March 2021 - 9

Erik Waring, Game and Fish statewide response specialist, holds a trophy-sized brown trout from the upper Green River.
(Photo by Darren Rhea/WGFD)

Wyoming Game and Fish Department Fisheries Biologist Darren
Rhea measures a trout during a survey of the population in the
upper Green River. (Photo by Mark Gocke/WGFD)

Green River and not a single angler reported
harvesting a trout, despite catching and
releasing hundreds of fish, " Rhea said.
The portion of the river sampled near
Big Piney smashed historic records. Trout
numbers were estimated at 560 per mile.
" We have seen estimates of trout numbers
higher in this reach, but we have never seen
a biomass estimate anywhere near what we
recorded in 2020, " Rhea said.
Biomass estimates account for the total
pounds of fish in the water. Despite similar
numbers of fish in the river compared to
previous years, the trout population is made

Despite the current circumstances and
short-term prospects of the fishery, Rhea
said he is encouraged by the outcome from
the 2020 sampling effort.
" Overall it indicates the river is healthy
and resilient to annual changes in climate
and flow, " he said. " For close to 20 years, I
have witnessed the ups and downs in the river
fishery as a result of dry and wet periods, but
if we continue to care for our water and land
and make the best use of our resources, I am
certain the Green River fishery will persist
for many generations to enjoy. "

up of much larger individuals than past years.
By all accounts, 2020 may have been the
" glory days " of fishing on the Green River.
Unfortunately, Rhea doesn't expect that to
persist. Continued drought conditions and
low flows do not bode well for future fish
populations. Lower than average discharge
means less winter habitat and reduced survival for many fish in the river.
" I suspect we will see a drop in overall
fish numbers in 2021, and without significant snowfall during the winter, we may see
dramatic impacts that will last for a period
of years, " Rhea said.

- WGFD staff

Brown trout made up more than 80 percent of the species of fish during the most recent fish survey along the Forty-Rod reach of the upper Green River in western Wyoming. (Photo by Mark Gocke/WGFD)

Wyoming Wildlife | 9

March 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March 2021

Cover
From the Director
In this issue
A couple pennies
Mailbag
Opening shot
News
Ask Game and Fish
Project profiles
Case files
In the field
Tracking the rarest carnivores
Seeking the slam
A family matter
Getting kids outside
Wild country dispatch
Backpage
March 2021 - Cover
March 2021 - From the Director
March 2021 - In this issue
March 2021 - A couple pennies
March 2021 - Mailbag
March 2021 - Opening shot
March 2021 - 7
March 2021 - News
March 2021 - 9
March 2021 - 10
March 2021 - 11
March 2021 - Ask Game and Fish
March 2021 - Project profiles
March 2021 - Case files
March 2021 - 15
March 2021 - In the field
March 2021 - 17
March 2021 - Tracking the rarest carnivores
March 2021 - 19
March 2021 - 20
March 2021 - 21
March 2021 - 22
March 2021 - 23
March 2021 - 24
March 2021 - 25
March 2021 - Seeking the slam
March 2021 - 27
March 2021 - 28
March 2021 - 29
March 2021 - 30
March 2021 - 31
March 2021 - A family matter
March 2021 - 33
March 2021 - 34
March 2021 - 35
March 2021 - 36
March 2021 - 37
March 2021 - Getting kids outside
March 2021 - 39
March 2021 - 40
March 2021 - 41
March 2021 - 42
March 2021 - 43
March 2021 - 44
March 2021 - 45
March 2021 - Wild country dispatch
March 2021 - 47
March 2021 - Backpage
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https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/january-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/dec-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/october-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/september-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/wyominggame/WyomingWildlife/august-2021
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