Lake Desmet fishing

Lake Desmet fishing is stocked with Rainbow Trout, Kokanee Salmon, and Cutthroat Trout on a reservoir. Also recorded: Brown Trout, Lake Trout, Walleye, Yellow Perch, and Rock Bass. It is stocked about 5.4 times a year since 2018, most often in May and September. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout and Kokanee Salmon, dawn, day, and dusk for Brown Trout and Yellow Perch, and dawn for Lake Trout.

Lake Desmet
Photo: 420Traveler, CC BY-SA 4.0
Last stocked
September 2026
Rainbow Trout
Plants on record
49
Since 2018
Species stocked
3 (+5 also recorded)
Average size
8.1 in
Elevation
4,615 ft

Fish at Lake Desmet

3 stocked · 5 confirmed present

Rainbow Trout Stocked · 24 plants · last September 2026 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked September 2026 · avg 8.8 in · 24 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide
Cutthroat Trout Stocked · 16 plants · last September 2026

Last stocked September 2026 · avg 9.9 in · 16 plants

Cutthroat Trout species guide
Kokanee Salmon Stocked · 9 plants · last May 2026 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked May 2026 · avg 3.3 in · 9 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Kokanee Salmon species guide

How Lake Desmet is stocked

Source: Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

Fish stocked in 2018

85,349

Fish stocked in 2019

175,865

Fish stocked in 2020

171,992

Fish stocked in 2021

164,481

Fish stocked in 2022

161,995

Fish stocked in 2023

140,776

Fish stocked in 2024

128,458

Fish stocked in 2025

123,118

Fish stocked in 2026

133,697

Stocking history

Source: Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
September 2026Rainbow Trout54,9098.3 inreport
September 2026Cutthroat Trout16,0008.3 inreport
June 2026Cutthroat Trout7,6986.2 inreport
May 2026Kokanee Salmon54,9402.5 inreport
May 2026Cutthroat Trout15012.7 inreport
October 2025Rainbow Trout1,6006.4 inreport
September 2025Rainbow Trout51,5898.5 inreport
September 2025Cutthroat Trout29,8828.4 inreport
May 2025Kokanee Salmon39,9472.5 inreport
May 2025Cutthroat Trout10012.1 inreport
October 2024Rainbow Trout35,9418.3 inreport
October 2024Rainbow Trout21,8408 inreport
October 2024Cutthroat Trout7,7727.9 inreport
September 2024Cutthroat Trout22,8107.8 inreport
May 2024Kokanee Salmon39,9952.5 inreport
May 2024Cutthroat Trout10012.1 inreport
November 2023Rainbow Trout37,2308 inreport
October 2023Kokanee Salmon7,2355.5 inreport
August 2023Rainbow Trout38,1157.7 inreport
August 2023Cutthroat Trout31,6557 inreport
July 2023Kokanee Salmon26,3913.9 inreport
May 2023Cutthroat Trout15011.3 inreport
October 2022Rainbow Trout71,8607.4 inreport
September 2022Rainbow Trout20,4568.3 inreport
September 2022Cutthroat Trout30,5328.6 inreport
July 2022Kokanee Salmon38,9993.9 inreport
May 2022Cutthroat Trout14814.2 inreport
December 2021Rainbow Trout1,6818.5 inreport
November 2021Rainbow Trout63,3987.9 inreport
October 2021Cutthroat Trout33,0023 inreport
September 2021Rainbow Trout29,6508.1 inreport
September 2021Cutthroat Trout18,4568.8 inreport
May 2021Kokanee Salmon18,1443.5 inreport
May 2021Cutthroat Trout15014.2 inreport
November 2020Rainbow Trout83,5157.9 inreport
October 2020Rainbow Trout16,0368.7 inreport
October 2020Rainbow Trout29,4958.5 inreport
September 2020Rainbow Trout18,5407.4 inreport
June 2020Kokanee Salmon24,2593.1 inreport
May 2020Cutthroat Trout14716 inreport
November 2019Rainbow Trout7,9207.7 inreport
October 2019Rainbow Trout9,3629.6 inreport
October 2019Rainbow Trout81,0497.7 inreport
September 2019Rainbow Trout9,6009.2 inreport
September 2019Rainbow Trout27,7248.3 inreport
May 2019Rainbow Trout15017 inreport
April 2019Kokanee Salmon40,0602.7 inreport
October 2018Rainbow Trout85,2507.9 inreport
May 1, 2018Rainbow Trout9915.2 inreport

Access and facts

Water type
reservoir
Nearest town
Buffalo, WY
Facilities
restrooms, camping

Johnson County's Mikesell-Potts Recreation Area is on the south shore, 8 miles north of Buffalo off I-90 exit 51. There is no potable water.

Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.

View larger map · Open in Google Maps · Directions

Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the Wyoming Game and Fish Department before you go.

About Lake Desmet

Photo of Lake Desmet
420Traveler, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo of Lake Desmet
Paul Hermans, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo of Lake Desmet
Paul Hermans, CC BY-SA 3.0

Nearest lakes

Healy Reservoir 10.8 mi last stocked September 2026 Willow Park Reservoir 13.3 mi last stocked July 2025 Cloud Peak Reservoir 17.6 mi last stocked July 2026 Sherd Lake 20.2 mi last stocked July 2026 Ringbone Lake 20.4 mi last stocked July 2026

Common questions

What fish are at Lake Desmet?

Fishing Lake Desmet usually means Rainbow Trout: Rainbow Trout accounts for 24 of 49 plants on record, ahead of Cutthroat Trout and one more. Rainbow Trout was last stocked September 2026, averaging 8.8 in. Cutthroat Trout was last stocked September 2026, averaging 9.9 in. Kokanee Salmon was last stocked May 2026, averaging 3.3 in. Brown Trout, Lake Trout, Walleye, and Yellow Perch, plus 1 more are recorded here outside the stocking reports.

When is Lake Desmet stocked?

Last stocked September 2026. It is stocked about 5.4 times a year since 2018, most often in May and September.

How big are the fish stocked at Lake Desmet?

Stocked fish average 8.1 in. Rainbow Trout average 8.8 in. Cutthroat Trout average 9.9 in. Kokanee Salmon average 3.3 in.

How do you get on Lake Desmet?

The nearest town is Buffalo, WY. Facilities include restrooms and camping. Johnson County's Mikesell-Potts Recreation Area is on the south shore, 8 miles north of Buffalo off I-90 exit 51. There is no potable water.

Sources (6) +