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30-acre lake near Cody Region. The lake tops out around 35 ft. These contours are modeled — built from the real shoreline and the water's maximum depth — so read them as a guide, never as navigation. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
Traced from the shoreline, Shell Lake runs 28 acres with 1 miles of edge. At index 1.3 the outline is almost a bowl — read the depth changes, not the shoreline. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 30% of the surface on the model — that's where the groceries are. Call it 0.3 mi long by 0.2 mi wide at the broadest reach. The water lies in Big Horn County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Upper Lake Of The Rough, 2 mi east of here.
Start shallow in spring: brook trout sit in 2 to 15 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 10 to 30 ft; cold water stacks them in 3 to 20 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 30 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (9 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (30 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (9 ft) | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Break off the point (16 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
Structure-wise the chart holds 4 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 30 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Wyoming waters are set by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department — and special regulations can apply to Shell Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Wyoming fishing regulations →
Shell Lake is about 35 ft (11 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target brook trout on Shell Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 30 ft of water that rates prime for brook trout in summer. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For brook trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Shell Lake is regulated by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Check the official Wyoming regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Upper Lake Of The Rough 2 mi · Emerald Lake 3 mi · Horseshoe Lake 3 mi · Golden Lake 3 mi · Lost Wilderness Lake 3 mi · Lake Arden 3 mi · Thayer Lake 4 mi · Hope Lake 4 mi · Geneva Lake 5 mi · Crystal Lake 5 mi · Geddes Lake 5 mi · Rinehart Lake, Upper 5 mi
See how Shell Lake stacks up: best brook trout lakes in Wyoming
More water nearby: Big Horn County fishing maps (25 charts). Browse all Wyoming fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.