Bard Lake in Johnson County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Johnson County in Wyoming is where Bard Lake sits. Elevation runs to 10,400 feet. This is a pocket water of some 7 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. On size it sits at the modest end of our Johnson County list. Supplies mean a trip to Buffalo, 24 miles off. Sheridan lies 28 miles off, Basin another 43 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Bard Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Species logged across Johnson County include brown trout, rainbow trout, brook trout and white sucker. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. At Bard Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 49°F and January about 13°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Count the season from break-up, usually mid June. The season between ice runs from about mid June to late October. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. At Bard Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Spear Lake at 0.7 miles is the sensible second choice. Nothing on Bard Lake should be assumed from this page alone.