Van Lake
Rainbow trout water; 3 stockings on the 2026 record.
Montana · see it on the national map
3
stockings 2026
Jun 10
last stocked
6,008
fish reported
55
acres (NHD)
The year here
stocked last 7 days announced ahead · tap a tick for details
What swims here
Rainbow trout
Stocking record 2026
| Date | Species | Size | Fish | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 22 | Rainbow trout | 30 | completed | |
| May 22 | Rainbow trout | 980 | completed | |
| Jun 10 | Rainbow trout | 4,998 | completed |
Gear for this water
It has been a while since the trucks came. The holdovers have spread out and wised up; downsize and fish natural.
For the trout (rainbow trout stocked 3 times here in 2026, stillwater)
| Small crankbaits | trout-pattern cranks trolled or slow-retrieved off points |
| Slip bobber and jig | 1/32 oz marabou jig or waxworm suspended at cruising depth |
| Ultralight spinning rod | 6 to 7 ft ultralight, 4 lb line; long casts from the bank |
Suggestions follow from what the state actually stocks here and what kind of water it is, nothing else. No sponsored placements.
Nearby stocked waters
The closest waters with stocking pages of their own, straight-line miles from this one.
| Water | Distance | Most recent |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Mary Ronan | 33 mi | Jun 16 |
| Harpers Lake | 50 mi | Jun 19 |
| Frenchtown Pond | 52 mi | Jun 5 |
| Lake Five | 54 mi | May 8 |
| Mcgregor Lake | 54 mi | May 19 |
Records from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
(official page). Placement from USGS GNIS
and the National Hydrography Dataset. Schedules change without notice.
Seasons, limits, and licenses:
Montana fishing
regulations.