Skull Lake, Wyoming: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Skull Lake lies in Sublette County, in Wyoming. It stands 10,305 feet above sea level. It covers about 13 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Fort Washakie at 25 miles is the nearest place to stop. Salt Lake City sits 195 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Skull Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Fish documented in Sublette County include brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, lake trout and white sucker. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Skull Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 50°F and January about 14°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Ice is part of the season here, ending near early June. On average, early June opens the water and early November closes it again. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. That is the shape of the year on Skull Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Mays Lake, 1.2 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Confirm before you fish Skull Lake.