Saying goodbye to a friend

OUR MISSION:

Conserving, protecting and restoring Wyoming’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds

WYOMING COUNCIL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

 Kathy Buchner

Jackson Hole..........................................Chair

 Sadie Valdez

Rock Springs..................................Vice Chair

 Tom Brown

Cody................................................Secretary

 Jim Hissong

Mountain View.................................Treasurer

 Werner Studer

Casper............................NLC Representative

 Dave Sweet

Cody...................................At Large Member

 John Madia

Sheridan.............................At Large Member

 John Burrows

Lander................................At Large Member

 Cole Sherard

Laramie...........................................Past Chair

 Mike Jensen

Cheyenne...................Council Coordinator

WYOMING

Trout Unlimited Chapters

 Curt Gowdy

 East Yellowstone

 Grey Reef

 Jackson Hole

 Laramie Valley

 Platte Valley

 Popo Agie Anglers

 Powder River Basin

 Seedskadee

 Star Valley

 Upper Bear River

 Upper Green River

To join Trout Unlimited today, go to tu.org and click on the “Memberships & Giving” tab. Then choose “become a member.”

March 6 was a sad day. During a phone call that morning with Trout Unlimited’s Wyoming Water and Habitat Program Director, Cory Toye, he asked me if I had heard that Craig Amadio passed away. I hadn’t. I didn’t know what to say. Cory and I sat in silence for several minutes before resuming what turned out to be a subdued phone call.

I first met Craig when he was a fish biologist with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and working out of the Green River regional office. He and his supervisor at the time, Robb Keith, were very helpful as several of us in Evanston were trying to revitalize the Trout Unlimited chapter there.

Craig was always there for the chapter, especially when it came to shocking fish on the Bear River, and working with local students involved in the Adopt-A-Trout program.

Craig also worked in Cody and his beloved Lander as regional fisheries supervisor, where he also worked closely with local Trout Unlimited chapters in those communities.

Needless to say, Craig will be sorely missed by many.

Robb Keith, Craig’s good friend from Green River said it best when he said “Craig’s passing is tragic. He was so young and so talented. I was looking forward to many more hunting and fishing trips with him.”

Amen. May he rest in peace.

On behalf of the 1,600-plus Trout Unlimited members in Wyoming, a special thanks goes to Werner Studer, who is nearing the end of his final term as National Leadership Council (NLC) Representative. For five years, Werner served the Wyoming council, chapters and members on a national level, where he was on several TU and NLC committees.

A new Wyoming NLC representative will be elected at the upcoming WYTU Spring Council meeting in Rawlins on May 6.

Mike Jensen currently serves as the Wyoming Council Coordinator for Trout Unlimited, and he and his wife, Jodi, call the Cheyenne area home. When he’s not at his desk, puttering around the “Lazy J” Ranch with the dog or tying a few flies, you’ll find him driving his drift boat in search of big Wyoming trout. Email Mike at mike.jensen@tu.org.

OBITUARY Craig Amadio

April 25, 1975 — March 2, 2023

CraigAmadio, age 47, of Lander, Wyoming, passed away on March 2, 2023, with family and friends by his side. He was loved and will be greatly missed.

Craig was born onApril 25, 1975, in Lander, Wyoming. The son of Chuck and BarbaraAmadio, he grew up in Lander, where his early years were spent with friends re-creating Star Wars adventures, making Batman and Robin memories, playing soccer, or enjoying a neighborhood game in the yard. He was an imaginative child and good brother, often letting his little sister tag along in the adventures. He was an incredible artist, taking after his mother, with a beautiful gift for drawing.

From an early age, Craig developed a love of the outdoors. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, boating and camping with family and friends. He loved music and was never so happy as being at a bluegrass festival or a Grateful Dead concert. Craig loved social settings and never met a stranger. He was a fan of sports and would carry on a conversation about the latest sports news with anyone in earshot, but he particularly enjoyed these conversations with his mom. He was especially a fan of NASCAR, the St. Louis Cardinals and the Buffalo Bills.

Craig graduated from Lander Valley High School in 1993 and earned a bachelor of science degree in Fish and Wildlife Management and master of science in Zoology and Physiology from the University of Wyoming. He worked as a fisheries biologist and fisheries supervisor for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department for over 20 years in Green River, Cody and Lander. Craig credited his dad for influencing his career choice by taking him hunting and fishing before he could even walk. His passion for fishing and his career with the Game and Fish brought him countless memories and friendships that grew into family.

Craig is survived by his mother, Barbara; sister, Megan; aunts, LouAnn (Bart) Miller, Nikki (Dennis)Amadio and Mary (Neal) Johnson;Amadio and Johnson cousins; and the Steensland family. He was preceded in death by his father, ChuckAmadio;Amadio grandparents; Johnson grandparents; and uncles, DennisAmadio, PaulAmadio, Richard Johnson and Neal Johnson.

Amemorial service was held on March 11 at the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Lander.

Memorial donations in Craig’s name may be mailed directly to the PopoAgieAnglers Trout Unlimited Chapter, PO Box 98, Lander, WY 82520.

Information needed for Wyoming history of fishing

Cheryl O’Brien from Dubois, is conducting research on early (late 1800s to 1970s) Wyoming fishing tackle makers (rods, reels, flies, lures, equipment, etc.). She is working to document their craftsmanship and contributions made to our Wyoming history of fishing.

If you have any information to share about early Wyoming tackle makers, please contact Cheryl at (307) 455-2314 or email her at cherobrien@dteworld.com.

More than 100 anglers completed the Wyoming Cutt-Slam challenge in 2022

CHEYENNE – It was another successful year for anglers involved in one of the more unique fishing challenges offered by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.The Wyoming Cutt-Slam capped its 26th year in 2022, with 123 anglers who documented catching the state’s four native subspecies of cutthroat trout – Bonneville, Colorado, Snake River and Yellowstone.

It is the fifth consecutive year more than 100 anglers achieved this feat – a positive trend for one of the most prestigious fishing challenges. Since the Cutt-Slam’s inception in 1996, the club’s membership has grown to 2,213 anglers .

“Completing the Cutt-Slam is a great way to learn about Wyoming’s four native subspecies of cutthroat trout and see some fantastic country while you are doing it,” said Alan Osterland, fisheries chief for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. “It can also be a great family project, spending quality time outdoors fishing.”

Cutt-Slam recipients receive a personalized certificate and vehicle decal from Game and Fish, and since the summer of 2018, a medallion from Wyoming Trout Unlimited.

The CuttSlam was the idea of the late Ron Remmick, a former Game and Fish fisheries supervisor in the Green River and Pinedale regions who worked for the department for

25 years. Remmick developed the Cutt-Slam to draw attention and appreciation for the habitat needs and management efforts for Wyoming’s cutthroat species.

The Cutt-Slam program continues to garner interest and support for native cutthroat trout conservation,” Osterland said.”In addition, it is a great way to spend time exploring Wyoming’s great outdoors.Thanks to all who have participated, and thanks to Trout Unlimited for their continued support.” different trophy-length species designate someone as a Trophy Angler, carrying the same prizes as a Master Angler and a commemorative medallion.

Those who catch 10 different trophy species get the title of Ultimate Angler and earn the Trophy Angler prizes as well as a special prize package.

Anglers can use the information from the Master Angler webpage to see which waters have yielded trophy fish to plan out their own pursuits.

CHEYENNE – Eleven more Wyoming anglers can say they mastered the state’s waters.The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is happy to announce the newest Ultimate Anglers who caught 10 different species of trophy-sized fish in Wyoming. The achievement is recognized as part of the department’s Master Angler program.

“Congratulations to those eleven anglers,” said Wyoming Game and Fish Department Deputy Chief of Fisheries Dirk Miller. “It’s certainly not an easy task to catch 10 trophy-sized fish, but it’s a lot of fun and time spent outside enjoying our waters.”

Since the program’s launch, 32 anglers have achieved Ultimate Angler status.This year, two Wyoming teens — at the age of 15 — became the youngest anglers to earn Ultimate Angler Status.

Trophy fish represent the largest fish in the state — the top 5 percent — of the 24 eligible species. Some fisheries in Wyoming are managed for trophy sizes while others are for high-catch rates and species diversity.

Participating in the Master Angler program is easy, even if catching a trophy is challenging.An angler who lands a fish that meets or exceeds the minimum qualifying length from snout to the tip of a pinched tail must take and submit a side-view photograph of the fish. Include in the photograph an object, like a ruler or a coin, to validate the length. Submit the photo, angler information and details about the species and where it was caught on the Game and Fish website. Catching one trophysized fish earns the title of master angler, a species-specific sticker and recognition on the Game and Fish website. Five

Saturday, June 3 is free fishing day in Wyoming

You can fish without a license on Free Fishing Day! Each year, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department designates the first Saturday of National Boating and Fishing Week as a free fishing day when anyone can fish in Wyoming without a fishing license.

National Boating and Fishing Week is a celebration that highlights the importance of recreational boating and fishing in enhancing quality of life and preserving our country’s national beauty.

All fishing regulations, creel and size limits, gear restrictions, and stream closures remain in effect.

So take this opportunity to celebrate this special day by going fishing with family and friends.

Governor appoints two new game and fish commissioners

CHEYENNE –The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission met in Rock Springs last month for its March meeting.Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon’s new appointees to the Commission started their service at that meeting.

Those two new members are Rusty Bell from Campbell County and John Masterson from Natrona County.

Each is appointed to a six-year term.

The Commission elected Ralph Brokaw as president and Richard Ladwig as vice president.

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