June 2022 - 4

A COUPLE PENNIES
WYOMING
WILDLIFE
Sticking with
what works
By Robert Gagliardi, associate editor
I'm a creature of habit and like to stick
to routines. Whether it is work, exercising
or doing things around the house, there
are specific ways I like to do things.
Fishing is no different, at least for the
first outing each year when I pursue my
favorite species - brook trout. For the
better part of a decade I venture to the
same place, fish a certain way and more
often than not have decent success.
Where I go is no secret. A lot of people
know this spot - or in this case two spots
within a short distance from each other.
In fact, I've encountered people every year
of this pattern who have the same idea as
me or are out for a walk.
Both spots are beaver ponds, and
depending on the weather it varies when
these waters are fishable. I've gone as early
as March and as late as May. This year
was late-April.
Both spots require a little walking.
The first is a series of two beaver ponds.
One pond has seen better days, but one
end still holds some decent brook trout.
The second pond looks great. I've caught
numerous brookies 14 inches and larger
out of it. This year the average was around
12 inches - pretty good for a pond that's
easy to access.
The second spot requires more of a
walk and is about 2 miles to-and-from
the truck. There is a road that takes you to
this set of ponds, but access is closed until
late May. The walk is nice - nicer when
the weather is good. It's also a chance for
my two golden retrievers to burn some
energy before I throw a line in the water.
Both ponds are big and healthy with
an abundance of fish. More often than
4 | June 2022
The author's golden retriever puppy, Hank, chews on a
stick while the author takes a break after a successful first
fishing outing of the year. (Photo by Robert Gagliardi)
How to subscribe
not the action is good. I usually walk the
face of one pond, fish it and when done
get to the other side and play with the
dogs before traipsing to the other pond.
On this day the action wasn't as good
as previous years, but not bad. Fun was
had, and the dogs got in some swimming
at both ponds between casts.
Another routine with these two spots
- this is the only time of year I fish them.
Although I'm mostly a catch-and-release
angler, I prefer to leave spots alone for the
year after one trip. There are exceptions,
but it feels good to have fun and success
at a place and leave it for the next person.
These spots have become ingrained in
my fishing process over the years, and even
though they are the same there's always
something different about them each year.
It's fun to find new places, but I don't see
my early-season routine of going to these
spots changing anytime soon - at least
if I have anything to say about it.
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VOLUME 86, NUMBER 6 * JUNE 2022
State of Wyoming
Wyoming Game and Fish Commission
Governor
President
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Commissioner
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Kenneth Roberts, Kemmerer
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Ashlee Lundvall, Powell
Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Director
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June 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of June 2022
