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Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
The Wind River above the Wind River Canyon. Trout and whitefish water (a tribal permit is required on the Wind River Reservation reaches). The river tops out around 8 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
The drawn water covers 15,623 acres wrapped in 218.2 miles of bank. A development index of 12.5 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. There is no deep basin to speak of — the entire surface is under ~15 ft, prime weed water end to end. Figure 96.5 mi of water from one end to the other, 4.2 mi at the beam. Fremont County claims this one. If the bite dies, Horseshoe Lake is 17 mi to the southwest.
Spring rainbow trout on Wind River hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 2 to 8 ft in summer, 2 to 8 ft once it turns cold. Put Current seam (mile 19.9) first on the milk run — a current seam near 4 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 19.9) (4 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 19.9) (4 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 19.9) (4 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Current seam (mile 19.9) (4 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
In spring, brown trout run shallow here, mostly 1 to 8 ft. Summer keeps them at 2 to 8 ft, and they winter in 1 to 8 ft. Current seam (mile 19.9) is the standout, a current seam at roughly 4 ft, rated prime for summer brown trout. Time it for after dark and early morning. You won't need more than a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) most summer days.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Diversion Dam tailrace (7 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 60 ft | night & dawn | Current seam (mile 19.9) (4 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 1 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Diversion Dam tailrace (7 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 1 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 35 ft | dawn | Diversion Dam tailrace (7 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
In spring, cutthroat trout run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. Summer keeps them at 2 to 8 ft, and they winter in 2 to 8 ft. Current seam (mile 19.9) is the standout, a current seam at roughly 4 ft, rated prime for spring cutthroat trout. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a trolled spoon (small) or an inline spinner most summer days.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 19.9) (4 ft) | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 19.9) (4 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 19.9) (4 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Current seam (mile 19.9) (4 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
Start shallow in spring: lake whitefish sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 2 to 8 ft covers summer, 2 to 8 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Riffle & run (mile 0.6), a rock pile in the 3 ft range, prime in fall. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon until the fish tell you otherwise.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Riffle & run (mile 0.6) (3 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Tailout eddy (mile 71.8) (4 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Riffle & run (mile 0.6) (3 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Tailout eddy (mile 71.8) (4 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Wind River carries 57 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Diversion Dam tailrace, about 7 ft down.
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 Wind River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Wyoming fishing regulations →
Wind River is about 8 ft (2 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 rainbow trout, brown trout, cutthroat trout, lake whitefish on Wind River.
Current seam (mile 19.9) is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For rainbow 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 Wind River 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.
Horseshoe Lake 17 mi · Phillips Lake 18 mi · Grassy Lake 18 mi · Native Lake 18 mi · Splake Lake 18 mi · Trail Lake 19 mi · Ring Lake 19 mi · Moose Lake 19 mi · Torrey Lake 20 mi · Double Lake 20 mi · Brooks Lake 20 mi · Cub Lake 21 mi
See how Wind River stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Wyoming · best brown trout lakes in Wyoming · best lake whitefish lakes in Wyoming · best cutthroat trout lakes in Wyoming
More water nearby: Fremont County fishing maps (53 charts). Browse all Wyoming fishing maps. 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.