Monday, December 5, 2011

Burbot Bash

Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, Wyoming/Utah…Local Chambers of Commerce and state wildlife departments have joined forces to fight back against an unwelcome invader in Lake Flaming Gorge. The culprit is an illegally stocked fish known as a burbot or ling, a freshwater cod native to waters east of the continental divide. This invasive species has been found in Flaming Gorge and is having a devastating effect on the sport fishery.
At last winter’s Burbot Bash, biologists from Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR), tagged 505 burbot prior to the kick-off on January 22nd. Ryan Mosley from UDWR said “A total of 485 participants registered for the tournament and collectively harvested 4022 burbot in 7-days. Total weight of all those burbot was over 3 tons!
In response to this threat, the Green River, Rock Springs, Vernal and Flaming Gorge Chambers of Commerce have joined to promote the Burbot Bash – a four day fishing derby to be held January 25-28, 2012. These chambers will work in partnership with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
“We are excited about using the Burbot Bash as a forum to increase public awareness of this threat to the Flaming Gorge fishery”, says Janet Hartford, executive director of the Green River Chamber of Commerce. “It is also a great way to introduce anglers to the family-friendly sport of ice fishing that is so popular throughout the winter on Lake Flaming Gorge.”

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