Fishing Nymph Lake in Park County, Wyoming

• Overview

  Nymph Lake lies within the bounds of Park County, Wyoming. Elevation runs to 7,530 feet. Small at around 14 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. The nearest place of any size is West Yellowstone, 20 miles away. Big Sky lies 48 miles off, Ashton another 59 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Nymph Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Reported across Park County: brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout and cutthroat trout. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Nymph Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 55°F; the cold one sits at 13°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Ice is part of the season here, ending near mid May. Open water usually runs from mid May until about mid November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. It holds true on Nymph Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. A parking area is marked roughly half a mile out. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Horseshoe Spring, 0.5 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Ask locally about Nymph Lake if anything is unclear.