Upper Crater Lake in Big Horn County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Upper Crater Lake is one of the Big Horn County listings for Wyoming. The ground round it is lake country bush. With some 37 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. It sits higher than most water we list in Wyoming. Some 26 miles away sits Buffalo, the nearest settlement. Beyond it, Sheridan at 30 miles and Basin at 40 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Upper Crater Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Records held for Big Horn County cover brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout and white sucker. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. The shape of Upper Crater Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put August at about 48°F and January near 12°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid June. The season between ice runs from about mid June to late October. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. The season on Upper Crater Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Cloud Peak Wilderness runs up to the bank here, which usually means extra restrictions. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Should this one be busy, Crater Lake is 0.4 miles off. Confirm access to Upper Crater Lake locally before you travel.