Cook Lake, Wyoming: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Cook Lake is one of the Sublette County waters in Wyoming. The setting is lake country bush. Surface area is around 31 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. Fort Washakie is the closest town at 19 miles. Beyond it, Lander at 21 miles and Ethete at 24 miles. Also on the doorstep: Cloverleaf Lake some 0.4 miles off, Smith Lake just 0.6 miles, Middle Lake some 0.9 miles off, High Meadow Lake just 0.9 miles and Cliff Lake some 1.2 miles off. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Cook Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Fish documented in Sublette County include brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout and lake trout. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. At Cook Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 50°F and January near 16°F on the long-run figures. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early June. On average, early June opens the water and early November closes it again. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. At Cook Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Cloverleaf Lake sits 0.4 miles off and takes the overflow. What applies at Cook Lake may have changed since it was mapped.