Sportsman Lake in Albany County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Sportsman Lake lies within the bounds of Albany County, Wyoming. It stands 7,352 feet above sea level. Supplies mean a trip to Laramie, 13 miles off. Further out sit Cheyenne (43 miles) and Laporte (43 miles). Nearby alternatives: Lone Tree Reservoir sits 2.9 miles out, Willow Creek Reservoir lies 3.9 miles on, Hutton Lake sits 4.8 miles out, Hundred Springs Reservoir lies 5.1 miles on and Rush Lake sits 5.5 miles out. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Sportsman Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Albany County records list brown trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, longnose sucker and white sucker among the fish reported. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. On Sportsman Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 23°F in January and 63°F in July. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about late November in a typical year. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Sportsman Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Lone Tree Reservoir at 2.9 miles is the sensible second choice. For Sportsman Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.