Make Southwest Wyoming Your Premier Ice-Fishing Destination

Discover Tournaments and Ice-Fishing Spots Near Rock Springs & Green River

Looking to hook trout or burbot this winter? Then southwest Wyoming is the place to be. With three favorite fishing locations open year-round, ice anglers won’t be at a loss for places to drop a line. 

As of 2021, Flaming Gorge Reservoir has been one of Wyoming’s waterways with a special winter ice-fishing season. Please consult the Wyoming Fishing Regulations Book for information on special fishing rules or visit the Wyoming Game and Fish Department website.

Check out our guide to discover winter fishing tips and the best ice-fishing locations in southwest Wyoming.

Where to Go Ice Fishing in Southwest Wyoming

Flaming Gorge Reservoir

Located near Rock Springs and Green River, Flaming Gorge Reservoir is one of the most popular fishing spots around — and has been known to produce some record-breaking catches, from smallmouth bass and channel catfish to kokanee salmon and lake trout. Plus, at 91 miles long and with more than 350 miles of shoreline, the reservoir offers plenty of space for anglers to spread out and find their own honey hole.

Ice fishing has always been popular for the die-hards on Flaming Gorge Reservoir, but interest really exploded over the last 10 to 15 years in response to the invasive, illegally introduced fish species known as burbot, or ling. Burbot are more active in the winter, the opposite of trout, bass and salmon. 

In the winter, anglers try to catch trout and burbot through the ice, particularly in areas such as Firehole Canyon on the Green River arm, Halfway Hollow on the Black’s Fork arm and the Confluence area.

Fontenelle Reservoir

Although much of Fontenelle Reservoir is located in Lincoln County to the north of Green River, it does dip into northwest Sweetwater County. The reservoir is quite a bit smaller than Flaming Gorge, but still sizeable at 20 miles long with about 56 miles of shoreline. In the wintertime, anglers can catch rainbow, brown, cutthroat and lake trout through the ice. Burbot have also established themselves in the reservoir.

Big Sandy Reservoir

Originally a Bureau of Reclamation Project intended for irrigation, the 85-foot tall Big Sandy Dam creates a reservoir on the Big Sandy River that now hosts several recreational activities, including ice fishing, camping and boating. Located north of Farson and Eden Valley, Big Sandy Reservoir has no on-site law enforcement or manager, so winter anglers must drop a line at their own risk. 

This 2,500-acre reservoir is home to several species of fish, including brown trout, cutthroat trout and burbot. Be prepared to rough it while fishing the Big Sandy Reservoir — the facilities that do exist are very primitive.

Note: Situated to the north of Sweetwater County off Highway 191, Big Sandy Reservoir can only be accessed by a county road. This road is not maintained, so it might require a four-wheel-drive vehicle during periods of heavy rain or snow. 

Annual Ice-Fishing Derbies

The Burbot Bash

The Flaming Gorge Reservoir is home to the annual Burbot Bash, which, as a catch-and-keep competition, aims to remove as many non-native burbot fish as possible. This competition began when the reservoir’s invasive burbot population began threatening the reservoir’s native species. Held every winter — usually in January — since 2009, the ice-fishing contest has offered participants cash prizes for the most, biggest and smallest burbot caught.

Don’t miss out on this annual attempt to control the burbot population in the Flaming Gorge Reservoir — and win some prizes while you’re at it. Stay up to date on upcoming tournaments and contest regulations by visiting the Burbot Bash Facebook page.

Getting There

From Green River, you’ll take WY Highway 530 south. If you’re traveling from Rock Springs, take U.S. Highway 191 south. Meanwhile, anglers driving up from Vernal, Utah, should take U.S. Highway 191 north.

La Barge Ding-The-Ling Ice-Fishing Derby

La Barge Activities Committee sponsors the annual Ding-The-Ling Ice-Fishing Derby, where teams of two to four can earn thousands in cash prizes. Check out the Facebook page for full prize details, contest information and registration. 

Getting There

Located off Highway 189, approximately 30 miles north of Kemmerer and 24 miles southeast of La Barge, this Green River reservoir is easy to find.

Tips for Catching Burbot & Lake Trout in Winter

Here are some tips to catch burbot and lake trout, complements of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department:

• Burbot can be caught year-round, but they are most active when water temperatures are below 50° F. So, the best seasons for burbot fishing are spring, winter and fall. 
• Burbot are also nocturnal, which means you’ll have better chances of landing a catch after evening sets in. 
• During the day, burbot find dark recesses in rocky habitats — under rocks or in holes and cracks. Around sunset, they emerge from hiding to feed.
• Burbot may be caught during the day in deep water (more than 70 feet deep).
• The first few hours following sunset and prior to sunrise are productive periods for catching burbot. 
• Consider hitting the reservoir early and fishing for lake trout if you are heading out for an evening of burbot fishing. Lake trout limits are liberal for fish less than 28 inches. Arriving earlier will also ensure you are ready to go when the burbot biting starts around sunset.
• Typically, lake trout can be found on main channel flats and points ranging from 50–100 feet deep. Having a good map will help you select productive fishing spots. 

Note: Remember to take added precautions when ice fishing and follow safety best practices. If ice does not look safe or you are unsure of the conditions, stay off the ice. Four inches of hard, clear ice is safe for anglers on foot. Fish with a friend and tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return. Bring a charged cell phone, ice spikes, fire starter and an extra set of clothes.

Find more regional information from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department's Green River Regional Office.

Discover More in Rock Springs & Green River

After you land your prize-worthy fish, take a break off the ice and enjoy the benefits of town where warm beds, refreshing suds and delicious, filling meals await. Or take in the area’s other winter-sport offerings. Venture across vast, snowy landscapes while snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, watch a thrilling Grizzlies ice-hockey game or go for a swim at local recreation centers.