Kearny Lake Reservoir in Johnson County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  You will find Kearny Lake Reservoir in Johnson County, Wyoming. The land about it is lake country bush. Roughly 186 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. About 2.8 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. On our Johnson County list it sits near the top for size. The closest town, Buffalo, is 22 miles distant. Sheridan follows at 26 miles, then Basin at 45 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Kearny Lake Reservoir

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Species logged across Johnson County include brown trout, rainbow trout and brook trout. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Fish Kearny Lake Reservoir where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 51°F, with January the cold end at about 15°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Break-up comes around early June, and the run that follows is short and strong. Averages place the thaw at early June and the freeze at early November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Kearny Lake Reservoir fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. If the gate is shut, Lake Winnie at 0.9 miles is the nearest alternative. For Kearny Lake Reservoir in particular, ask before you travel.