Flaming Gorge Regulation Change

It’s pretty common catching one of these badboys in Flaming Gorge Reservoir-lake trout in the 30+ pound range are the goal of many anglers who visit here. But the abundance of “smaller” lake trout of the 18-22 inch variety has caused higher predation of other game fish species, particularly kokanee salmon. And it’s prompted the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to propose changing up a few regulations at the gorge. In mid-May, Game and Fish biologists conducted annual netting of lake trout at the gorge, weighing and measuring the fish and sampling stomachs to see what they’ve been feeding on. Green River Region Fisheries Biologist John Walrath says one proposal is changing the status of lake trout at the gorge…
“One of the regulations we’re proposing right now is to reclassify the lake trout at just Flaming Gorge as a nongame species. And we’re proposing to maintain the one over 28-so for anglers that catch a fish over 28 inches, they can keep only one of those then everything smaller than 28 inches would be on limited harvest…”
The large numbers of 18-22 inch lake trout, aren’t giving kokanee and rainbow trout populations a shot at growing larger, despite stocking efforts. In the past, anglers have preferred not to keep smaller lake trout in the hopes the fish grow to ones like these….
“…but they have expressed interest in that they would be willing to help the gorge fishery and harvest some of these fish. Going to a nongame harvest status allows those anglers to catch those lake trout under 28 inches and legally dispose of them if they want to…”
Another regulation proposal is reducing the creel limit on kokanee from four to three. If approved by the Game and Fish Commission, the regulations would go into effect October 1. These proposals only apply to Flaming Gorge Reservoir, including the stretch into Utah. This fish here is a nice one; it’s exactly the kind of fish the department hopes anglers hone in on…
“…a fish like this might have a quarter of its diet composed of kokanee and other sport fish, so we know just the sheer numbers of these fish can have a pretty devastating impact on all the fish we’re stocking in this reservoir…”
Public comment on the proposals ends June 10th; you can comment on the Game and Fish website. In addition to allowing disposal of edible portions of lake trout, and unlimited harvest, designation as nongame fish will allow anglers to sell edible portions, use artificial light to take lake trout with a spear gun, and allow collection of lake trout for use as dead bait. With the nongame designation, the department strongly encourages anglers to take care of their trout fillets and find others who would consume them.

[@leveractiongypsy1848]

I'm ex California Dept of Fish & Game and just returned from my first trip to Flaming gorge. I did not encounter this on the Wyoming side - but on the Utah side the amount of un checked cattle grazing in the riparian needs to be addressed. What I noticed was I hiked down to Carter creek (Cub creek trail - brutal!) and there were several cows living down there. How they actually got down there is my guess they went down from the Dowd mt trail side. The point is the riparian on Carter creek was pretty bad. I cant imagine any redds lasting to term, but worse is the amount of siltation no doubt mostly from the cattle.Part of my job was walking streams and creeks in Northern California and habitat typing for quality of potential spawning. The Carter Creek watershed was re- rotenoned (East fork drainage) to kill all non native species to be entirely replanted with the native Colorado River Cutthroat trout. The Sheep Creek drainage is very important to the Kokanee and my understanding from locals there is the cows are uncontrolled there as well. Want to better the odds for Kokanee and native Cutthroat Trout against predation is to simply increase their numbers - Get the cows out the watersheds most viable for spawning trout and salmon . I like cattle and I like a good burger and steak - The simple 'win-win' situation is range fencing the riparian areas off and let the cows be where theve been - except riparian areas. Theyfence off the Pipe creek riparian as it goes directly into the A section of the Green River - because it generates alot of revenue so they dont want to harm that - well why not all the creeks going into Flaming Gorge as well and range fence all of it so cows cant get in - at least the creeks with salmonid spawning capabilities. Otherwise - why spend all the taxpayer money on rotenone and species kill, and all the money going into stocking when most of the creeks going into Flaming Gorge IF fenced off to cattle could likely cut the stocking costs in half by natual propagation? I hear the cattlemen now, "where will they get water"? They have water guzzlers on Beartop mountain for the Bighorn sheep which are native - and if we are talking native and non native species - cows are non native - give them guzzlers too. I have to say I have traveled and fished every major mountain range in the west - the uncontrolled cattle in the riparian areas of Flaming Gorge is BY FAR THE WORST IVE ENCOUNTERED - I predict if left alone the way it is it will be addressed in 10-20yrs the way I'm describing because by then it will be extremely obvious what the root of the problem is. I hope this reaches the right ears that can do the right thing -

[@Former0311]

I don’t think it is a good idea to take advice from anyone from California. Do the opposite of what California does. California has become a hell hole. It is run by numbskulls and idiots.

[@roytallericoGunner]

It was adding bass to the lake that screwed it up. The bass ate all the chubs..which was the main forage for the lake trout.

[@theastuteangler]

Amazing looking at American Fish and Game Departments. They actually take action and apply their science to serve anglers. Our Minsitry of Natural Resources in Ontario does absolutely nothing to improve angler access and fisheries. It's just year after year of data collection and saving red sided dace, with no action for anglers. Pitiful.

[@42Marica]

I’m surprised that you guys haven’t made it mandatory to always keep the lake trout mandatory to keep

[@Honks34]

Forcing people to harvest fish is so lame.

[@42Marica]

How is that lame we’re trying to protect our Fisheries from getting overrun

[@BigTuna69VCR]

Forced harvesting is lame though.

[@leveractiongypsy1848]

@@Honks34 its like saying, "Forcing police to lock up criminals is so lame" haha....you clearly dont understand so stay home. In the reservoir and below the dam on the Green River you are REQUIRED BY LAW to harvest Northern Pike, Smallmouth bass or Walleye - it is illegal to return them to the water and you would be fined if caught and you didnt. 'Harvest' doesnt mean you have to eat it - it means dont return it to the water - you are required to kill it.

[@leveractiongypsy1848]

I'd agree, lake trout are non native and are talking over. Find a Colorado River Cutthroat trout in the gorge? Rare, yet it is the native species in all the creek drainages going into the gorge

[@Former0311]

Keep the Koke limit at 4 but get rid of the lake trout.

[@BeatnTheSkunk]

What a waste to allow people to just throw them in the trash. Wyoming game and fish should be ashamed to even propse such a stupid idea!

[@imaxfli]

Why are they in FGR...they aren't native are they??????

[@outdoorsbros8977]

They’re game fish and they should stay in there.

[@Lure-Benson]

I am very interested in this fishery because it is said the fish can now be sold. I could make a business catching smoking the trout for sale

[@briggs13a]

Pull a gill and let it swim

[@phillipmclain1497]

It's not the lake trout that's destroying that lake it's the Ling cod 😂😂😂😂 they never mentioned that did they

[@OspreyFlyer]

WGFD 👎

[@42Marica]

Just because someone killed a wolf and yes, I do disagree on the way how he killed. The wolf doesn’t mean Wyoming is a state where we torture animals. I’ve lived here my entire life. I disagree with them introducing wolves because the original wolves that were here are now extinctand elk are declining nowadays because of these new wolves in my opinion, I think they should just be tranquilized and brought back to Canada where they originally were that’s where the wolves came from