Wyoming Game and Fish stocks over 6.5 million fish in 2021; Casper’s Dan Speas Fish Hatchery expanding to raise walleye
CASPER, Wyo. — The Wyoming Video game and Fish Division stated on Tuesday that it is wrapping up fish stocking efforts for the 12 months soon after putting around 6.5 million fish into waters throughout the point out. About 7.1 million fish have been stocked in 2020.
The section stocked fish into 368 h2o bodies in Wyoming throughout the yr in purchase to deliver fishing options for anglers.
“The the vast majority of fish — cold-h2o varieties of trout — appear from the department’s 10 hatcheries and rearing stations throughout Wyoming,” Game and Fish explained. “To give extra assortment for anglers, Game and Fish trades trout or trout eggs with other states for great and heat h2o species like catfish, bass, northern pike and walleye.”
“These trades are necessary for the reason that Recreation and Fish does not have a fish hatchery able of rearing these heat-drinking water species. But, that capability is bit by bit shifting.”
Video game and Fish studies that the Dan Speas Fish Hatchery in the Casper spot “continued it’s great/heat-drinking water growth trials to raise walleye” this 12 months. The section mentioned that walleye are “one of the most well-known sportfish in Wyoming.”
“Put simply — these trials are very progressive,” Sport and Fish Main of Fisheries Alan Osterland mentioned. “Game and Fish’s lifestyle part has identified the enhanced popularity of these awesome/heat-water species in Wyoming. These trials are the 1st move in a ongoing effort and hard work to give Wyoming anglers outstanding fishing alternatives.”
Sport and Fish also highlighted initiatives at the Tillett Springs Rearing Station to raise kokanee salmon, which the office says are a “native land-locked salmon” that are starting to be more and more well-known between anglers.
“We observed a sturdy 12 months of elevating kokanee,” Video game and Fish Fish Society Supervisor Dude Campbell claimed. “The broodstock generated about 2.5 million eggs this calendar year. It is exceptional mainly because our program was formerly dependent on Wyoming’s wild inhabitants for eggs, now we are incredibly self-adequate to raise kokanee for anglers. We should really be able to meet up with all stocking calls for for kokanee next summer time.”
Game and Fish stated that Wyoming is the only condition that has captive kokanee broodstock. It is also the only point out with captive golden trout broodstock, which are housed at the Story Hatchery.
The section also highlighted attempts to raise Bear River cutthroat trout in 2021. The species is elevated at equally the Dan Speas Fish Hatchery and Wigwam Rearing Station.
“We stocked 425,000 Bear River cutthroat in 2020, and 839,000 in 2021,” Sport and Fish Assistant Fish Society Supervisor Travis Trimble said. “A couple of a long time back again, fish biologists commenced noticing this species was exhibiting up in the creel and in their sampling attempts far more and a lot more. Not only demonstrating up, but also in terrific issue. Therefore, regional fish supervisors have been requesting this species in their location for anglers in larger quantities.”
Game and Fish provides stocking experiences courting back again to 1985 on the net.