Anglers have a golden opportunity to help the Wyoming Game and Fish Department manage fisheries at Pathfinder Reservoir and the Miracle Mile in 2017, just by doing what they love – fishing! Fisheries biologists and technicians began an eight-month creel survey in January at these waters. On survey days, anglers leaving Pathfinder are required to briefly stop at a check station on the Pathfinder Road (Natrona County Road 409) about 1.25 miles south of Highway 220, to complete a brief survey.
Anglers provide creel clerks with information on the amount of time spent fishing, targeted species, fishing techniques, fish caught and released, and fish harvested. Creel Clerks will rove access points at the Miracle Mile on survey days to count people who are fishing and conduct interviews to collect the same information. Some anglers will receive a survey card to complete when they are done fishing at the Mile. If you are given a creel card, please deposit it in a creel box when departing from the Mile, or mail it back to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, postage paid. An intensive creel survey effort like this one allows fisheries biologists to estimate the number of angler trips and angler-hours spent, pinpoint catch rates, and help determine rates of fish population harvest. This information is valuable for evaluating the economic impact of fisheries, assessing the effectiveness of costly stocking programs, and assists managers with making appropriate management changes to best meet public desires.
Where possible, Fisheries Biologists repeat intensive creel surveys every five to ten years. This way, funds are used for the highest priorities, and the most expensive information is only updated as fisheries change. Intensive creel surveys at the Miracle Mile have shown fluctuating angler use, with the most recent peak of 23,012 anglers in 1995 (April - October) and a low of 4,277 anglers in 2009 (same period). Some of this decline was from anglers diverted to the Gray Reef fishery, which was growing in popularity. At Pathfinder Reservoir, the most recent intensive creel survey was completed in 1996. At that time, annual use was estimated at 37,216 anglers, who fished for a total of 159,023 hours.
The economic value of the average fishing trip within Wyoming was $75 in 2015, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Both of these fisheries have undoubtedly gone through recent changes, and updated information is badly needed.
Funding for major fisheries surveys is limited. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department thanks the North Platte Walleyes Unlimited for a generous donation of $24,000 to fund part of the creel clerks’ salaries and make the survey happen! In addition, the NPWU and the Casper Chapter of Trout Unlimited have committed their time to help at the check station on busy days. Do your part to make these creel surveys successful by providing accurate information when interviewed and please return creel cards promptly.
The information you provide will be used to modify regulations and stocking programs. This is your chance to be involved!
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From the 2017 Casper Regional Fisheries newsletter. Read the whole edition online.