Fishing Billys Lake in Sublette County, Wyoming

• Overview

  Sublette County in Wyoming is where Billys Lake sits. It lies 10,630 feet above sea level. At about 36 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. It sits higher than most water we list in Wyoming. The closest town, Fort Washakie, is 23 miles distant. The nearest city of size is Salt Lake City, 196 miles away. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Billys Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Records held for Sublette County cover brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, lake trout and white sucker. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Work Billys Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 48°F, while January sits near 14°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Count the season from break-up, usually mid June. Break-up near mid June, freeze-up near late October: that is the shape of an average year. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. It sets the rhythm of the year at Billys Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Overnight stays are possible half a mile away. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Barren Lake, 0.6 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the position at Billys Lake before loading the car.