Lake DeSmet FAQ
Short answers, each linking to the page with the sources.
How big and how deep is Lake DeSmet?
Wyoming Game and Fish puts it at about 3,400 surface acres with an average depth of 69 feet. Johnson County lists the maximum depth at 120 feet.
What fish are in Lake DeSmet?
Game and Fish lists walleye, rainbow, brown, lake and cutthroat trout, kokanee salmon, yellow perch and rock bass. Rainbows carry the fishery. In October 2026 Game and Fish also found an illegally released northern pike: if you catch one, kill it, keep it and call (307) 672-7418.
Can you camp at Lake DeSmet?
Yes. The county-run Mikesell-Potts Recreation Area on the south shore has more than 60 sites at $15 a night and 8 electric sites at $20, first come, first served, with no drinking water or dump station.
Is Lake DeSmet safe for swimming?
Wyoming DEQ issued a harmful algae bloom advisory for the lake in mid-July 2026. On July 24 it said no toxins had been detected and the lake stayed open. In summer, check WyoHCBs.org before you swim and keep dogs out of scummy water.
Is Lake DeSmet the same as De Smet, South Dakota?
No. Lake DeSmet is a reservoir in Johnson County, Wyoming. De Smet is a town in eastern South Dakota, more than 400 miles away. See the Lake DeSmet guide.
What is the closest town to Lake DeSmet?
Buffalo, about 8 miles south on I-90. Story and Banner are a short drive north and west, and Sheridan is about 26 miles north.
Where are the boat ramps at Lake DeSmet?
Two at Mikesell-Potts on the south shore (Exit 51) and one at Game and Fish’s Monument Point (Exit 47, via Shell Creek Road). Details on the boating page.
Do I need a boat inspection?
If you bring a boat into Wyoming from March 1 to November 30, yes, before it launches. Nearly every boat, kayaks and canoes included, also needs a current AIS decal; small inflatables and paddleboards are exempt. See inspections.
Is there ice fishing at Lake DeSmet?
Yes, and the Rotary Club of Sheridan has held a derby here in February. Check ice thickness yourself; we have not found anyone who posts it. See ice fishing.
Is there a lake monster?
There is a story: Smetty, a serpent said to live in the lake, written about as far back as 1925. No proof. See Smetty.
Why is the shoreline red?
It is clinker, rock baked red when the coal seam under the basin burned naturally long ago. See history.
What is the weather like at Lake DeSmet?
Buffalo averages highs of 83°F in July and 36°F in January, with about 36 inches of snow a year. Month-by-month normals are on Plan your trip.
Who is behind this site?
Wyo Stays LLC of Sheridan, a licensed Wyoming real estate brokerage. It is an independent guide, not a county or tourism-board site. See about.
The lake, four times a year
Ice-on and ice-off notes, what Game and Fish is saying about the fishery, events worth the drive and new places to stay. One email a season.