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Great Fishing In Wyoming

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Guide to fishing in the Cowboy State

By AA-Fishing Staff Writers

  • Alcova Lake, WY
  • Bighorn Lake, WY
  • Boulder Lake, WY
  • Boysen Lake, WY
  • Buffalo Bill Lake, WY
  • Flaming Gorge Reservoir, WY
  • Fontenelle Reservoir, WY
  • Fremont Lake, WY
  • Glendo Reservoir, WY
  • Grayrocks Reservoir, WY
  • Guernsey Reservoir, WY
  • Jackson Lake, WY
  • Jenny Lake, WY
  • Keyhole Reservoir, WY
  • Lake DeSmet, WY
  • Lake Hattie Reservoir, WY
  • Lewis Lake, WY
  • Ocean Lake, WY
  • Pathfinder Reservoir, WY
  • Seminoe Reservoir, WY
  • Wheatland Reservoir #3, WY
  • Yellowstone Lake, WY

Wyoming is a fishing paradise, offering anglers a remarkable variety of species to target in its diverse fisheries. The state boasts both warm water and cold water fisheries, ensuring there's something for every angler's preference. The purpose of this page is to share basic information about the best fishing lakes in the state, plus the species found in each lake.

Warm water fisheries, such as Glendo Reservoir, Boysen Reservoir, and Keyhole Reservoir, are teeming with species like bass, walleye, catfish, and panfish. These lakes provide anglers with exciting opportunities to cast lures, troll, or bait fish for their desired species, promising thrilling fishing adventures and the chance to reel in impressive catches.

In contrast, Wyoming's cold water fisheries, including Yellowstone River, North Platte River, and Snake River, are renowned for their exceptional trout populations. Rainbow trout, brown trout, and cutthroat trout are the prized catches in these waters. Anglers flock to these rivers and streams, employing fly fishing techniques, spin casting, or drift fishing to entice these elusive trout species. The scenic beauty and pristine environments surrounding these cold water fisheries enhance the angling experience, offering a tranquil escape into nature.

Wyoming also boasts numerous ponds scattered throughout the state, providing opportunities for anglers seeking smaller-scale fishing experiences. These ponds are often stocked with trout, bass, and panfish, making them ideal for beginners or those looking for a quick fishing outing. Casting a line in these peaceful ponds can be a great way to introduce newcomers to the joys of fishing or enjoy a leisurely day on the water.

Whether you prefer the vast expanse of lakes, the serenity of rivers, or the intimacy of ponds, Wyoming's fishing opportunities are as diverse as its landscapes. From chasing bass in warm water lakes to pursuing trout in cold water rivers, anglers can find their angling paradise in Wyoming. With its abundance of fish species, stunning natural surroundings, and a commitment to conservation, Wyoming offers a fishing experience that will leave anglers with unforgettable memories and a deep appreciation for the beauty of the state's waters.

Fishing Boats For Rent In Wyoming

In the state of Wyoming you can fish for smallmouth bass, crappie, catfish, walleye, salmon and perch. But this is trout country. Big healthy rainbow, brown, brook, cutthroat, lake and golden trout. Many of these lakes offer fishing boats for rent.

Here, you can fish for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, black crappie, white crappie, walleye, rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, brook trout, brown trout, golden trout, lake trout, bluegill, green sunfish, rock bass, yellow perch, kokanee salmon, tiger muskie, northern pike and sauger in local lakes, rivers, ponds and/or streams. Many of these species can be caught when ice fishing.

Major Wyoming Lakes & Species

Wyoming major lakes and fish chart

Lake & Fish Chart

This chart shows the major angling destinations, cross referencing these waters with the major species to be found in each of the lakes or impoundments.

For a detailed list of fish species in WY, plus state fish records, see the list below.

Fishing lake sizes and locations in the state.

Alpine Lake, Wyoming

Alcova Lake, is a 2,500-acre lake in the central part of the state, at Alcova.

Bighorn Lake is a 5,500-acre lake in the northwest part of the state, at Kane.

Boulder Lake is a 3,500-acre lake in the west-central part of the state, at Boulder.

Big Sandy Lake is a 2,500-acre lake in the southwest part of the state, 5 miles north of Farson.

Boysen Lake is a 19,500-acre lake in the central part of the state, in Boysen State Park.

Buffalo Bill Lake is an 8,500-acre lake in the northwest part of the state, at Cody.

Flaming Gorge Reservoir is a 42,000-acre lake on the southern border part of the state, south of Green River.

Fontenelle Reservoir is an 8,000-acre lake in the southwest part of the state, at La Barge.

Fremont Lake is a 5,000-acre lake in the west-central part of the state, at Pinedale.

Glendo Reservoir is a 12,000-acre lake in the east-central part of the state, at Glendo.

Grayrocks Reservoir is an 1,800-acre lake in the east-central part of the state, 6 miles southwest of Fort Laramie.

Green River Lakes is a 8,210-acre lake in the west-central part of the state, 25 miles east of Bondurant.

Guernsey Reservoir is a 2,400-acre lake in the east-central part of the state, in Guernsey State Park.

Heart Lake is a 2,200-acre lake in the northwest corner of the state, in Yellowstone Park.

Hog Park Reservoir is a 300-acre lake near the south-central border of the state, 12 miles southwest of Riverside.

Jackson Lake is a 25,500-acre lake in the northwest corner of the state, in Grand Teton National Park.

Jenny Lake is a 1,200-acre lake in the Grand Teton National Park, 5 miles north of Beaver Creek, Wyoming.

Keyhole Reservoir is a 9,300-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, at Pine Haven.

Lake DeSmet is a 4,000-acre lake in north central Wyoming, 8 miles north of Buffalo.

Lake Hattie Reservoir is a 3,000-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, at Jelm.

Leigh Lake is a 1,800-acre lake in the Grand Teton National Park, 8 miles north of Beaver Creek.

Lewis Lake is a 3,500-acre lake in the northwest corner of the state, in Yellowstone Park.

Lower Slide Lake is a 650-acre lake in western Wyoming, 5 miles east of Kelly.

New Fork Lake is a 1,070-acre lake in the western part of the state, 12 miles northeast of Daniel.

Ocean Lake is a 6,000-acre lake in the central part of the state, at Kinnear.

Pathfinder Reservoir is a 22,000-acre lake in the central part of the state, 10 miles southwest of Alcova.

Phelps Lake is a 750-acre lake in the Grand Teton National Park, 5 miles north of Teton Village.

Pilot Butte Reservoir is a 1,000-acre lake in the west-central part of the state, 5 miles northwest of Kinnear.

Rob Roy Reservoir is a 500-acre lake in the southern part of the state, 5 miles west of Albany.

Seminoe Reservoir is a 20,300-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, in Seminoe State Park.

Shoshone Lake is an 8,000-acre lake in the northwest corner of the state, in Yellowstone Park.

Twin Buttes Lake is a 250-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, 12 miles west of Laramie.

Wheatland Reservoir #2 is a 550-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, 30 miles northeast of Wilcox.

Wheatland Reservoir #3 is a 4,700-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, 20 miles east of Wilcox.

Woodruff Narrows Reservoir, is a 2,300-acre lake in the southwest corner of the state, 5 miles north of Almy.

Yellowstone Lake is a 89,000-acre lake in the northwest corner of the state, in Yellowstone Park.

Fish Species & State Records in Wyoming

Bass

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass

World record: 22 lbs 4 oz

State Record: 11.51 lbs

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass

World record: 11 lbs 15 oz

State Record: 5.94 lbs

Catfish

Channel Catfish

Channel catfish

World record: 58 lbs 0 oz

State Record: 28.52 lbs

Flathead Catfish

Flathead catfish

World record: 123 lbs 9 oz

State Record: 22.46 lbs

Crappie

Black Crappie

Black crappie

World record: 6 lbs 0 oz

State Record: 2 lbs 7.4 oz

White Crappie

White crappie

World record: 5 lbs 3 oz

State Record: 2.45 lbs

Walleye & Sauger

Walleye

Walleye

World record: 25 lbs 0 oz

State Record: 17.42 lbs

Sauger

Sauger

World record: 17 lbs 7 oz

State Record: 7.5 lbs

Trout

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout

World record: 42 lbs 2 oz

State Record: 23 lbs 0 oz

Cutthroat Trout

Cutthroat trout

World record: 41 lbs 0 oz

State Record: 15 lbs 0 oz

Brook Trout

Brook trout

World record: 14 lbs 8 oz

State Record: 9 lbs 11 oz

Brown Trout

Brown trout

World record: 40 lbs 4 oz

State Record: 25 lbs 13 oz

Lake Trout

Lake trout

World record: 72 lbs 0 oz

State Record: 50 lbs 0 oz

Golden Trout

Golden trout

World record: 11 lbs 4 oz

State Record: 11 lbs 4 oz

Panfish

Bluegill

Bluegill

World record: 4 lbs 12 oz

State Record: 1.92 lbs

Green Sunfish

Green sunfish

World record: 2.2 lbs

State Record: 1 lbs 4 oz

Pumpkinseed Sunfish

Pumpkinseed sunfish

World record: 2 lbs 4 oz

State Record: 0.62 lbs

Rock Bass

Rock bass

World record: 3.0 lbs

State Record: 1.76 lbs

Yellow Perch

Yellow perch

World record: 4 lbs 3 oz

State Record: 2.28 lbs 4 oz

Salmon

Kokanee Salmon

Kokanee salmon

World record: 9 lbs 10 oz

State Record: 6.31 lbs

Other species

Northern Pike

Northern pike

World record: 55 lbs 1 oz

State Record: 27 lbs 4 oz

Sauger

Sauger

World record: 17 lbs 7 oz

State Record: 7 lbs 8 oz

Tiger Muskie

Tiger muskie

World record: 51 lbs 2 oz

State Record: 29 lbs 5 oz

Click the images and links above for species details.

Ox Bow Bend, Wyoming

Apply here for a Wyoming fishing license. Visit the Wyoming Game and Fish Department website for details and regulations for fishing in Wyoming.

Visit AA-Boats-Boating.com to find information about fishing boats in Wyoming.

We are also looking for information on local guides who offer services within Wyoming. You can find a listing of WY fishing guides here. If you are a fishing guide in Wyoming or know of a good resource, please send us information for consideration.

Bass fishing book

Fish for big bass

Excellent largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing opportunities are available to anglers.

 

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