Upper Jean Lake, Wyoming: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  In Wyoming, Upper Jean Lake belongs to Sublette County. It sits at 10,833 feet above sea level. Small at around 18 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is high ground by Wyoming standards. Supplies mean a trip to Pinedale, 20 miles off. Beyond it, Fort Washakie at 41 miles and Marbleton at 45 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Upper Jean Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Species logged across Sublette County include brook trout, rainbow trout and brown trout. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Fish Upper Jean Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 47°F and January near 13°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid June. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid June in spring and again near late October in autumn. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Anyone fishing Upper Jean Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. If the gate is shut, Elbow Lake at 1.1 miles is the nearest alternative. Rules at Upper Jean Lake are worth checking on the day.