June 2023 - 5

MAILBAG
A SIMILAR SPIN
In regards to Robert Gagliardi's article, " Back to
some old-school ways, " in March's Wyoming Wildlife,
he perfectly described the angst devotees of the Lowe's
Star Colorado Spinner experienced when they snagged
one of their last few spinners. This was my favorite
spinner growing up in Star Valley, and I remember my
dad complaining about having to spend a half-hour
helping his fishing buddy retrieve his spinner.
While interviewing other old-timers for my book, " A
History of Fishing in Star Valley, Wyoming, " I listened
to many similar accounts of freeing these spinners from
snags once they were no longer available in tackle shops.
One trick was to remove the two hooks and replace
them with a 6-8-inch strand of monofilament with a
lighter pound-test tippet than the leader to which the
spinner was attached. At the end of the lighter tippet
was a hook baited with a piece of nightcrawler. Hopefully
all that was lost on a snag was the baited hook.
Thanks for a great publication. I have been a faithful
reader for at least 70 years.
T. Paul Stauffer
Afton
NOT ALWAYS IN THE 50s
I enjoyed Lisa Ballard's " Nuances of the North Platte " article in the March issue. Matt Hahn, who oversees
the tailwaters of the North Platte for Game and Fish, said the water temperature below the dam stays in the
50-degree range all the time. I have fished the tailwaters below Kortes Dame for more than 50 years during
almost every month of the year, and the water temperature does not stay in the 50s all the time. I have measured
water temperatures as low as 36 degrees in February and as high as 68 in late August. Temperatures in
the 50s all the time might be better for fish growth and more comfortable for wading, but it doesn't happen
on the Kortes tailwater.
I have enjoyed your magazine for many years and I look forward to every new issue.
Dennis Hult
Boulder, Colorado
HEAD AND HEART SPINNING
Robert Gagliardi's article in the March 2023 issue
about the Colorado spinner sent me back to my youth,
and my head and heart spinning out of control. My dad
and I used the Colorado spinner almost 100 percent of
the time. Rivers and streams such as the Snake, Bear,
Smiths Fork, Blacks Fork, Gros Ventre, LaBarge, along
with other small and medium-sized creeks saw our
Colorado spinners every year.
Nothing compared to that spinner in trout attraction.
I also received the stern warning about losing my
spinners. I worked for a hardware store during my high
school days, and my supply of spinners was only limited
to the amount of money in my pocket. I lost my last
spinner some time in the 1990s. My dad had already
passed on so I only heard his lecture during my sleep.
I also have tried to find the Ark of the spinner, but
to no avail. Mr. Gagliardi, thank you for reviving my
childhood, and especially the wonderful memories of
fishing in Wyoming with my dad.
Ed Goodman
Genola, Utah
GET IN TOUCH
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wyo.gov or Wyoming Wildlife, 5400
Bishop Blvd., Cheyenne, WY 82006.
Please include your name, city and
state. Letters may be edited for grammar,
typographical errors and length.
Letters selected for publication
represent the volume received on any
given topic and their relevance to
recent issues of the magazine.
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E-EDITION
Visit wgfd.wyo.gov/magazine and
click on " manage your account "
to access the Wyoming Wildlife
e-edition.
CORRECTION
In the March issue of Wyoming
Wildlife the article, " Nuances of the
North Platte River, " stated a boat
launched on the North Platte north
of Casper. The boat was actually
launched 4 miles south of Casper.
FISH TALES
Our readers help us celebrate Fish Fridays at
facebook.com/wyomingwildlifemagazine. Visit our
Facebook page to contribute.
Submitted by Bryan Johnson
Submitted by Shandi Cary
Submitted by Niki Savage
Wyoming Wildlife | 5

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June 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of June 2023