GILLETTE, Wyo. — Wildlife managers are asking anglers to temporarily stop catching and releasing fish due to rising water temperatures.
According to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, the state is reaching an annual point where water temperatures are at their highest. Heightened water temperatures can adversely affect survival of fish, especially trout.
Fish Division Chief Alan Osterland says anglers should monitor water temps while fishing. Should water temperatures reach 70 degrees, the general recommendation is that anglers stop catching and releasing fish.
“Practice self-restraint to help fish survive,” Osterland said in a statement.
Trout can die after prolonged exposure to water temperatures greater than 75 degrees Fahrenheit, though exposure to temperatures over 80 is lethal. Any fish species caught when water temperatures approach 70 degrees has a reduced chance of survival after being caught and released by anglers, according to Game and Fish.
Warm water has less oxygen, which causes fish to stress more, Game and Fish says. Anglers who adjust their practices can help more fish survive the heat.
Anglers should play and land fish as rapidly as possible to reduce exhaustion stress and keep the fish in the water as much as possible. Do not squeeze the fish or place fingers in the gills, per Game and Fish, which advises gentle hook removal or cutting the leader entirely while leaving the hook in place.
Flies and lures are recommended whenever many fish are being caught and released, according to Game and Fish, which says barbless hooks allow easier hook removal. If a fish is exhausted and cannot hold itself upright, consider having it for supper — regulations permitting — because the fish has a poor chance of surviving.
For catch-and-release anglers, fishing should be limited to the early morning hours when water temperatures are cooler. A pocket thermometer should be on hand to monitor water temperature, and anglers should consider keeping what they catch within regulations when temps reach 65 degrees. When temps reach 70 degrees or higher, do not attempt to catch and release fish, per Game and Fish.
“These are not new regulations, just recommendations to assist with the conservation of the fishery resource,” Osterland said in a statement. “If water temperatures are too high, consider escaping the heat with a trip to another top-notch high-country fishery where it’s cooler.”
