McFadden Reservoir Number Three, Wyoming: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Look for McFadden Reservoir Number Three in Carbon County, Wyoming. The land about it is pine and birch. It runs to roughly 36 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. It ranks high for size among our Carbon County listings. Laramie at 33 miles is the nearest place to stop. The nearest city of size is Fort Collins, 88 miles away. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on McFadden Reservoir Number Three

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Species logged across Carbon County include brown trout, brook trout and rainbow trout. The county list is broader than any single water. McFadden Reservoir Number Three fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 63°F in July and bottoms out near 24°F in January. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about late November. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. That is the shape of the year on McFadden Reservoir Number Three.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Boat access is recorded roughly half a mile away. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. If the gate is shut, Dutton Creek Reservoir at 5.3 miles is the nearest alternative. Nothing here settles the position at McFadden Reservoir Number Three for certain.