Photo Courtesy of Steve Carpenteri
April 04, 2014
By Stephen D. Carpenteri
Major lakes in Wyoming that contain populations of bass include Bighorn Lake, Flaming Gorge Reservoir (where the state-record smallmouth was taken), Grayrocks Reservoir, Guernsey Reservoir and Keyhole Reservoir. You can also find bass in many ponds, rivers and smaller lakes in the southern portions of the state. Here are your best bets for bass fishing in Wyoming.
Duo Realis Crankbait M65-8A
Length: 2 1/2 inches
Weight: 1/2 ounce
Depth: 8 feet
A highly detailed crankbait, the
M65 confronts bass with a realistic baitfish appearance plus sound generated by a metal plate and steel ball. Available in two models and a variety of colors, this crankbait is effective in both stained and clear water.
Price: $ 12.99
Sebile Action First Bull Crank
Length: 2 1/2 inches
Weight: 1/2 ounce
Depth: 4-7 feet
Patrick Sebile's
Bull Crank is an excellent lure, especially at that low price point of $6.95. The Xternal weight system helps to keep a low center of gravity, dig deep, and stay on track, reducing the need to tune. It features a wide body to increase visual presence.
Price: $ 6.95
Storm Arashi Silent Square Bill
Length: 2 1/8 inches
Weight: 1/2 ounce
Depth: 3 feet
The
Square Bill's self-tuning line tie lets you burn it and still have it track straight. The circuit board lip provides strong vibration up the line and helps the lure deflect well in cover, especially downed trees.
Price: $ 8.99
Gary Yamamoto Chikara
Length: 2 1/2 inches
Weight: 1/2 ounce
Depth: 2-4 feet
This popularly-priced, rattle-equipped crankbait is designed to be worked through heavy cover and still get the job done. The
Chikara features internal 3D holographic foiling that provides flash and cannot be chipped. The lure's value is enhanced by Mustad Triple Grip treble hooks.
Price: $ 7.99
Strike King KVD-1-5-Flat Side
Length: 2 ¼ inches
Weight: 3/8 ounce
Depth: 8-10 feet
This flat-side crankbait has a good thumping action and a tight wobble, and that means it's a great crankbait for cooler months or highly pressured lakes. Adding some weight to the hooks helps to cast the relatively light
Flat Side on baitcasting gear, especially in windy situations.
Price: $ 5.79
Rapala Scatter Rap Crank
Length: 2 inches
Weight: 5/16 ounce
Depth: 6-8 feet
On a medium or slow retrieve, the
Rap Crank is amazing: it tracks straight, then pops laterally and juts back onto the original track, ready for the waiting strike.
Price: $ 8.99
Spro Baby Fat John 50
Length: 2 inches
Weight: 3/8 ounce
Depth: 0-2 feet
Spro Baby Fat John 50
This smaller version of the established
Fat John effectively imitates smaller forage, and works on spotted and smallmouth bass as well as largemouth. It runs shallow at any speed, and its fiberglass lip makes it kick out and 'hunt ' frequently before returning to true.
Price: $ 12.03
Bass Pro Shops XPS Square Bill
Length: 2 1/2 inches
Weight: 3/8 ounce
Depth: 5 feet
It's a good-looking lure, and fine quality for a hard-to-beat price. The
XPS rattle is subdued, which is nice for spooky bass. The oval split on the line tie helps it run straight and avoid line slipping between rings.
Price: $ 4.29
Megabass Knuckle Jr
Length: 2.2 inches
Weight: 3/8 ounce
Depth: 1-3 feet
You'll be a megafan of Megabass lures because of their innovation and uncanny attention to detail. The
Knuckle Jr.'s two-position adjustable bill really gives you two lures in one, making it easier to swallow the premium price.
Price: $ 4.29
Livetarget Bait Ball Square Bill
Length: 2 3/8 inches
Weight: 1/2 ounce
Depth: 3-4 feet
The
Bait Ball is a crankbait with realistic 3D baitfish bodies inside the main body. The smaller lures inside cleverly mimic a school of shad. This crankbait casts very well and has a tighter wobble than most square bills, making it a perfect crank for clear water.
Price: $ 14.99
Flaming Gorge Reservoir Flaming Gorge is a large reservoir bordering Wyoming and Utah. Ice covers Flaming Gorge until late April, but, as soon as the ice clears the water quickly reaches the 50-degree mark. Find water that is just a few degrees warmer or water that is discolored as a result of wind and wave action and you'll find some good fish.
Bighorn Lake The Wyoming end of the lake has over 50 miles of accessible shore line including the Yellowtail Wildlife Unit . These shore lines are close to nearby roads so access is quick and easy.
Fish near available structure or drift-fish using live bait under a bobber or float. Let striking fish take the bait for a slow count of three, and then set the hook with a flourish. Boat-fishermen should be aware of currents and jutting rocks when fishing near shore.
Guernsey Reservoir Guernsey Reservoir covers 2,400 acres in the east-central part of the state created by the construction of an earthen dam on the North Platte River.
Guernsey's bass are aggressive feeders, quick enough to chase down their favorite foods. The reservoir's bass are predatory by nature and at times will strike at anything that ventures into their domain. If it moves and they can get it into their large mouth, bass will attempt to eat it.
Bass in Wyoming are most easily caught during a feeding cycle, but can be enticed into striking for reasons other than hunger.
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