Alpine Lake, Wyoming: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Set in Sublette County, Alpine Lake is a Wyoming water. Country round the bank runs to rolling bush. It runs to roughly 173 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Some 3.4 miles of bank gives room to move when the wind turns. On our Sublette County list it sits near the top for size. Pinedale is the closest town at 26 miles. Then Fort Washakie, 28 miles, and Ethete, 34 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Alpine Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Fish documented in Sublette County include brook trout, rainbow trout and brown trout. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Alpine Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 49°F and February about 16°F. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. After early June the shallows warm and the fish move up. Expect the water usable from around early June until roughly early November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Alpine Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Sort the permit out before you load the car. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. If the gate is shut, Deadman Lake at 2.2 miles is the nearest alternative. For Alpine Lake in particular, ask before you travel.