Fishing Crater Lake in Carbon County, Wyoming

• Overview

  Crater Lake lies within the bounds of Carbon County, Wyoming. Elevation runs to 9,662 feet. At 10 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Saratoga at 29 miles is the nearest place to stop. The big place round here is Fort Collins, 87 miles distant. Also within reach: Sand Lake 3.3 miles, Golden Lake (4.7 miles), Jeff Lake 5.7 miles, Mutt Lake (5.9 miles) and Long Lake 6.3 miles. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Crater Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Reported across Carbon County: brown trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, white sucker and walleye. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Read Crater Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 53°F and February near 20°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late May. From about late May to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Crater Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Sand Lake at 3.3 miles is the sensible second choice. Confirm access to Crater Lake locally before you travel.