The Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Green River fish management staff expressed concerns for catch and release fishing in the warmer weather in a press release this past week.
The staff is concerned about the fish in our area, especially the trout below the Fontenelle Reservoir and the kokanee in the Flaming Gorge Reservoir.
“Trout experience significant mortality at prolonged exposure to water temperatures greater than 75 degrees Fahrenheit and brief exposure to temperatures over 80 degrees are lethal,” Troy Laughlin, Green River Fisheries Biologist, said.
“As water levels drop and water temperatures rise we are asking anglers fishing on the Green River to monitor water temperatures while fishing. Even if a fish swims away from an angler it does not mean it is going to survive.”
Laughlin suggests fishing early when temperatures are cooler and monitor the waters temperature as the sun rises; once it is at or above 70 degrees you should stop for the day.
“Catch and release mortality is a concern for all sport fish in Flaming Gorge Reservoir, especially kokanee,” Green River Fisheries Biologist John Walrath said.
“For kokanee, the death rate is higher because kokanee don’t handle well the stress of being caught and released, even when the water is cold. Survival of released kokanee plummets when surface water temperatures warm to above 65 degrees Farhenheit.”
“Kokanee fishing has been good this year, but with current warm water temperatures anglers need to stop catching and releasing kokanee,” Walrath said.
“If you are fishing for kokanee, we recommend you stop fishing after you catch your limit, especially when surface temperatures are warm and the kokanee are deep. Surface temperatures are reaching the low 70’s on hot days. The kokanee are living at depths where the water temperature is around 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Under ideal conditions some kokanee die as a result of the stress of being caught, handled, and released. Add to that the more than 20 degree temperature change from depth to the surface and post release mortality skyrockets.
The result is dead kokanee floating on the surface. Flaming Gorge kokanee anglers are getting tired of seeing kokanee floating on the surface after being released by unethical anglers.”
“If you must catch and release kokanee never bring them into the boat,” Walrath said. “The best strategy is to give the fish some slack and try to shake it free. Second best is to net the fish with a rubberized net keeping the fish in the water at all times. Carefully remove the hook and release the fish. If you release a fish and it floats to the surface, turn the boat around, collect the fish, and add it to your limit.”
“A kokanee that floats on the surface is not going to survive. Anglers planning to harvest fish can reduce their impact to the fishery by harvesting the first few fish they catch instead of releasing small fish in an effort to take big fish home,” Walrath said. “Be sure to bring a cooler and plenty of ice to keep the fish fresh after harvesting it and during transport.”
For more information about catch and releasing fish properly call the Green River Region Game and Fish Office at 307-875-3223.
Anglers will find additional information at the Game and Fish website wgfd@wyo.gov
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