Fishing at Gunst Reservoir, Carbon County, Wyoming

• Overview

  Gunst Reservoir is set in Carbon County, Wyoming. It sits at 7,392 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 25 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Nearest place of any size is Saratoga, 21 miles away. Further out sit Steamboat Springs (48 miles) and Rawlins (52 miles). The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Gunst Reservoir

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Public occurrence data for Carbon County names brown trout, brook trout, rainbow trout and white sucker. The county list is broader than any single water. Gunst Reservoir gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 62°F for July and 21°F for January. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. Open water usually runs from mid April until about late November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. It sets the rhythm of the year at Gunst Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Should this one be busy, Baby Reservoir is 0.4 miles off. For Gunst Reservoir, the notice at the access point is the final word.