Trout are the soul of Wyoming fishing, and the state’s lakes hold an incredible range of them – native cutthroat, trophy lake trout, hard-fighting browns and rainbows, and even kokanee salmon. This guide covers the best trout lakes in Wyoming and how to fish them. Every lake links to a full guide in our Wyoming Lakes Database.
Trophy lake trout (Mackinaw)
For sheer size, nothing beats the deep, cold reservoirs and glacial lakes. Flaming Gorge produces lake trout over 50 pounds; Fremont Lake and Jackson Lake hold big Mackinaw in their depths; and Buffalo Bill has them too.
Trophy rainbows & browns
Lake DeSmet near Buffalo is famous for fast-growing trophy rainbows, and Lake Hattie near Laramie grows fish quickly too. The tailwaters below Alcova (the Miracle Mile area) and Fontenelle (Seedskadee) are world-class trophy-trout rivers.
Native cutthroat & mountain lakes
For native cutthroat trout in spectacular settings, fish Yellowstone Lake (catch-and-release, park permit) and the high glacial lakes of the Wind River and Teton ranges – Green River Lakes is a beautiful gateway to cutthroat country.
Kokanee salmon
Several deep, cold lakes hold landlocked kokanee salmon, prized by trollers and excellent eating: Flaming Gorge is the standout, with kokanee also in Fremont and Lake Hattie.
How and when to fish
Spring and fall are prime as cold water brings trout shallow; summer pushes the lake trout and kokanee deep, where trolling downriggers shine. Wyoming’s winter ice fishing for trout, kokanee and ling is a statewide tradition. A Wyoming fishing license (plus a conservation stamp) is required outside the national parks; Yellowstone needs its own park permit.
See our broader fishing in Wyoming guide, browse all the lakes, or head back to the Wyoming Lakes Database.
