MyFishFinder.com Just like iceshanty but warmer
Dear WyoDoc,Are you talking about Twin Buttes Reservoir?WGFDFishBioLaramie
I was wondering about Walleye numbers in Healy Reservoir, Johnson Co. According the the 2011 regional newsletter there was 48 transplanted from Desmet, and on the fishing guide on the Wyoming game and fish department that is a species found in that body of water. However I never hear about anyone catching one. I've never caught one. I can't find any recent fishing surveys on their numbers either. I know there are Tiger musky now in healy based on the 2014 regional newsletter, but they don't show up as a species on the fishing guide in healy. Thank you for making yourselves available for this Q&A on ice shanty. Much appreciate by this angler, and I hope to continue having the privilege.
question on # of hooks one can use. in the rules in says no more than 3 single hooked devices per line. does that mean a person could use say 2 or 3 treble hooks on a tip up for instance. or would one treble hook be 3 hooks?
Dear fishm_n,Looking at the Magic website and the product I would consider these products, especially the minnows as dead baitfish. The use of dead baitfish is covered on page 8 of the new 2015 WY Fishing Regulation book. What is says, is "Dead baitfish may be used as bait. Restrictions on the used of dead baitfish are designated within the regulations for the specific drainage areas." For example Area 1 as some restrictions on the use of dead baitfish within Grand Teton National Park. You also could not use these where there is a regulation that is for artificial flies and lures only. Since they are dead, there are no issues with transporting them into WY. , I did ask a Game Warden about this issue, and this was also their take. Does that answer your first question?WGFDFishBioLaramie
I can take a stab at this one. I don't manage the Gorge specifically, but I am responsible for many of the waters upstream and they share many characteristics. You are right, there are political reasons for not introducing perch and crappie into waters in the Green River drainage. Wyoming is a signatory member of the Colorado River endangered fish recovery program and has agreed against further introduction of predatory fish in the drainage. We have made a few exceptions, like tiger trout and muskie for example, but these are isolated examples of sterile hybrids and wouldn't have the same widespread impacts downstream and throughout the system. More importantly though, are the biological/ecological impacts of fish such as crappie and perch. Most of the Green River drainage, and all of Western Wyoming for that matter, is marginal habitat for coolwater and warmwater species such as perch, walleye, sunfish, etc. Though these species in particular would probably fair ok, the problem with managing all of those mouths is keeping them fed, and in Western Wyoming, production of forage for these species of fish would likely come down to trout and salmon. In the Gorge for example, introduction of perch or crappie especially, would totally eliminate natural reproduction and recruitment of kokanee. Similarly for most other waters in the drainage, there just aren't suitable locations for them. Thanks for the question. Darren RheaFisheries Biologist
Was hoping I could ask you about baitfish, and a seining license. I've tried doing my homework but really don't know if the following scenario is legal or not. I live in Johnson Co. I want to use dead baitfish on Healy Reservoir or Lake Desmet. Could I, if I had the seining license, trap baitfish on any old pond. Kill them on sight, then use them on either body of water as just bait? Also it seems to me, per the regulations, that neither body of water is allowed to be used for the seining of live baitfish, even though there's special ice fishing provisions. Am I correct it this thought? Thanks again for offering this to us here at ice shanty Wyoming! P.S. 1 more thing if I may, is there information somewhere on what species may be used for baitfish? All game fish are out of course, and the brook stickleback must be dispatched at all cost, but what about suckers, carp? Thanks again!
Hi WGFD fisheries folks, Questions about Soda Buttes lake in Albany County. Is there any way/are there any plans to flush the lake a little bit? Is the water there alkaline/saline or both? It's turning into a fun lake to fish with some nice trout caught, but never builds much ice and is pretty hard on equipment (the white crusts that grow on augers, rods, line, lures, my boots, the sled, etc.!). How long do fish actually survive in the lake? And just FYI - I've caught a few decent trout there (3+ lb) with stomachs filled with immature tiger salamanders. Thanks much for any answers.
Hello Game and Fish.I have a question about fishing East Allen Lake near Medicine Bow, WY. I am wondering how this lake is to ice fish? I would like to catch a Bonneville Cutthroat Trout. I never hear of anyone fishing this lake, and I saw that the lake was stocking 2013. Was the lake stocked in 2014 with Bonneville Cutthroat Trout? Also, I was wondering if you could fish with live minnows in the lake? And another question, related to catching a Bonneville Cutthroat Trout, I am from Denver, CO; and I do want to catch a Bonneville Cutthroat Trout, is East Allen Lake my best bet for lakes that are relatively close or should I look else where?Thanks for your timeTy
Did the WGF department stock tiger trout into the Narrows Reservoir? (SW WY)
Hi Game & Fish,Got a few questions concerning Lake DeSmet:1) With the reports and looks to be some "proof" of a couple Lake Trout being caught at Lake Desmet this winter, is it possible that these made their way into the water when filling up the lake through the Piney Creek Canal years back and spawning has taken place? 2) Or is it another illegal stocking has accord? 3) Through the years of netting practices done through the G&F at the Lake has a Lake Trout been netted? 4) Is this a concern for the fishery down the road or (probably) to early to tell?Thanks I appreciate your time!
Good questions. Just got more proof of lake trout being caught this winter with a few photos delivered to me today. The only stocking records for lake trout in Lake DeSmet was in 1936, so it is quite possible for these lake trout to find their way in through the canal. Whether these come from the lakes above that have lake trout, or some of these are escapees from the Story Hatchery is difficult to say. What lake trout are present should be able to reproduce, but this is the first year we've seen smaller lakers. I would highly doubt that this is an illegal stocking. The closest water with lake trout would be Kearney Reservoir and I doubt they would survive the ATV ride. We sample lake trout on occasion with our sampling gear, but in the eight years I've been here, we've put our hands on 5 of them. The fish we found were large, 4 to 25 pounds. We do not set our nets to specifically catch lake trout, so I guess it's difficult for us to say what the population looks like. On the other hand, if the lake trout population was high, we would likely sample more than 5 in eight years. At this point I don't believe that there is any concern. The population of lake trout is likely low and we stock catchable sized trout to get around the walleye (which was illegally introduced). These catchables should be able to avoid lake trout as well. Hope this helps.
Are the lake trout viewed as detrimental to the fishery? I know De Smet has the depth for them, but would it have a noticeable effect on the rainbows, cutthroats, and browns? I've often wondered why there is not a large population of lake trout.
Another one for Desmet. Has the WYGF ever discussed the idea of commencing lake trout stocking in the future?