Lily Lake, Wyoming: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Lily Lake falls in Big Horn County, part of Wyoming. The country here is rolling bush. At 24 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Nearest town is Buffalo, 29 miles off. For a city, Billings is 117 miles off. Close neighbours run: Grace Lake sits 2.5 miles out, Lake Solitude 3 miles away, Lake Helen sits 3.2 miles out, Lake Marion 3.7 miles away and Mistymoon Lake sits 4 miles out. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lily Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Reported across Big Horn County: brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout and white sucker. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Lily Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 53°F and January at 15°F. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late May. The water is typically free of ice between late May and early November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. That is the shape of the year on Lily Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Grace Lake sits 2.5 miles off and takes the overflow. Ask locally about Lily Lake if anything is unclear.