Wind River Range Fishing

For a certain kind of angler, the Wind River Range is the holy grail. Hundreds of alpine lakes scattered across Wyoming's highest mountains hold trout that almost never see a fly, and a handful of those lakes hold the prize that draws people from across the country: wild golden trout. Combine that with the most dramatic granite scenery in the state and you have backcountry fishing that is hard to beat anywhere in the Rockies.

What you can catch in the Winds

The Wind River Range was heavily stocked in the early and mid 1900s, and many of those fish established self-sustaining populations. Today you can realistically catch four species in the high country:

• Golden trout - the headline species, originally from California's Sierra and now thriving in select Winds lakes above 10,000 feet
• Brook trout - the most common and easiest to catch, often stacked in roadless lakes
• Cutthroat trout - including beautiful Colorado River and Snake River strains
• Rainbow and hybrid trout in some drainages and lower lakes

The fish are not always big, but in lightly fished waters they are eager, and the setting is unmatched. A 12-inch golden from a lake under a 13,000-foot peak feels like a trophy.

Where to fish: the best basins

Goldens favor high, cold, infertile lakes. The Titcomb Basin chain below Gannett Peak, the lakes around Indian Basin, and the basins off the upper Pole Creek and Fremont drainages are classic golden water. Island Lake and the lakes along the popular northern routes hold brook and cutthroat in good numbers. On the southern end near the Cirque of the Towers, Big Sandy Lake and the lakes toward Shadow Lake fish well for brookies. Because so many of these lakes sit deep in the wilderness, the best fishing is often a reward for miles on the trail.

License and regulations

You need a valid Wyoming fishing license from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, available online with daily or annual options for residents and nonresidents. Read the current regulations before you go, because some Winds waters have special rules to protect golden trout genetics, and limits and gear restrictions vary by drainage. Practice careful catch and release with high-elevation fish; they are stressed easily in thin, warm summer water.

Gear for backcountry alpine lakes

Most anglers pack a 3 to 5 weight fly rod in a 4-piece travel configuration that lashes to a backpack. Small attractor dries (Adams, elk hair caddis, Royal Wulff) and a few beadhead nymphs and small streamers cover most situations. Spin anglers do well with small spinners and spoons. Bring polarized sunglasses to spot cruising fish, and remember that alpine trout often hold near inlets, outlets, and drop-offs.

Timing your trip

The high lakes are locked in snow into early summer. Mid-July through September is the window, with August and early September often the sweet spot once the lakes warm enough to wake the fish and the heaviest mosquito hatches fade. Afternoon thunderstorms are common, so fish the calm mornings and evenings and get off exposed shorelines when weather builds.

Make it a backpacking trip

Because the best golden water is far from any road, fishing the Winds works best as part of a multi-day backpacking loop. Carrying a packable rod into the high basins lets you fish lakes that day hikers will never reach. The 7-day Wind River Range backpacking itinerary passes directly through Titcomb Basin, Indian Basin, and Island Lake, which puts some of the best golden trout lakes in Wyoming right outside your tent.