Think beyond trout for Wyoming sportfishing
The trout in Wyoming often steal the spotlight. With four stellar sub-species of the native cutthroat, they’re difficult to not pursue. But, many anglers know trout isn’t the only prize in these waters. Beneath the ripples lie some of the best sportfishing in the west. Fish like Sauger, Walleye and Channel Catfish await, tempting the angler with their complexities and record-breaking potential.
“These sportfish are highly prized by anglers,” said Mark Fowden, chief of the Fish Division with Wyoming Game and Fish Department. “Waters like Keyhole, Grayrocks and Ocean Lake are dependent on annual stocking of Walleye and other fishes. In fact, we stock 12 waters each year with walleye alone. Stocking forage like Gizzard Shad from Nebraska in waters like Glendo and Keyhole is another management strategy we employ.”
These management efforts are multifaceted, starting with the hatcheries and rearing stations. Most of Wyoming’s fish management facilities don’t produce much more than a variety of trout. Exceptions include the Dubios Hatchery, tackling Arctic Grayling, and the Daniel Hatchery, Boulder Rearing Station, and Auburn Hatchery that house Kokanee Salmon. But that doesn’t mean those are the only species stocked statewide; this is where the prized trout come into play.
Wyoming was made to grow trout. It’s the headwater state for four major water drainage basins — the Missouri, Columbia, Colorado and the Great Salt Lake. More than 90 percent of the water flowing through Wyoming originates within the state. All this clear, cold water is edenic habit for healthy trout, which makes them the envy of other states.
Game and Fish’s trout are trading cards for sportfish. Story Hatchery, nestled in the cold water mountains, currently houses five different trout brood stocks from which seven species of eggs are spawned. Annually, the facility collects five to six million eggs, depending on needs. All eggs are used first to meet in-state requests and any remaining eggs are then made available to other states. These eggs are traded in return for fish that are not reared in Wyoming but are stocked into public waters, such as Channel Catfish, Walleye, Tiger Muskie and Largemouth Bass.
In a notably special instance this year, an unexpected set of circumstances recently allowed surplus walleye fry from the Garrison National Fish Hatchery in North Dakota to be stocked into Glendo Reservoir. Game and Fish received and stocked more than nine million walleye fry on June 6. We will then evaluate success of this Walleye stocking event and determine if, or when, future such efforts may be needed.
“Wyoming Game and Fish has a great cooperative trade agreement with the North Dakota Game and Fish,” said Steve Sharon, fish culture supervisor for Game and Fish. “We provide North Dakota with trout or trout eggs that are surplus in our culture program and receive Walleye, Northern Pike, and Sauger and other cool-water fish in return. This is a win-win scenario for anglers in both states.”
Wyoming stocks on average more than 5.2 million sportfish statewide annually.
“Not all our sport fish are stocked annually. But, over the past five years, and impressive number of fish have been added to Wyoming waters statewide,” said Guy Campbell, assistant fish culture supervisor.
Some notable stocking averages from the last five years for fish other than trout include:
Walleye: 735,000
Tiger Muskie: 17,000
Shovelnosed Sturgeon: 37,000
Sauger: 96,000
Northen Pike: 68,000
Largemouth Bass: 33,000
Channel Catfish: 43,000
Bluegill: 31,000
Black Crappie: 21,000
Grayling: 44,000
Kokanee: 804,000
When an angler is looking to catch one of these sport fish, the opportunities are as diverse as the landscape. The North Platte’s chain of reservoirs, Keyhole and Grayrocks reservoirs offer popular Walleye fishing. Bass are found in Grayrocks and Flaming Gorge reservoirs, Tiger Musky in Healy Reservoir, while Northern Pike are unique to Keyhole Reservoir. However, reservoirs aren’t the only place offering cool-water fishes for anglers. The Big Horn River even offers Sauger and sturgeon, as do some urban ponds, like Cheyenne’s Sloan’s Lake with catfish. With all these fish, it’s time for the angler to get outside and see what they can grab.
Story by: Sara DiRienzo, Wyoming Game and Fish Department
“These sportfish are highly prized by anglers,” said Mark Fowden, chief of the Fish Division with Wyoming Game and Fish Department. “Waters like Keyhole, Grayrocks and Ocean Lake are dependent on annual stocking of Walleye and other fishes. In fact, we stock 12 waters each year with walleye alone. Stocking forage like Gizzard Shad from Nebraska in waters like Glendo and Keyhole is another management strategy we employ.”
These management efforts are multifaceted, starting with the hatcheries and rearing stations. Most of Wyoming’s fish management facilities don’t produce much more than a variety of trout. Exceptions include the Dubios Hatchery, tackling Arctic Grayling, and the Daniel Hatchery, Boulder Rearing Station, and Auburn Hatchery that house Kokanee Salmon. But that doesn’t mean those are the only species stocked statewide; this is where the prized trout come into play.
Wyoming was made to grow trout. It’s the headwater state for four major water drainage basins — the Missouri, Columbia, Colorado and the Great Salt Lake. More than 90 percent of the water flowing through Wyoming originates within the state. All this clear, cold water is edenic habit for healthy trout, which makes them the envy of other states.
Game and Fish’s trout are trading cards for sportfish. Story Hatchery, nestled in the cold water mountains, currently houses five different trout brood stocks from which seven species of eggs are spawned. Annually, the facility collects five to six million eggs, depending on needs. All eggs are used first to meet in-state requests and any remaining eggs are then made available to other states. These eggs are traded in return for fish that are not reared in Wyoming but are stocked into public waters, such as Channel Catfish, Walleye, Tiger Muskie and Largemouth Bass.
In a notably special instance this year, an unexpected set of circumstances recently allowed surplus walleye fry from the Garrison National Fish Hatchery in North Dakota to be stocked into Glendo Reservoir. Game and Fish received and stocked more than nine million walleye fry on June 6. We will then evaluate success of this Walleye stocking event and determine if, or when, future such efforts may be needed.
“Wyoming Game and Fish has a great cooperative trade agreement with the North Dakota Game and Fish,” said Steve Sharon, fish culture supervisor for Game and Fish. “We provide North Dakota with trout or trout eggs that are surplus in our culture program and receive Walleye, Northern Pike, and Sauger and other cool-water fish in return. This is a win-win scenario for anglers in both states.”
Wyoming stocks on average more than 5.2 million sportfish statewide annually.
“Not all our sport fish are stocked annually. But, over the past five years, and impressive number of fish have been added to Wyoming waters statewide,” said Guy Campbell, assistant fish culture supervisor.
Some notable stocking averages from the last five years for fish other than trout include:
Walleye: 735,000
Tiger Muskie: 17,000
Shovelnosed Sturgeon: 37,000
Sauger: 96,000
Northen Pike: 68,000
Largemouth Bass: 33,000
Channel Catfish: 43,000
Bluegill: 31,000
Black Crappie: 21,000
Grayling: 44,000
Kokanee: 804,000
When an angler is looking to catch one of these sport fish, the opportunities are as diverse as the landscape. The North Platte’s chain of reservoirs, Keyhole and Grayrocks reservoirs offer popular Walleye fishing. Bass are found in Grayrocks and Flaming Gorge reservoirs, Tiger Musky in Healy Reservoir, while Northern Pike are unique to Keyhole Reservoir. However, reservoirs aren’t the only place offering cool-water fishes for anglers. The Big Horn River even offers Sauger and sturgeon, as do some urban ponds, like Cheyenne’s Sloan’s Lake with catfish. With all these fish, it’s time for the angler to get outside and see what they can grab.
Story by: Sara DiRienzo, Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Wyoming Game and Fish (307) 777-4600