What is the biggest lake in Wyoming?

Yellowstone Lake, at 87,000 acres.

What is the second biggest lake in Wyoming?

Flaming Gorge Reservoir, at 42,000 acres.

Biggest lakes in Wyoming: the top 10 by size

How big are the biggest lakes in Wyoming? Here are the top 10, with their size and what to do on each.

The list

Sizes are the published surface area where one exists; the others are our own measure of the water's outline and read "about". Reservoirs shrink and grow with their level, so a dry year shows less water.

#	Lake	Size	Shoreline
1	Yellowstone Lake	87,000 acres	about 118 mi
2	Flaming Gorge Reservoir	42,000 acres	about 375 mi
3	Jackson Lake	25,500 acres	about 66 mi
4	Pathfinder Reservoir	22,000 acres	about 88 mi
5	Seminoe Reservoir	20,300 acres	about 118 mi
6	Boysen Reservoir	19,600 acres	about 73 mi
7	Bighorn Lake	17,300 acres	about 31 mi
8	Glendo Reservoir	12,000 acres	about 47 mi
9	Buffalo Bill Reservoir	8,500 acres	about 23 mi
10	Shoshone Lake	8,050 acres	about 23 mi

1. Yellowstone Lake

Yellowstone Lake spreads over 87,000 acres of water. The lake is near West Yellowstone. The fish here are trout and lake trout. The deepest water is around 394 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. At 7,732 feet elevation, Yellowstone Lake is the largest freshwater lake above 7,000 feet in North America.

Yellowstone Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Flaming Gorge Reservoir

At some 42,000 acres, Flaming Gorge Reservoir is a big lake. It holds lake trout, trout, kokanee salmon and smallmouth bass. It goes down to about 436 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and an upper arm worth a first look.

Flaming Gorge Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Jackson Lake

At 25,500 acres, Jackson Lake is a big lake. The lake is about 69 miles southwest of Idaho Falls. Jackson Lake Dam holds it on the Snake River. Trout are the draw. The deepest water is around 438 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and an upper arm to work. Jackson Lake is a natural glacial lake in Grand Teton National Park that was enlarged by Jackson Lake Dam.

Jackson Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Pathfinder Reservoir

At 22,000 acres of water, Pathfinder Reservoir is a big lake. It lies within an easy drive of Casper (about 39 miles). The fish here are walleye, trout, kokanee salmon and yellow perch. It goes down to about 192 ft. Pathfinder Reservoir on the North Platte River holds the only established U.S. population of the Ohrid trout, a species native to the Balkans.

Pathfinder Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Seminoe Reservoir

Seminoe Reservoir spreads over 20,300 acres of water. It lies about 57 miles northeast of Casper. The usual Wyoming mix applies: trout, lake trout, yellow perch and smallmouth bass. The deepest water is around 206 ft.

Seminoe Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Boysen Reservoir

Boysen Reservoir is a reservoir of 19,600 acres. You will find it about 14 miles southwest of Riverton. It holds walleye, yellow perch, crappie and catfish. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and an upper arm to work. Boysen Reservoir on the Wind River is a popular warmwater fishery known for walleye.

Boysen Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Bighorn Lake

Bighorn Lake covers some 17,300 acres. You will find it within an easy drive of Billings (about 58 miles). Expect walleye, trout, yellow perch and catfish. The deepest water is around 450 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove to work.

Bighorn Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Glendo Reservoir

Glendo Reservoir is a reservoir of some 12,000 acres. You will find it near Guernsey. It is the North Platte River behind Glendo Dam. Walleye are the draw. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and an upper arm to work. Glendo Reservoir is considered one of the best walleye fisheries in Wyoming.

Glendo Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Buffalo Bill Reservoir

Buffalo Bill Reservoir spreads over 8,500 acres. The lake is near Cody. It holds trout, lake trout, walleye and yellow perch. Buffalo Bill Dam, completed in 1910, was the tallest dam in the world at the time.

Buffalo Bill Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Shoshone Lake

Shoshone Lake covers 8,050 acres. You will find it about 26 miles northwest of West Yellowstone. The fish here are lake trout and trout. The deepest water is around 205 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and an upper arm: good places to start. Shoshone Lake is the largest backcountry lake in the lower 48 states that cannot be reached by road.

Shoshone Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Big water, big days

Large lakes make their own weather: a breeze that is nothing on a pond builds real waves over miles of open water. Check the wind on the lake page before you launch and keep to the lee shore when it picks up.