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Stocking schedule by species

Rainbow Trout stocking schedule — all states.

  • Oncorhynchus mykiss
  • Put and Take
  • Put and Grow
  • Trophy
  • Stocking Now

Newly stocked rainbows school tightly near stocking points for the first 24–48 hours and feed aggressively on hatchery pellets and small invertebrates. They disperse downstream within a week, holding in current breaks and pool tail-outs. Survival is generally short in put-and-take waters — fish above 70°F summer water temperatures rarely make it through the season.

National calendar

Typical rainbow trout stocking calendar.

Across the 47 states that stock rainbow trout, the typical stocking months are below. Specific dates and waters vary by state — consult each agency report.

JanJan — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesFebFeb — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesMarMar — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesAprApr — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesMayMay — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesJunJun — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesJulJul — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesAugAug — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesSepSep — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesOctOct — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesNovNov — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesDecDec — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inches
Typical stocking size9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inches
Stocking water temperature38–65°F

Targeting

Newly-stocked rainbow trout.

Stocked rainbows hit small spinners, PowerBait, and live worms in the first week. After they disperse, switch to small nymphs, scuds, and egg patterns drifted naturally through structure. Trophy stocked fish in Delayed Harvest waters key on streamers and large dry flies more than freshly-released bait.

streamstailwatersriverspondsreservoirs

States

That stock rainbow trout.

12 states have notable rainbow trout stocking programs. Click through for the state-specific schedule and official agency report.

Rainbow Trout stocking alerts — your home water.

Bield Fish parses agency stocking reports across states and pushes alerts when rainbow trout hit your saved waters.

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