Mastering the Seasons: When is the Best Time to Fish for Trout in Wyoming?

When it comes to pinpointing the best month for fly fishing in Wyoming, the answer isn't simple. It varies depending on your angling goals (are you looking for big numbers, want the whole place to yourself, looking for good color, only fish shoulder season, want a challenge) and the unique characteristics of each location.  Here's a breakdown to help you plan your trout fishing adventures throughout the year here in the Bighorn Basin.  If you’re looking for the most up to date water conditions please head to our FISHING REPORTS PAGE.

Spring 2024: Rainbow and Cutthroat Bonanza

Springtime heralds the spawning season for rainbow and cutthroat trout in the Bighorn, Shoshone Rivers, and area waters.    Which means the color of the trout in pre and post spawn is a thing of beauty.  Remain ethical this time of year.  Once the spawn starts, avoid redds and don’t target spawning fish. Do your part to protect our fisheries.  

Our lakes here in the Bighorn Basin started shedding their icy coats in late March, providing excellent fishing opportunities through spring and early summer, when fishing shuts off on our rivers due to mountain snowpack runoff.  This year was no exception.  

Pre-runoff / Post ice off fishes great here on the Lower Shoshone, North Fork of the Shoshone above the spring closure, the Greybull and the Big Horn River.

Summer 2024:  Floating & Walk Wade Paradise

If floating is your goal, July and August of 2024 is gearing up to offer optimal conditions with the most suitable water for floating.  We expect fantastic opportunities on the North Fork and South Fork of the Shoshone, Big Horn, Lower Shoshone and the Clarks Fork.

For those who prefer walking and wading, August through September is ideal.  North Fork and South Fork of the Shoshone, lower & upper Clark Fork and tributaries which include the creeks of Sunlight Basin (Crandall, Dead Indian, and Sunlight) and the Wood River. The need to be Bear Aware is high when fishing anywhere in the Cody/Yellowstone area.  We do not recommend you fish alone and have bear spray on you at all times.   

High mountain lakes offer superb fishing from early to mid-summer, varying in accessibility depending on elevation and when the ice has fully come off. These lakes really come alive from mid-summer (mid-July 2024 is our prediction) as ice melts and fishing conditions become prime.  We are predicting that the lakes will fish well into fall in 2024.

Fall 2024: Brown & Brooke Trout Swoon-worthy Color

 As temperatures cool in the fall, Brown and Brook Trout start thinking about engaging in their annual spawning rituals.  Fly fishing during the pre-spawn you will bring Brown Trout with beautiful color to the net. As we ask in the spring for the Cutthroat and Rainbow spawn, steer clear of redds once the spawning season starts.  Curious as to fall  fly fishing and what redds look for and what to avoid.  Our friends at Trout Unlimited have wrote a great article on redds and have a great research tool here:  ENJOY FALLS RED’S BUT AVOID IT’S REDDS

The Sunlight Basin will continue to fish well fall until the ice comes on.  The lower Shoshone will be fishing well.  And the irrigation season is done and the Greybull River will be back in shape and fishing extremely well. 

As temperatures drop in the fall the lakes (Newton, Luce and Hogan) in Cody will become productive once more. 

Winter 2024 through 2025: The Unexpected Gem 

Don't discount winter fishing in Wyoming. As the locals know the Lower Shoshone, which has hot springs, remains ice-free year-round, offering dry fly opportunities daily and is floatable all winter.  The Big Horn River remains extremely productive as well. The stretch between the Wedding of the Waters and the Hot Springs State Park remain ice free all winter.  The crowds are gone and those “in the know” are headed to float this stretch during the warmer temperatures in the afternoon and have the river almost to themselves.  Fishing for trophy trout with amazing color.  

We suggest for Winter fishing here in Wyoming that you plan on extending your trip an extra day or two to make sure that the weather conditions hold.  If you’re coming from out of state, the flights into Cody have fantastic rates and we have 3 year round guides here at the shop that love to float in the winter. 

By understanding the seasonal nuances of Wyoming's trout fishing, anglers can maximize their chances of success and enjoy unforgettable fishing experiences year-round. Stay tuned for seasonal updates to ensure your angling adventures remain relevant and rewarding.  Looking for information on the cost of licensing, which licenses you need for what area? Check out our article:  WYOMING FISHING ADVENTURES:  A GUIDE TO LEGAL AND SAFE ANGLING 

For help with trip planning contact the fly shop at 307-527-7274 or check out our GUIDED TRIPS page.