants · last July 14, 2020 Last stocked July 14, 2020 · avg 7.4 in · 2 plants
Tiger Muskie species guide
Cutthroat Trout Stocked · 1 plant · last November 12, 2013 Last stocked November 12, 2013 · avg 2.6 in · 1 plant
Cutthroat Trout species guide
Walleye Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk, night Best: dawn, dusk, night
Walleye species guide
Yellow Perch Confirmed present Best: dawn, day, dusk Best: dawn, day, dusk
Yellow Perch species guide
Common Carp Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk Best: dawn, dusk
Common Carp species guide White Sucker Confirmed present
Longnose Sucker Confirmed present
How Yellow Water Reservoir is stocked
No plants recorded in 2015.
Fish stocked in 2011
22,883
Fish stocked in 2012
11,013
Fish stocked in 2013
21,216
Fish stocked in 2014
16,027
Fish stocked in 2016
1,005
Fish stocked in 2017
1,000
Fish stocked in 2018
1,002
Fish stocked in 2019
2,501
Fish stocked in 2020
1,770
Fish stocked in 2021
1,002
Fish stocked in 2022
1,030
Fish stocked in 2023
9,832
Fish stocked in 2024
1,006
Fish stocked in 2025
5,283
Fish stocked in 2026
5,040
Stocking history
| 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 |
Access and facts
- Water type
- reservoir
- Nearest town
- Winnett
DNRC irrigation reservoir (dam built 1938) in War Horse NWR's Yellow Water Unit. From Winnett go south on Hwy 244 6.8 mi, right on Yellow Water Road 5.3 mi, then left on a trail; the water is 0.5 mi south of the road. A small-craft launch site is at the east end. Levels swing with irrigation.
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.
Nearest lakes
Common questions
What fish are at Yellow Water Reservoir?
Fishing Yellow Water Reservoir usually means Rainbow Trout: Rainbow Trout accounts for 24 of 27 plants on record, ahead of Tiger Muskie and one more. Rainbow Trout was last stocked May 22, 2026, averaging 5.4 in. Tiger Muskie was last stocked July 14, 2020, averaging 7.4 in. Cutthroat Trout was last stocked November 12, 2013, averaging 2.6 in. Walleye, Yellow Perch, Common Carp, and White Sucker, plus 1 more are recorded here outside the stocking reports.
When is Yellow Water Reservoir stocked?
Last stocked May 22, 2026. It is stocked about 1.7 times a year since 2011, most often in May and June. No plants recorded in 2015.
How big are the fish stocked at Yellow Water Reservoir?
Stocked fish average 5.5 in. Rainbow Trout average 5.4 in. Tiger Muskie average 7.4 in. Cutthroat Trout average 2.6 in.
How do you get on Yellow Water Reservoir?
The nearest town is Winnett. DNRC irrigation reservoir (dam built 1938) in War Horse NWR's Yellow Water Unit. From Winnett go south on Hwy 244 6.8 mi, right on Yellow Water Road 5.3 mi, then left on a trail; the water is 0.5 mi south of the road. A small-craft launch site is at the east end. Levels swing with irrigation.
Which lakes near Yellow Water Reservoir were stocked more recently?
Petrolia Reservoir (11.6 mi) and Hansen Reservoir (40.7 mi) were stocked more recently. Petrolia Reservoir is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Hansen Reservoir is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Cutthroat Trout.