Stump Lake near Star Valley Ranch: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  This water sits in Lincoln County, Wyoming. It sits in rolling bush country. At 3 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Lincoln County. The nearest town is Star Valley Ranch, 9.4 miles away. Beyond it, Hoback at 15 miles and Afton at 24 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Stump Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Survey and observation records for Lincoln County include cutthroat trout, brown trout, brook trout and rainbow trout. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Work Stump Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 58°F, while December sits near 15°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Count the season from break-up, usually early May. Ice clears near early May and comes back about mid November in a typical year. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Stump Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Parking is not close: half a mile from the bank, and no nearer option is mapped. Mapping shows a campsite some half a mile from the water. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. If the gate is shut, Lost Lake at 4.2 miles is the nearest alternative. Treat access at Stump Lake as something to verify.