Surprise Lake Fishing in Teton County, Wyoming

• Overview

  Surprise Lake lies within the bounds of Teton County, Wyoming. It stands 9,560 feet above sea level. Small at around 2 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is a small entry by Teton County standards. Head to Moose Wilson Road, 14 miles away, for anything you forgot. Further out sit Wilson (16 miles) and Driggs (17 miles). One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Surprise Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Records held for Teton County cover mountain whitefish, lake trout and Utah sucker. The county list is broader than any single water. Read Surprise Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 51°F in July and bottoms out near 15°F in December. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Break-up comes around late May, and the run that follows is short and strong. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late May and starts locking again about early November. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Plan around that when you fish Surprise Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. A campsite lies 160 yards away for anyone staying over. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Should this one be busy, Amphitheater Lake is 0.2 miles off. For Surprise Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.