Fishing in Dubois, Wyoming

Dubois sits at the eastern edge of the Wind River Range, and the fishing around town leans heavily toward alpine lake fishing rather than the big-river float trips you'll find elsewhere in Wyoming. The 23 lakes in and around the Dubois area — including Crater Lake, Rock Island Lake, Echo Lake, and Bearstooth Lake, among others — are mostly backcountry or semi-backcountry destinations that require some legwork to reach. That's not a complaint; it's the reason the fishing holds up. These are cold, high-elevation lakes that see a fraction of the pressure of more accessible waters, and they tend to hold fish that haven't been educated by a thousand fly presentations. Most of the lake fishing here is walk-in or hike-in, so you're not going to back a boat trailer down a ramp. A packable rod, a light spinning or fly setup, and a willingness to cover some trail miles will serve you far better than heavy gear. The Wind River Ranger District manages much of this land, and a valid Wyoming fishing license is required. If you're based in Dubois, you're well-positioned to day-trip to several of these lakes or string together a multi-night backpacking trip that hits a handful of them in sequence.