June 2022 - 2

That trout starts at a hatchery
By Brian Nesvik
I
n Wyoming the first Saturday in June is Free Fishing
Day when anyone can fish for free without a license.
It's well-known as the day lots of budding anglers
catch their first fish. I've helped affix a worm on a hook
or two at some of our many events around the state in
June to help inspire kids to love fishing. I often tell them
that wriggling trout on their line may have come from a
fish hatchery.
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department boasts 10 fish hatcheries
and rearing stations across the state, all welcoming visitors
year-round. But, summer is a particularly good time to plan a visit
to see how Game and Fish raises and stocks more than 6.5 million
fish to more than 450 waters near you. Along the road to visit
Wyoming's hallmark destinations like the Tetons or Devils Tower, a
fish hatchery could add even more memories to a summer getaway.
There are not very many places where you can see fish up close in
all stages of their lives.
Our state's hatcheries and rearing stations raise a variety of species
from cutthroat trout, kokanee salmon, splake and many others to
provide quality fishing opportunities in Wyoming's waters. Their
work is crucial to supplementing Wyoming native trout populations
like Yellowstone cutthroat trout and offer more recreation opportunities
to anglers.
We also keep angler's desires in mind, and that's why Wyoming's
hatcheries continue to grow and innovate. After years of work and
research, Wyoming has found success in managing the only active
kokanee salmon broodstock program in the United States. Game and
Fish stocks nearly 1.7 million kokanee annually in Wyoming waters,
formerly relying on fry from wild fish. That required fish culturists
to capture kokanee in the wild, spawn them on-site and release the
fish back into the water. But as demand for kokanee grew, so did
the pressure on wild populations. Now, the broodstock fish can be
maintained in captivity as a source of replacement or enhancement
of a population. Maintaining this resource is good news for anglers
as interest in pursuing the state's landlocked salmon grows.
Hatcheries are the key to providing diverse fishing opportunities,
not only with what they raise but also what they trade. Occasionally
trout produced in our facilities are traded with neighboring states
2 | June 2022
so Game and Fish can stock a variety of fish that we can't raise in
our cold-water hatcheries, like bass, catfish and walleye. But, that's
changing as one of our hatcheries - Dan Speas Hatchery near
Casper - is growing its capacity to raise warm- and cool-water
species in-state. That change is important for our supply of fish and
also protecting the state from aquatic invasive species.
If you drive on Wyoming highways this summer, you'll see our
distribution trucks hauling fish from hatcheries to stock. You can
find out where they drop fish on the stocking webpage on the Game
and Fish website. See monthly reports that include information
regarding when/where the fish were stocked, species, average size of
fish and which hatchery the fish came from. This is a great resource
for planning your next Wyoming fishing adventure - and reeling
in a healthy Wyoming native.
Ten Sleep Fish Hatchery. (Photo by Chris Martin)
Visit a fish hatchery this summer
To plan your visit, Game and Fish hatcheries are open 8 a.m. until
5 p.m. daily. Driving directions and information on species are
available on the Game and Fish website. The locations include:
Auburn - Auburn Hatchery
Boulder - Boulder Fish Rearing Station
Clark - Clark's Fork Hatchery
Casper - Dan Speas Rearing Station
Daniel - Daniel Fish Hatchery
Dubois - Dubois Fish Hatchery
Story - Story Hatchery
Ten Sleep - Ten Sleep Hatchery
Tillett - Tillett Springs Rearing Station
Ten Sleep - Wigwam Rearing Station
https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Fishing-and-Boating/Fish-Hatchery-Information
June 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of June 2022
