Heat Is Making Catch And Release Deadly For Wyoming Trout Right Now
Extreme heat poses serious challenges for some of Wyoming's favorite pastimes, like fishing. Especially if you're fishing for trout on one of Wyoming's incredible fisheries.
Even Yellowstone National Park has adjusted the fishing times on some of its rivers due to the heat. Fishing will be closed from 2 pm until dawn the next day at the following:
- The Madison River and all associated tributaries
- The Firehole River and all associated tributaries
- The Gibbon River and all associated tributaries downstream of Norris Campground
I know, it's summertime, and you just want to have a line in the water from the time you wake up until dark, but when water temperatures rise, you need to change your plans. With air temperatures predicted to be in the 90s to 100s, now is the time to be an early riser and get off the water earlier than normal for the sake of the fish.
Trout will die when exposed to water temperatures above 75 degrees. When the water heats up, there is less oxygen, which in turn stresses the fish out. When you practice catch & release, you're putting additional stress on the fish, and, in turn, fish mortality increases.
Wyoming Game and Fish's Matt Hahn recommends that when water temperatures rise to 70 or above, if you catch trout, keep your limit and don't practice catch-and-release.
Other ways you can be a responsible angler:
- Fish earlier in the morning when the water temperatures are cooler
- Monitor the water temperatures by carrying a thermometer
- When you catch a fish, keep it in the water as much as possible
- Don't squeeze the fish or put your fingers in the gills
- Be gentle when you're removing the hook.
- If the fish doesn't look like it's going to survive, keep it (remember to know what your creel limit and the minimum size that you're able to keep)