Basin Reservoir Number 1 Fishing Guide, Crook County, Wyoming

• Overview

  Basin Reservoir Number 1 sits within Crook County in Wyoming. The country here is rolling bush. It is low-lying compared with other Wyoming water we list. Nearest place of any size is Moorcroft, 22 miles away. Further out sit Sundance (26 miles) and Upton (35 miles). Nearby alternatives: Basin Reservoir Number 2 (0.6 miles), Keyhole Reservoir after 15 miles, Edgerton Reservoir (17 miles), Cedar Creek after 21 miles and Bush Reservoir (21 miles). The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Basin Reservoir Number 1

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. County-wide records name brown trout, common carp, white sucker and brook trout. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Treat this water as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 70°F, the coldest about 18°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early April. Climate averages put the opening at about early April and the closing near late November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Plan any trip to this water around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Basin Reservoir Number 2, 0.6 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. None of that is settled for this water in what we hold.