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

• Overview

  You will find Devils Lake in Johnson County, Wyoming. What surrounds it is mixed forest. The far bank is a conversation away, so keep low and quiet. On size it sits at the modest end of our Johnson County list. You are 27 miles from Sheridan. For a city, Billings is 108 miles off. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Devils Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. County-wide records name brown trout, rainbow trout, brook trout and white sucker. The county list is broader than any single water. On Devils Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August near 50°F and January near 12°F on the long-run figures. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around mid June. Climate averages put the opening at about mid June and the closing near late October. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Time your trip to Devils Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Thayer Lake is 0.6 miles distant. Signs at Devils Lake carry more weight than any list.