Lake Bastow in Lincoln County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lake Bastow stands in Lincoln County, Wyoming. The bank gives way to rolling bush. The town to know is Afton, 9.8 miles out. Salt Lake City sits 152 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Others close at hand: Rock Lake (2.3 miles), Swift Creek Lake some 4.7 miles off, Dry Creek Lake (5.5 miles), Corral Creek Lake some 7 miles off and Roaring Fork Lakes (8.4 miles). There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Lake Bastow

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. County-wide records name cutthroat trout, brown trout, brook trout, rainbow trout and mountain whitefish. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. At Lake Bastow the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 54°F and December at 15°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Look for the thaw near late May; the fishing lifts straight after. In an average year the thaw lands around late May and the freeze near early November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Plan any trip to Lake Bastow around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. The nearest alternative is Rock Lake, 2.3 miles out. Rules at Lake Bastow are worth checking on the day.