Simpson Lake in Fremont County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  In Wyoming, Simpson Lake falls inside Fremont County. It sits in mixed forest. Surface area is around 175 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. Around 4.5 miles of bank, which is a long day on foot. Few waters listed in Fremont County are bigger. Some 39 miles away sits Pinedale, the nearest settlement. Jackson is 51 miles and Fort Washakie 52 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Simpson Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Open biodiversity records for Fremont County list brown trout, rainbow trout and white sucker. The county list is broader than any single water. Read Simpson Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 49°F, while January sits near 17°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Break-up comes around late May, and the run that follows is short and strong. Break-up sits around late May on average, with the water closing again about early November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Time your trip to Simpson Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. 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. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Should this one be busy, Long Lake is 1.1 miles off. Check the position at Simpson Lake before loading the car.