Phantom Lake Fishing in Carbon County, Wyoming

• Overview

  Phantom Lake lies within the bounds of Carbon County, Wyoming. Country round the bank runs to pine and birch. Surface area runs to about 10 acres — small enough to read in one session. 22 miles away sits Saratoga, the nearest town. Laramie lies 42 miles off, Rawlins another 53 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Phantom Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Records held for Carbon County cover brown trout, brook trout and rainbow trout. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Phantom Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 52°F and January at 18°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late May. The season between ice runs from about late May to early November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Phantom Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. For a change of water, Magnolia Lake is 0.9 miles distant. Confirm before you fish Phantom Lake.