Glendo Reservoir, WY

About Glendo Reservoir

Glendo Reservoir is a roughly 10,000-acre impoundment of the North Platte River in southeastern Wyoming, tucked into the rolling prairie and red-rock bluffs of Platte County between Casper and Cheyenne. Created by Glendo Dam, the lake sits at the heart of a popular state park and draws anglers from across Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska and beyond. Its combination of deep main-lake basins, rocky points, submerged river channels, brushy flats and a long upper river arm gives it the kind of structural variety that supports a genuinely diverse, hard-fighting fishery.

Above all, Glendo is famous as one of Wyoming's best walleye lakes. It has long been a go-to destination for anglers chasing both numbers of eating-size fish and the occasional true trophy. Beyond walleye, the reservoir has built a strong reputation for quality smallmouth bass, jumbo yellow perch, and a respectable mix of trout, channel catfish and crappie — making it a place where you can target several species in a single trip.

Fish Species

Glendo supports a well-rounded warm- and cool-water fishery with a coldwater component from the river and dam:

• Walleye — the marquee species and the reason most anglers come. Glendo produces good numbers of fish along with shots at heavy, trophy-class walleye, and is one of the state's signature walleye destinations.
• Smallmouth bass — abundant and aggressive around the lake's rocky points, riprap and rubble shorelines; a favorite of light-tackle and bass anglers.
• Yellow perch — Glendo grows quality "jumbo" perch that are a prized panfish target and also serve as key forage for the walleye.
• Trout — rainbow (and at times other trout) are present, especially in the cooler upper river arm and near the dam, offering a coldwater option.
• Channel catfish — a solid summer-into-night fishery in the flats, coves and river channel.
• Crappie and other panfish — found around brush, timber and shoreline cover, rounding out the panfish opportunities.
• Other species — anglers may also encounter the occasional walleye/sauger-type fish and rough fish typical of North Platte impoundments.

Best Seasons & Times

Spring: As water warms, walleye stage and feed around rocky points, riprap and the upper river arm in the prelagoon and post-spawn period — often the best window of the year for both numbers and big fish. Smallmouth move shallow as temperatures climb, and perch can be caught around emerging structure. Wind and cold fronts are common, so dress for fast-changing prairie weather.

Summer: Walleye slide toward main-lake structure — points, humps, breaklines and the old river channel — and bite well early, late and after dark. This is prime time for smallmouth on rocky cover and for channel catfish in the flats and coves, especially on warm evenings. Midday fish often hold deeper, so target low-light periods.

Fall: Cooling water triggers a strong feeding push. Walleye and smallmouth fatten up on perch and baitfish, frequently relating to points and rock as fish chase forage. Fall can produce some of the largest fish of the year for patient anglers willing to work deeper structure.

Winter: When safe ice forms, Glendo becomes a popular ice-fishing lake for jumbo perch and walleye, plus the occasional trout. Always verify ice conditions locally before heading out — ice on a large prairie reservoir can be inconsistent. Overall, dawn and dusk are the most productive times across seasons, with night fishing especially effective for summer walleye and catfish.

Techniques & Baits

Walleye: Cover water and dial in depth, then refine your presentation.

• Jigs tipped with a nightcrawler, minnow or soft-plastic — vertical jig structure or cast and hop along points and rock.
• Bottom-bouncers with spinner/crawler harnesses or live-bait rigs (Lindy-style) with leeches, crawlers or minnows to comb breaklines and flats.
• Trolling crankbaits or harnesses along the river channel, points and humps to locate scattered summer fish.
• Slip-bobber rigs with leeches or minnows over rock and around staging fish in spring and early summer.

Smallmouth bass: Tube jigs, Ned rigs, small swimbaits, drop-shots, soft-plastic craws and crankbaits worked around rocky points, riprap and rubble. Light line and a slow, contact-with-bottom approach shine.

Perch: Small jigs and ice flies tipped with worm pieces or minnows; through the ice, a tungsten jig or a small spoon with a perch-eye or minnow head is hard to beat. Find one school and you can often catch a limit of jumbos.

Catfish: Cut bait, nightcrawlers, shrimp or stinkbait fished on the bottom in coves, flats and the river channel, best in summer and after dark.

Trout: Spinners, spoons and small crankbaits, or bait such as worms and dough baits, near the cooler upper arm and dam; flies and small inline spinners work where current and cold water concentrate fish.

Access & Launches

Glendo Reservoir lies within a popular Wyoming state park, so access is generally good and well developed. There are multiple public boat ramps spread around the lake along with shoreline and bank-fishing access, day-use areas and numerous campgrounds, making it friendly to both boaters and shore anglers. The lake's size and many coves mean it is best explored by boat, but the river arm, points and developed shoreline areas offer plenty of productive bank opportunities.

Because it is a state park, expect that day-use and camping fees may apply and that ramps and facilities can vary seasonally with water levels. Water levels on a North Platte irrigation reservoir can fluctuate significantly through the year, which affects ramp usability and where fish hold — it's wise to confirm current conditions, ramp status and any closures with Wyoming State Parks before your trip.

Regulations & Licenses

A valid Wyoming fishing license is required for all anglers of licensing age, and you should carry it (and any required conservation stamp) while fishing. Glendo is managed by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and specific size limits, slot limits, daily creel/bag limits and any special walleye or perch regulations can change from year to year.

Before you fish, check the current Wyoming Game and Fish regulations for Glendo Reservoir and the North Platte drainage, including any bag and size limits, bait restrictions, and rules on transporting live fish and bait. Also follow aquatic invasive species (AIS) requirements — clean, drain and dry your boat and gear, and complete any required watercraft inspection — to help protect this and other Wyoming waters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish is Glendo Reservoir best known for?
Glendo is best known as one of Wyoming's premier walleye lakes, producing both good numbers of eating-size fish and shots at true trophies. It also offers excellent smallmouth bass and jumbo yellow perch, plus trout, channel catfish and crappie.

When is the best time to fish Glendo Reservoir?
Spring and fall are prime for walleye and smallmouth, when fish feed heavily around rocky points and the river arm. Summer is strong early, late and after dark for walleye and catfish, while winter offers popular ice fishing for jumbo perch and walleye when safe ice forms. Dawn and dusk are the most reliable windows year-round.

How do you catch walleye at Glendo?
Focus on rocky points, breaklines, humps and the old river channel. Effective methods include jigs tipped with crawlers, minnows or plastics; bottom-bouncers with spinner harnesses or live-bait rigs with leeches and crawlers; trolling crankbaits to locate fish; and slip-bobbers over rock in spring. Fishing low-light periods and after dark often pays off in summer.

Do I need a license to fish Glendo Reservoir, and are there boat ramps?
Yes — a valid Wyoming fishing license is required, and Glendo sits in a state park where day-use or camping fees may apply. There are multiple public boat ramps plus shoreline access around the lake. Always check current Wyoming Game and Fish regulations for bag and size limits, follow aquatic invasive species rules, and confirm ramp and water-level conditions before your trip.