Lake guide
Lake Fish Stocking
How many fish to stock, which species work together, and what each one needs, for private lakes in Idaho, Oregon and western Wyoming.
The basics
Water temperature determines species
Stocking rates are set per surface acre, but the right fish depend first on how warm your lake gets in late summer. Lakes that stay cool suit trout. Warmer lakes suit bass, bluegill and catfish.
Size, depth and what your state allows at your location narrow it down from there. A late summer temperature and oxygen profile answers the first question. See water quality monitoring.
At a glance
- Cold lakesSterile rainbow trout
- Warm lakesBluegill and bass, 10 to 1
- Small fed watersChannel catfish or hybrid sunfish
- NeverCommon carp
How many
Stocking rates per surface acre
| Combination | Fits | Stock per surface acre |
|---|---|---|
| Sterile rainbow trout | Lakes that stay under about 70 °F all summer, or deep, spring fed water | 100 to 200 fall fingerlings at 5 to 6 inches, or 200 to 400 spring fingerlings at 2 to 3 inches. Restock every year or two. |
| Largemouth bass and bluegill | Warm lakes about 1 acre and larger | 500 bluegill fingerlings in fall, then 50 bass fingerlings the next spring. Optional: 3 pounds of fathead minnows with the bluegill. |
| Bass, bluegill and channel catfish | The same lakes, with catfish added for anglers | The rates above plus 50 channel catfish. Restock catfish at 8 to 10 inches so bass cannot eat them. |
| Channel catfish | Small waters under about 1 acre, where the owner feeds | 100 to 150 catfish at 8 to 10 inches, plus up to 25 bass to eat catfish young. |
| Hybrid sunfish and bass | Small fed waters up to about 3 acres | 750 hybrid sunfish and 50 bass, fed a pellet ration. |
These are starting rates from university extension guides. Fertile water can carry more and cold, clear water often less. In many parts of Idaho only sterile rainbow trout or native cutthroat trout may be stocked, and Oregon rarely approves bass, bluegill or catfish near waters with native fish.
What they need
The fish we stock in this region
These are the fish that are normal to stock in private lakes in Idaho, Oregon and western Wyoming. Each one needs the right temperature, food and cover to do well.
Full profiles and state by state status are in the Fish Species Guide.
- Sterile rainbow trout
- Cold, oxygen rich water. Best growth at 50 to 55 °F, stressed above 70 °F. Rarely spawns in still water, so it is restocked.
- Largemouth bass
- Warm summer water in the 70s and 80s °F. Spawns in spring at about 60 to 70 °F and needs small fish to eat.
- Bluegill
- Warm water. Spawns several times a summer and overpopulates with small fish when there are too few bass.
- Channel catfish
- Feeds between about 45 and 90 °F and takes pellet feed. Rarely reproduces where bass are present.
- Hybrid sunfish
- Warm water. Mostly male, so it reproduces far less than bluegill and grows larger on feed.
- Fathead minnow
- Tolerates a wide range of water. Spawns all summer under logs and rocks, and bass eat them out within a few years.
Combinations
Compatible and incompatible species combinations
Work well
- Bass with bluegill. Bass eat young bluegill, which keeps bluegill from crowding the lake and staying small.
- Catfish with bass and bluegill. Adds a fish anglers like without upsetting the balance.
- Fathead minnows ahead of bass. Gives young bass something to eat in their first year.
- Trout on their own. Trout do best without other species competing for food.
Avoid
- Trout with bass or sunfish. Bass eat stocked trout, and water warm enough for bass is too warm for trout.
- Bluegill without bass. They fill the lake with small, stunted fish.
- Crappie or yellow perch in smaller lakes. Both overpopulate and stunt, and are best left to lakes over about 10 acres.
- Fish from another lake or a bait shop. They can carry disease and unwanted species. Stock only hatchery fish your state approves.
Never stock
Why we don’t stock common carp
Common carp feed by rooting through the bottom. That stirs up muck, clouds the water and releases phosphorus that was buried in the sediment, which feeds algae. Cloudy water also shades out the rooted plants that help keep a lake clear.
The damage is slow to show. A lake can look better for the first few years, often with fewer weeds, then turn murkier and greener than it was before the carp went in. Once established, carp are very hard to remove. Oregon prohibits stocking carp outright.
Before and after
How to stock
- Check temperature and oxygenA top to bottom profile in late summer shows whether trout will survive and how many fish the water can hold.
- Get state approval firstIdaho requires a free Private Pond Permit, Oregon a fish transport permit reviewed by ODFW, and Wyoming a free stocking authorization before every stocking. Fish must come from an approved, disease free hatchery, and outlets usually need screens.
- Stock in spring or fallAvoid summer heat and low oxygen. Stock trout when the water is below about 65 °F.
- Ease them inLet the water in the bags or tank come within about 6 °F of the lake before releasing fish.
- Give them cover and oxygenStructure and plants shelter young fish, and aeration keeps oxygen up. See the Fish Habitat Guide and diffused aeration.
- Harvest to keep the balanceTake bluegill regularly and release most bass for the first few years. Restock catfish and trout as they are caught.
Questions
Common questions
Do I need a permit to stock a small private lake or pond?
Generally yes. Idaho, Oregon and Wyoming all regulate stocking in private waters, and fish must come from an approved hatchery. Rules depend on your exact location, so check with your state agency before buying fish.
How often do trout need restocking?
Trout rarely reproduce in still water, so most lakes are restocked every year or two as fish are caught.
Will more fish clean up my water?
No. Overstocking and heavy feeding add nutrients and use up oxygen, which can mean more algae and a higher risk of a fish kill.
Can I move fish from another lake?
Not without approval. Moving wild fish can spread disease and unwanted species, so states generally require hatchery fish from an approved source.
Keep reading
Sources, checked November 13, 2026. Idaho Fish and Game, Private Fish Ponds. ODFW, Private Ponds. Wyoming Game and Fish, Private Fish Stocking. New Mexico State University Guide L-108. Mississippi State Extension, stocking 1 acre or larger. Mississippi State Extension, stocking under 1 acre. Purdue Extension FNR-569. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, carp and water quality. General information only, not legal advice.
Plan a fish stocking program
We can check your water and build a stocking plan that fits it.