Air and water temperatures are soaring across the state and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department is asking anglers to suspend catch and release fishing during the hottest times of the day. “This summer has been a hot and dry one and that means the Green River is low and
warming quickly and the surface temperatures on Flaming Gorge Reservoir are warming rapidly,” said Green River Fisheries Supervisor Robert Keith. “Being caught and released is stressful on any fish, but especially on kokanee salmon and trout. Anglers should give fish a
break as water temperatures reach over 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The warmer water stresses fish and being caught and released stresses them even more. Fish handling mortality can be quite high when water temperatures get over 70F. Even if a fish swims away from an angler it does not mean it is going to survive.” Keith checked the water temperature at 4:30 p.m. on June 29 a short distance upstream of the Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters and it was 70 degrees Fahrenheit. “The river is likely to get very warm this July and August,” Keith said. “If folks are going to fish the Green River they should fish early or late in the day and give the trout a break during the hottest Fish survival rates in Flaming Gorge Reservoir are also a concern, as the water temperature in local reservoirs is also warming up. For kokanee, the death rate is higher than other fish species because they are more fragile than other fish. Surface temperatures are currently in the mid-60’s and warming daily. The kokanee are living at depths of 45 to 65 feet where the water temperature is around 45 degrees Fahrenheit. The more than 20 degree temperature change from depth to the surface is stressful to the fish. Add to that the stress of being caught, handled, and released. The result is some kokanee swimming away to die.” 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.
warming quickly and the surface temperatures on Flaming Gorge Reservoir are warming rapidly,” said Green River Fisheries Supervisor Robert Keith. “Being caught and released is stressful on any fish, but especially on kokanee salmon and trout. Anglers should give fish a
break as water temperatures reach over 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The warmer water stresses fish and being caught and released stresses them even more. Fish handling mortality can be quite high when water temperatures get over 70F. Even if a fish swims away from an angler it does not mean it is going to survive.” Keith checked the water temperature at 4:30 p.m. on June 29 a short distance upstream of the Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters and it was 70 degrees Fahrenheit. “The river is likely to get very warm this July and August,” Keith said. “If folks are going to fish the Green River they should fish early or late in the day and give the trout a break during the hottest Fish survival rates in Flaming Gorge Reservoir are also a concern, as the water temperature in local reservoirs is also warming up. For kokanee, the death rate is higher than other fish species because they are more fragile than other fish. Surface temperatures are currently in the mid-60’s and warming daily. The kokanee are living at depths of 45 to 65 feet where the water temperature is around 45 degrees Fahrenheit. The more than 20 degree temperature change from depth to the surface is stressful to the fish. Add to that the stress of being caught, handled, and released. The result is some kokanee swimming away to die.” 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment