Lake Hattie is the big trout-and-walleye reservoir of the Laramie plains – a wide, windswept lake southwest of Laramie, backed by Sheep Mountain and the distant Snowy Range. Known for fast-growing trout, kokanee and good ice fishing, it’s the main fishing and boating water for southeastern Wyoming and a favorite of University of Wyoming anglers and Front Range visitors alike.
This guide covers Lake Hattie: the fishing, the recreation, and access. It’s part of our growing Wyoming Lakes Database.
Lake Hattie at a glance
- Surface area: ~2,500+ acres (an irrigation storage reservoir; level varies)
- Location: Albany County, southeastern Wyoming (southwest of Laramie)
- Top fish: rainbow, brown & cutthroat trout, kokanee, splake, walleye
Fishing Lake Hattie
Lake Hattie’s fertile water grows fish fast: rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout reach good size, and the lake also holds kokanee, splake and walleye. A Wyoming fishing license is required. It’s a strong year-round fishery – boats and bank anglers do well in open water, and the winter ice fishing for trout and kokanee is popular with the Laramie crowd. As an irrigation reservoir, its level fluctuates through the season.
Recreation and the setting
A public recreation area with a boat ramp serves the lake, which sits in classic high-plains country at over 7,000 feet, with Sheep Mountain rising nearby and the Snowy Range on the western horizon. Boating, fishing and birding are the draws; the wind here is constant, so it’s also popular with sailors and (occasionally) windsurfers. It’s wide-open, big-sky Wyoming at its most characteristic.
Getting there and what’s nearby
Lake Hattie is about 20-25 minutes southwest of Laramie in Albany County, off WY-230 and county roads. Laramie – home of the University of Wyoming – and the Snowy Range Scenic Byway are close by.
Know before you go
- Fishing license: a Wyoming license is required.
- Wind & elevation: high, open and windy – dress warm and watch the water.
- Fluctuating level: an irrigation reservoir – the level drops through summer.
Frequently asked questions
What fish are in Lake Hattie?
Rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout, plus kokanee, splake and walleye – a fast-growing, productive fishery.
Is Lake Hattie good for ice fishing?
Yes – it’s a popular winter ice-fishing lake for trout and kokanee, especially with anglers from Laramie.
Where is Lake Hattie?
About 20-25 minutes southwest of Laramie in Albany County, southeastern Wyoming.
Related: explore more of the largest lakes in Wyoming, or head back to the Wyoming Lakes Database.
