FISHING IN WYOMING Wyoming has many world-class streams and rivers that offer recreationists fantastic opportunities for floating. Whether you are visiting Wyoming for the first time or are a life-long resident, understanding how to legally access Wyoming’s streams is important. NAVIGATING PUBLIC LAND ACCESS Unlike some surrounding states, the land underneath most of Wyoming’s streams and lakes is owned by the adjacent property owner. In other words, if the land adjacent to a stream, river or lake is privately owned, anglers and boaters must have permission from the landowner to wade, drop their anchor or get out of their boats. Wyoming law allows boaters to float across private lands and portage around features such as logjams, fences and diversion structures. If faced with such a situation, we encourage boaters to be efficient and respectful of the land when portaging. Boaters can invest in a GPS unit or one of several smartphone apps that display their location and land ownership. These tools are not only helpful while on the river; they can also be used to help plan future out-ings. Other resources for figuring how to access streams and lakes include Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management maps or a call to your local Game and Fish office. WHERE TO CAST A LINE For anglers who find themselves in northwest Wyoming, the North Fork of the Shoshone River offers exceptional fishing for rainbow and Yellowstone cutthroat that make their way out of Buffalo Bill Reservoir each spring to spend the summer in the river and its tributaries. Fontenelle Reservoir, located approx-imately 10 miles south of La Barge, provides great fishing for rainbow trout, brown trout and kokanee salmon. Trolling with wedding rings, spoons and spinners from the surface down to 10 feet should provide plenty of action in the spring. Anglers looking to fish game fish like walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, channel catfish, black and white crap-pie, freshwater drum, green sunfish, bluegill and smallmouth bass should visit Keyhole Reservoir for excellent fishing. It is located north of Moorcroft in the northeast corner of Wyoming. In Wyoming, there is a multitude of fishing opportunities for everyone. Whether you prefer to drift down the river, canoe a mountain lake, cast from the shore or fish for trout in a high mountain lake, river or backcountry stream — or bass fish in a reservoir — we invite you to join us in Wyoming for your next fishing adventure. TravelWyoming.com 70 WYOMING GAME AND FISH
Wyoming Official Travel Guide 2022 Wyoming Official Travel Guide: Page 70
