Yellowstone Lake in Teton County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Yellowstone Lake is set in Teton County, Wyoming. It sits at 7,743 feet above sea level. At 131.9 sq miles you are fishing a fraction of it whatever you do. The outline is heavily broken, with arms and bays reaching well back from the main body. Among the waters listed for Teton County, none is wider. You are 39 miles from West Yellowstone. The big place round here is Billings, 129 miles distant. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Yellowstone Lake

  Measured depth reaches about 394 feet at the deepest point. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Teton County records list mountain whitefish, lake trout, Utah sucker, brown trout and brook trout among the fish reported. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. At Yellowstone Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 53°F; the cold one sits at 16°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Winter locks it down, and mid May brings it back. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about mid May until roughly late November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Plan any trip to Yellowstone Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public ownership means the bank is normally open to anglers. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Delusion Lake at 6.5 miles is the sensible second choice. Treat Yellowstone Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.