Rock Lake Fishing near Afton, Wyoming

• Overview

  Lincoln County, Wyoming, is where Rock Lake sits. Height above sea level is 9,885 feet. At 5 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Start from Afton, 8 miles down the road. Star Valley Ranch follows at 15 miles, then Hoback at 34 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about. It sits away from the main road, which keeps the noise down.

• Where to Fish on Rock Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Lincoln County records list cutthroat trout, brown trout and brook trout among the fish reported. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Rock Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 15°F in December up to 54°F in July. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly late May. Ice usually gives way near late May, and forms again about early November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Plan around that when you fish Rock Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. For a change of water, Lake Bastow is 2.3 miles distant. Nothing here settles the position at Rock Lake for certain.