Old Smuggler Reservoir Fishing Guide, Albany County, Wyoming

• Overview

  The Albany County entry here is Old Smuggler Reservoir, in Wyoming. It stands 7,211 feet above sea level. Small enough that any disturbance crosses the whole surface. Most waters listed here for Albany County are larger. The closest town, Laramie, is 5.6 miles away. The big place round here is Fort Collins, 61 miles distant. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Old Smuggler Reservoir

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Open biodiversity records for Albany County list brown trout, brook trout, rainbow trout and longnose sucker. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Take Old Smuggler Reservoir a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 64°F and January near 21°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. After mid April the shallows warm and the fish move up. The open-water window runs from around mid April to about late November in an average year. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Time your trip to Old Smuggler Reservoir by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. This one is mapped as intermittent, so a wasted trip is a real risk in a dry year. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Failing this one, try Howell Lake, 4 miles away. Treat Old Smuggler Reservoir as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.