PINEDALE — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is asking anglers to help protect northwest Wyoming's premier trout fisheries by adjusting their fishing practices in the summer heat. Unseasonably warm temperatures and low-flow conditions across the Pinedale region are causing some stream temperatures to regularly exceed 70 degrees in the afternoon and evening. 

Anglers are asked to voluntarily quit catch-and-release fishing from noon until sunrise at the following locations:

•  The Green River from the Forest Boundary to Fontenelle Reservoir.
•  The New Fork River from Mesa Bridge to the confluence with the Green River.
•  North Horse Creek.

Signs explaining the voluntary closure will be posted at major public access points.

Warm water contains less dissolved oxygen, making it more difficult for fish to recover after being caught. As water temperatures approach 70 degrees Fahrenheit, the likelihood of released fish surviving declines significantly. Prolonged exposure to water temperatures above 75 degrees can be lethal for trout, while brief exposure to temperatures above 80 degrees is often fatal.

The voluntary closure is intended to encourage anglers to fish during the morning, when water temperatures are lowest, and trout have the greatest chance of surviving after release. While the closure is voluntary, we hope anglers will support the effort by adjusting their fishing schedule during the warmest weeks of summer.

Temperatures on North Horse Creek and the Green and New Fork rivers will be monitored, and these voluntary closures will be lifted or modified based on conditions. Anglers should check the Wyoming Game and Fish Fishing in the Heat webpage for up-to-date information on closures across the state.  

Recommendations for fishing during warm summer conditions

Regardless of where they fish, anglers can help improve the survival of released trout by adjusting their fishing practices as water temperatures increase throughout the summer. Carrying a pocket thermometer and periodically checking water temperatures is one of the simplest ways to determine when conditions become stressful for fish.

When water temperatures reach 65 degrees, the department encourages anglers to harvest fish in accordance with established regulations rather than practice catch-and-release. Once water temperatures reach 70 degrees, anglers should discontinue catch-and-release fishing altogether.

Additional practices that help reduce stress on fish include:

• Fish during the early morning hours when water temperatures are coolest.
• Carry a pocket thermometer to monitor water temperatures throughout the day.
• Land fish as quickly as possible to minimize exhaustion.
• Keep fish in the water while removing the hook whenever possible.
• Avoid squeezing fish or placing fingers in their gills.
• If a fish is deeply hooked, cut the line rather than attempting to remove the hook.
• Use artificial flies or lures and consider using barbless hooks to reduce handling time.
• If a fish is too exhausted to hold itself upright after release and regulations allow, consider harvesting the fish rather than releasing it.
• Learn more about handling fish during high water temperatures. 

Game and Fish encourages anglers to watch for the voluntary closure signs at major access points this summer and thanks the angling community for helping conserve Wyoming's premier trout fisheries through responsible stewardship.

– WGFD –