Fishing at Heart Lake, Carbon County, Wyoming

• Overview

  Heart Lake falls in Carbon County, part of Wyoming. The bank is 10,768 feet above sea level. About 8 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Compared with other Wyoming water on our list, it sits high. The nearest place of any size is Saratoga, 26 miles away. Fort Collins sits 85 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Heart Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Fish documented in Carbon County include brown trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, white sucker and walleye. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Heart Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 50°F, while January sits near 17°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early June. From about early June to around early November, expect open water on the long-run figures. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Expect Heart Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Middle Long Lake at 0.4 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position at Heart Lake before loading the car.