December 2024 - 16

IN THE FIELD
Weight and length measurements of fish from electrofishing helps Wyoming Game and Fish Department personnel determine the health of the fishery. (Photo by Janet Milek/WGFD)
Taking a closer
look at fish populations
Game and Fish conducts electrofishing along the North Platte River
By Janet Milek
I
n the light of an early morning in October,
a small crew of fisheries biologists from
the Wyoming Game and Fish Department
assembled along the banks of the
North Platte River. As they gathered, each
biologist made quiet observations about the
river's surrounding area. One comment was
on willow growth, another on the number
of buffalo berries along the banks. Dressed
in waders and equipped with specialized jet
boats, they prepared for another day of electrofishing
in one of the West's most prolific
blue ribbon trout fisheries. This effort sheds
light on the health of the river and informs
future management strategies for the river's
trout population.
16 | December 2024
The Casper crew of seasoned fisheries professionals
and technicians has more than 60
years of combined experience managing this
fishery. Matt Hahn, who managed the river
system before becoming the crew supervisor,
emphasized the importance of the science and
data behind the effort.
" I was lucky enough to learn and continue
to learn from those before me, " Hahn said.
" Retired fisheries biologists often stop in
to check on the fishery's legacy and always
report on their fishing experience. They left
great data for us to continue to build on.
Going back to the 1980s and even before,
the data they collected helps us understand
the fish population dynamics in the North
Platte River. "
When electrofishing, biologists use
" Retired fisheries biologists often
stop in to check on the fishery's
legacy and always report on their
fishing experience. They left great
data for us to continue to build on. "
- Matt Hahn
specialized equipment to send an electric current
through the water. This temporarily stuns
fish and allows biologists to net them quickly
for weight and length measurements and a
quick visual assessment for species, body condition
and injury. This technique is designed
to minimize harm to the fish.

December 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2024

December 2024 - 1
December 2024 - 2
December 2024 - 3
December 2024 - 4
December 2024 - 5
December 2024 - 6
December 2024 - 7
December 2024 - 8
December 2024 - 9
December 2024 - 10
December 2024 - 11
December 2024 - 12
December 2024 - 13
December 2024 - 14
December 2024 - 15
December 2024 - 16
December 2024 - 17
December 2024 - 18
December 2024 - 19
December 2024 - 20
December 2024 - 21
December 2024 - 22
December 2024 - 23
December 2024 - 24
December 2024 - 25
December 2024 - 26
December 2024 - 27
December 2024 - 28
December 2024 - 29
December 2024 - 30
December 2024 - 31
December 2024 - 32
December 2024 - 33
December 2024 - 34
December 2024 - 35
December 2024 - 36
December 2024 - 37
December 2024 - 38
December 2024 - 39
December 2024 - 40
December 2024 - 41
December 2024 - 42
December 2024 - 43
December 2024 - 44
December 2024 - 45
December 2024 - 46
December 2024 - 47
December 2024 - 48
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https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/December2020
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