Jackson Lake

Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park is one of the most visually spectacular fishing destinations in North America — a vast, deep mountain lake with the Cathedral Group of the Grand Tetons rising dramatically over 7,000 feet directly above the western shore. The combination of extraordinary scenery and quality trout fishing makes Jackson Lake a legitimate bucket-list destination even for anglers who have fished the world over. The lake's primary fly fishing targets are the Snake River Fine-Spotted Cutthroat that cruise the shallows in spring and early summer, particularly near the Snake River inlet at the south end and along the rocky points and drop-offs of the western shore. These are the same cutthroat subspecies found in the Snake River below Jackson Hole — wild, beautiful fish averaging 14–18 inches that respond well to attractor dry flies and leech patterns. Lake Trout are the lake's dominant large-fish species — deep-water residents averaging 5–15 pounds that occasionally move to accessible depths in spring and fall. While not a conventional fly fishing target, large lake trout can be taken on deep-sinking lines and large streamer flies in the transition zones between deep and shallow water in September and October. The lake's NPS setting provides both the advantages (stunning wilderness scenery, minimal development) and limitations (NPS permit required, motorboat traffic in summer) of fishing within a national park. Non-motorized watercraft and designated access points are the practical framework for most fly fishing visitors.