Spider Lake in Sublette County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Spider Lake falls in Sublette County, part of Wyoming. It sits at 10,499 feet above sea level. Roughly 48 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. It sits higher than most water we list in Wyoming. Pinedale at 18 miles is the nearest place to stop. Fort Washakie is 35 miles and Ethete 40 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Spider Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Public occurrence data for Sublette County names brook trout, rainbow trout and brown trout. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Spider Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 46°F at the top of summer and 14°F at the bottom of winter. Winter shuts the surface down for months. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late June. Break-up sits around late June on average, with the water closing again about late October. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Spider Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Baldy Lakes sits 1.8 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position at Spider Lake before loading the car.