Fishing at Long Lake, Big Horn County, Wyoming

• Overview

  Out in Big Horn County, Wyoming, sits Long Lake. Height above sea level is 8,930 feet. At roughly 4 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. On size it sits at the modest end of our Big Horn County list. For a base, Buffalo sits 17 miles out. The big place round here is Billings, 127 miles distant. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Long Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Across Big Horn County, recorded fish include brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout and white sucker. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Work Long Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 53°F for July and 16°F for January. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around late May. Average temperatures cross freezing around late May in spring and again near early November in autumn. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. It sets the rhythm of the year at Long Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Ringbone Lake sits 0.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Treat Long Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.