WYOMING TROUT UNLIMITED SUMMER 2023 NEWSLETTER

The Trout Tale

Reading sign...

Afriend returned not long ago from a fishing trip to New Zealand. Understandably, he was as anxious to tell me about it as I was to hear about it. We started off talking about gin-clear streams and sight fishing for big brown trout, but as is often the case we eventually got around to more important stuff. I asked him what he learned from fishing there. He told me about what his guides had said about fishing with Yanks. It wasn’t entirely complimentary.

The consensus among his Kiwi guides was thatAmericans come to New Zealand over-equipped and under-educated. We spend big bucks on the trip itself and maybe even bigger bucks on the latest and greatest rods, reels and accessories. But we’re sloppy casters and we absolutely suck at reading the water and seeing the fish. In their experience, we think buying more gear is a substitute for acquiring more knowledge.

I have to admit that I bristled a little at this characterization. It seemed a bit harsh, and more than a bit of a gross generalization born of clear prejudice. But the more I thought about it, the more I wondered if they might not have a point. So I began looking at my own fishing habits a little more critically. The truth is, I didn’t always like what I found.

Like lots of other anglers, I came to fly fishing after years of experience in bait and gear fishing. As a result, I put way too much emphasis on simply having a line in the water and betting on luck. I was spending way too much time simply flogging the water, and not near enough time reading the water or the fish. I rushed at each new stretch of water like I was going to best it in mortal combat, and I spent almost no time studying it and thinking about where fish might be. It was only when I began to figure out (in a blinding flash of the obvious) that fish would be where they were for readily identifiable reasons that I began to catch more fish. The revelation that came was that fish like some places for the same reasons that I like some places. That foam line is the piscine equivalent of the all-you-can-eat BBQ joint. There’s great food and a lot of it, and fish don’t have to work very hard to get it. Likewise,

they pause in the pocket on the downstream side of the boulder for the same reason that anglers on the Laramie Plains put their waders on over on the leeward (not the windward) side of the truck. It’s just less work that way.And when it’s a bright, sunny day both fish and anglers are looking for someplace in the shade. It ain’t rocket science. It’s just the product of taking a few minutes to think like a fish.

And that brings up the topic of seeing fish. Granted, fish will most often be in places that are easy to spot. But it’s not like they hold up a sign that identifies them. Spotting fish is partially about looking in the right places, but it’s also about being able to see them when you’re looking. Fishing without polarized sunglasses is like hunting antelope with a bag over your head. Don’t leave home without them. But knowing what to look for is just as important. Again, it’s a matter of slowing down and analyzing the situation. It’s also a matter of knowing that you won’t always see a whole fish, maybe just the front half or the back half or maybe something that doesn’t even look like a fish at first blush. The only legit 30-inch cutthroat I’ve ever seen in Wyoming was clearly a chunk of waterlogged driftwood until she slowly finned her way to the surface to slurp down a wayward salmonfly before sinking like a submarine in a hole on Thorofare Creek.

One of the reasons I like fly fishing so much is that it demands some things of me. It demands that I be consistently learning and growing in my knowledge of the fish and the watersheds that support them. It demands that I make a connection between myself, the fish and the lands and waters that I love. It forces me to slow down and think. It rewards me when I’m smart and it reprimands me when I’m stupid. It’s like life, but more fun.

Walt Gasson recently retired from Trout Unlimited where he served as the Director of Trout Unlimited’s Endorsed Business program. He is a fourth-generation Wyoming native and has worked in conservation for over 40 years in government, non-profits and the private sector.Walt currently resides in Laramie with his beautiful wife, Kim, and is looking forward to being retired and all that it offers.You can email him at walt.gasson@gmail.com.

The official newsletter of the Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited

The Trout Tale

Summer 2023 • Volume 9, Issue 1

WesternRendezvousRegional

Greetings, fellow TUers.

I was privileged to attend the Trout Unlimited (TU) Western Regional Rendezvous in Taos, New Mexico, in May. This get-together of council and chapter leaders from the Intermountain West, along with National TU staff, was not only educational and timely, but enjoyable!

The Trout Tale is a quarterly newsletter of the Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited. The deadline for submission of articles, information, photos and content for the Fall 2023 newsletter (October, November and December) will be September 1, 2023. Send all contributions for the fall issue to Wyoming Coordinator Mike Jensen at mike.jensen@tu.org. The Trout Tale is available online at the council’s website: wyomingtu.org.

© 2023 Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited

• Mike Jensen, Newsletter Editor

• Kathy Buchner, Chair

Proud recipient of the 2014 Trout Unlimited

“Bollinger Award For Best Newsletter”

Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited P.O. Box 22182

Cheyenne,WY 82009

e-mail: mike.jensen@tu.org

Phone: 307.421.3188

www.wyomingtu.org

ON THE COVER:

Former Wyoming Council Coordinator Calvin Hazlewood (left) and current Wyoming Council Coordinator Mike Jensen admire a great summer brown trout caught last year.

Wyoming Trout Unlimited photo by Clint Kendall

Two intense days of meetings were broken down into one-hour, concurrent sessions following the tracks of “All Things New Mexico,” “Western Regional Topics,” and “Leadership and Development.” It was very difficult sometimes to choose which meetings to attend as, unfortunately, I couldn’t be in two or three places at once.

I started off with public lands — TU’s priorities on energy — apropos I thought for a state like Wyoming! According to Tasha Sorensen, TU Western Energy Lead, TU’s priorities are reforming onshore oil and gas, federal permitting, and renewable energy sources. And, as to why do we (TU) care? Seventy-four percent of the trout exist on public land!

Next up was a session on Trout in the Classroom (TIC). Three Taos area teachers shared their experiences and all agreed that TIC is a great lesson in responsibility. Students take pride in accomplishing their tasks of feeding the fish, tank cleaning, etc. They felt that nearly all ages of kids can take something away from TIC — from third grade up to eighth grade. TIC can be used to teach math, science, and writing skills.

The late afternoon session was a regional breakout session. I joined the Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming group. We discussed regional conservation issues, ways of developing strong regional partnerships on shared issues, and just got to know our fellow council leaders.

Saturday morning began with a presentation from Rob Masonis, Trout Unlimited Vice President for Western Conservation. He talked about National TU’s restructuring, that is, going to a more regional and state-based organization rather than D.C.– based. By Fall, the Rocky Mountain region (ours) will have a regional vice president. Stay tuned for more details.

Climate Change was next up. As I’ve been attending regular Zoom meetings of the Climate Change Workgroup, this was only a reinforcement of much of what I already knew. If you haven’t already done so, check out the Climate Change pages on the TU National Website for information and resources.

I even attended a session on Social Media and Advocacy: Compelling Storytelling to Make Big Things Happen! Examples discussed included the intense Social Media campaign that was instrumental in the Bristol Bay success story. Furthermore, young people are very aware of conservation issues, and we should target this 19-44 age class with our messages.

In addition to the formal sessions, there were ample opportunities to socialize with our fellow TU Council Chairs and leaders. I came away with many new contacts to continue this sharing and networking with others in the western region.

Sunday concluded with a tour of the Cimmarron River and some of the habitat work done by the New Mexico Council. Beautiful country!

Kathy Buchner has called Jackson,Wyoming, home since 1971. She served as Wyoming Trout Unlimited’s Director from 1993-2002, and has been an active advocate for trout fisheries for some 30 years. She enjoys spending time with her two grandkids (who, at 7 and 4-1/2, love to fish). Kathy can be reached by email at kbuchner@wyoming.com.

Jim Hissong elected National Leadership Council Representative for Wyoming Council

Howdy from southwest Wyoming. I am Jim Hissong, your new Trout Unlimited (TU) National Leadership Council (NLC) Representative. In the past, I have served as Wyoming Trout Unlimited (WYTU) Treasurer for five years. Also, I have held leadership positions as president and currently treasurer of Upper Bear River Trout Unlimited.

Werner Studer did a great job for five years as National Leadership Representative Rep, but he was termlimited. I requested an appointment to NLC from the WYTU Council at the spring council meeting held in Rawlins and they accepted my request. So, here I am at bottom of the learning curve, with a lot of homework.

Briefly, Trout Unlimited National’s administrative structure can be seen in the accompanying chart. Under TU’s bylaws, the NLC has three purposes:

1) Establish the National Conservation Agenda

2) Facilitate implementation of the National Conservation Agenda

3) Build the organizational capacity of Trout Unlimited.

The NLC accomplishes these three tasks by being a conduit between state councils and TU National. It is to this last point that I have developed my initial plans as WYTU NLC Rep. As I told the spring council, I am willing to traverse this big, square state and attend local TU chapter meetings. There, I can summarize, update, and discuss TU’s current strategies regarding climate change, priority waters initiatives, membership diversity, youth education, etc. In other words, feel

free to contact me and schedule me as a presenter at your TU chapter meeting(s).

Along with WYTU Council President, Kathy Buchner, I attended the Western Regional Conference in Taos, New Mexico, last month. I hobnobbed with NLC leadership to learn my role as Wyoming Rep. I asked to be appointed to NLC’s Responsible Mining and Energy workgroup along with the Youth Education workgroup. Most of the workshops I participated in focused on the water crisis in the states of the Colorado River Compact. Believe it or not, water users (read agriculture, recreationists, golf courses, native tribes, urban developers) are finally sitting at the table and talking compromise solutions. They have no choice. Time and space will not allow me to discuss the Western drought crisis here. However, you can expect an email newsletter from me after I attend a couple more info-meetings and do some research.

Thanks for your confidence in me and appointing me as your WYTU NLC Rep. I hope to see you at your TU chapter meeting soon.

Jim lives with his wife of 49 years, Susan, in Mountain View,Wyoming, along with their rescue dogs,Wrigley and Santo. GO CUBBIES! You can reach Jim by emailing him at wyohiss@gmail.com.

Board of Trustees (32)

National Leadership Council (38) and Work Groups (12)

Trout Unlimited “Bucking Fish” logo! Choose

“dad” hat!

FROM THE COORDINATOR Mike Jensen

Well, here it is. After four years of assisting the executive committee and members of Wyoming Trout Unlimited, the time has come to hang up my “coordinator hat” as well as my “editor’s hat” of The Trout Tale newsletter

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

 John Madia

Sheridan...........................................Treasurer

 Jim Hissong

Mountain View................NLC Representative

 Dave Sweet

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

 John Burrows

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

 George Phillips

Rawlins................................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.”

As I write this one last column, along with assembling the various pieces of this newsletter, I find myself reflecting upon many memories of being involved with Wyoming Trout Unlimited both as a volunteer and as a hired independent contractor for the Wyoming Council executive committee of Trout Unlimited for 13plus years. My family and I have been truly blessed and I’m fortunate to be able to reach a milestone in my life, and share with you, that after a successful 38-year career in the newspaper business (most of it in Wyoming) — and the past four years working with Wyoming Trout Unlimited — I’m going to retire on August 1.

As the headline of this column states, it’s been a hell of a ride, and one that I’ll never forget. It’s been an honor and privilege to be involved with Wyoming Trout Unlimited serving as your council coordinator and newsletter editor.

Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work and collaborate with some of the most talented Trout Unlimited staffers and volunteers found anywhere — from the very top of Trout Unlimited down to the chapter level. They are passionate. They are resourceful. They are dedicated. And I’d stack them up against anyone. They’re that good. And, it goes without saying, I’m proud to call many of them friend.

A couple of highlights from my time spent with Wyoming Trout Unlimited is when the Wyoming Council was presented the “Bollinger Award for Best Newsletter” in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in September 2014 at the national Trout Unlimited meeting.

The council also received another top award when they received the State Council Award for Excellence in 2013 at the national Trout Unlimited meeting in Madison, Wisconsin. I was proud to accept both of those awards in person and represent the many volunteers and staff who contributed to the council receiving two top-tier awards from Trout Unlimited.

The collaborative effort of so many people — volunteers and staff, alike — who have made outstanding contributions to make this newsletter what it is, and to have our work recognized by our peers, makes those awards very special. That same spirit applies to today’s volunteers and staff who work hard to showcase their incredible work and bring success to awesome projects. I only hope I played a small role in contributing to the continued success of Wyoming Trout Unlimited.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank my friend and former co-worker, Amy Ferrin. Amy is one of the finest copy editors I know and I have her to thank for making me look like I know what I’m doing with this newsletter. Thanks, Amy; you are the best.

As I say so long, I’m going to borrow some of my words from a previous newsletter column and leave you with this. The words from the chorus of one of my favorite songs — Wood Smoke in the Wind — sung by Michael Martin Murphy, along with a favorite quote from Izaak Walton.

I’m gonna get so lost, I’ll find myself again, I’m gonna drift away like wood smoke in the wind

I’m gonna get so lost, I’ll find myself again, I’m gonna drift away like wood smoke in the wind

“I have laid aside business and gone a-fishing”

— Izaak Walton

After four years, Mike Jensen is stepping away from his Wyoming Council Coordinator and newsletter editor positions with Wyoming Trout Unlimited. Mike and his wife, Jodi, call the Cheyenne area home and he always looks forward to driving his drift boat and creating more Wyoming fly fishing adventures and memories with family and good friends.

It’s been a hell of a ride...

SUMMER 2023 UPDATE

YELLOWSTONE LAKE CUTTHROAT RECOVERY

By DAVE SWEET

Wyoming Trout Unlimited Yellowstone Lake Special Project Manager and WYTU board member

It has been a while since I have provided an update to the entire Wyoming Trout Unlimited community on the status of Yellowstone Cutthroat trout recovery in Yellowstone Lake — a couple years, in fact. You may have wondered if the effort is continuing. I assure you that it is and with some very good news.

The National Park Service (NPS) has remained absolutely committed to suppressing the lake trout population, to the tune of spending about $3 million a year for the past several years. The Hickey Brothers gill-netting remains the cornerstone of the effort and is supplemented by NPS crews doing telemetry studies to locate the invasives which helps in placing the nets in optimal locations while also conducting spot suppression with gill nets.

The National Park Service (NPS) has remained absolutely committed to suppressing the lake trout populations, to the tune of $3 million a year...

The graphs (Figures 1 and 2, below and upper right) show the overall gill-netting effort along with the total number of lake trout removed per year. The gill-netting effort has remained at about 90,000 units and the total number of lake trout removed remains

high but is declining.

The most significant development of the past few years of gillnetting, however, is the precipitous decline in the number of adult (age 6+) lake trout left in the system. The netters have consistently targeted these highly predacious older fish which are the ones responsible for the reproduction. Lake trout don’t spawn until they are 5-6 years old.And, small lake trout don’t prey on the

See YELLOWSTONE LAKE PROJECT on page 7

Figure 1: Gill net effort on Yellowstone Lake, 2001-2022. Blue bars represent small meshes (1.0-1.5-inch bar mesh) and gold bars represent large meshes (1.75-2.5-inch bar mesh). Blue,red,and green dashed lines represent the primary, secondary, and tertiary effort goals set out in the Native Fish Conservation Plan (Koel et al.2010).

Figure 2: Number of Lake Trout gillnetted (bars) and catch-per-unit of effort (lines) during 2001-2022. Blue represents the smaller mesh sizes (1.0 to 1.5-inch bar) which tend to catch juveniles, and gold represents the larger mesh sizes (1.75 to 2.5-inch) which tend to catch adults.

Figure 3: Abundance estimates for age 2, age 3 to age 5, and age 6+Yellowstone Lake lake trout at the start of the year for 1998 to 2022.

cutthroats.As shown on Figure 3 (previous page, bottom right) the current adult lake trout population in the lake is now about 10 percent of what it was just 10 years ago.

That doesn’t mean that all age classes are in this same steep decline. Lake trout, like any suppressed fish population, has an amazing ability to successfully spawn and succeed in the survival of eggs to young fish. The phenomenon is called compensation. Lake trout in Yellowstone Lake have certainly exhibited this compensation as the NPS saw large numbers of young fish from the 2018 and 2019 spawning years (see Figure 3). Those fish are currently 4-5 years old and are being aggressively targeted by the gill-netters. Subsequent spawning years after 2019 have not shown the same level of compensation probably due to the continuing drop in adult lake trout numbers.

The result of these many years of lake trout suppression has been the increasing survival of cutthroat in the lake. While no specific population estimates of cutthroat numbers have been recorded; population trends are readily available from numerous studies. Each shows the same trend – the cutthroat are rebounding in good numbers. Whether it is from spawning tributary assessments, or angler surveys, or distribution netting; the results are the same. Yellowstone cutthroat numbers are rebounding and have surpassed recovery objectives. The following graph of the past 50 years of cutthroat population assessment tells a very encouraging story. The cutthroats are back.

system. Suppression will have to continue in order to protect the native fish population and keep the lake trout from rebounding. But the scientists tell us that suppression can be reduced in the next couple years (perhaps by one third) and the fisheries balance maintained. The NPS is committed to that strategy

Meanwhile, technology continues to evolve. Perhaps one day, the “silver bullet” will be found that can totally remove lake trout. In the meantime, Yellowstone Lake and its river system provides some of the best Yellowstone cutthroat trout fishing to be found anywhere. Make that trip and find out for yourself.

Yellowstone Lake, 1980–2022. Horizontal lines represent the primary (solid line) and secondary (dashed) conservation targets (desired conditions) for cutthroat trout following the suppression of invasive lake trout. Data points represent the average catch-per-unit-effort (C/f) of cutthroat trout each year. Special thanks to Dr. Christopher Guy, U.S. Geological Survey, Montana Cooperative Fishery Research Unit,for creating this figure.

And, obvious to anyone who has fished the system in the past several years, the average size of the cutthroats is truly impressive. If you haven’t fished Yellowstone Lake in the past few years, you are missing out. Fish like this are the norm. Even bigger examples can be caught. My personal best is a robust 27-inch fish. Do yourself a favor and plan a trip to the Yellowstone Lake or River system.

So, what does the future hold for Yellowstone Lake? With today’s technology, the lake trout will never be extirpated from the

Yellowstone Lake Project photos and graphs courtesy of Dave Sweet, Wyoming Trout Unlimited

Figure 4: Recovery of Yellowstone cutthroat trout estimated by annual standardized gill-netting assessments on

ABOVE: Dave’s daughter Diana Miller with a large (25-inch) Yellowstone cutthroat trout caught in the upperYellowstone River in 2018.

ABOVE: The author,Dave Sweet,displays a smaller (22-inch)Yellowstone cutthroat trout caught in Atlantic Creek in 2018.

Cody Trout Unlimited member wins Wyoming Cutt-Slam bamboo rod sweepstakes

By MIKE JENSEN

The Trout Tale Editor and Wyoming Council Coordinator

Congratulations are in order for Gregg Bierei of Cody, Wyoming. On June 8, he was announced as the big winner of the Wyoming Cutt-Slam bamboo fly rod sweepstakes.

The drawing was sponsored by accomplished bamboo fly rod builder Steve Foisie and the Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited (WYTU).

Thanks to Steve’s generosity and his incredible donation of the “Cutt-Slam” bamboo rod and walnut rod case to WYTU, the council was able to conduct a sweepstakes drawing to help generate funds for our native cutthroat trout work in Wyoming.

After Steve received his Cutt-Slam certificate from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department for catching the four subspecies of cutthroat in Wyoming, he also received his Cutt-Slam medallion which is provided by Wyoming Trout Unlimited — a proud partner with the WGFD and the Cutt-Slam program. Steve was working on catching each species of

WYTU

cutthroat and building bamboo rods to commemorate each species.

It was then that Steve came up with an idea to build the Wyoming Cutt-Slam rod specifically as a donation to the Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited to acknowledge the collective contributions to improve and sustain quality habitat for the four subspecies of cutthroat trout presently thriving in Wyoming. Steve inked the names of each of the Wyoming cutties on the rod.

When Gregg was notified that he won this incredible prize package, he was silent for a moment or two before stating. “I never win anything.” More silence. “Thanks for picking me.”

You’re more than welcome, Gregg. We appreciate your support. In addition, WYTU would like to thank the 59 individuals who purchased sweepstakes tickets for a chance to win this incredible prize package.

And of course, thanks to Steve Foisie for making this possible.As mentioned before, all proceeds will go toward benefitting Wyoming’s four subspecies of cutthroat trout.

WYOMING NEWS NOTES:

Pinedale chapter to host fall council meeting and play a role in Green River restoration project

Mark your calendars now and plan to attend a unique WYTU fall council meeting and event tentatively scheduled for October 20, 21 and 22, in Pinedale,Wyoming.

Despite the Upper Green River Chapter’s current lack of activity, the executive committee of the Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited (WYTU) wants to work with TU members in the Pinedale area to help revitalize the chapter, while having

the local chapter get involved and play a significant role with a major restoration project located on the Green River west of town.

Luke Schultz, an aquatic habitat biologist for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department is taking a lead role in the Green River: Huston to Sommers Restoration Project.

Schultz noted that this project in its entirety, will encompass nearly five miles of the river valley, and will feature nine individual work areas totaling over 15,000 feet of direct stream channel manipulation.

“Things are in pretty good shape in this reach,” Schultz said.

“But some work in select areas of the stream channel, stream banks, and floodplain and riparian areas would really boost juvenile fish production and adult holding habitat,” he continued. “These changes could push this good reach into being a truly outstanding piece of trout water.”

RIGHT: Cody angler and longtime Trout Unlimited (TU) member with the East Yellowstone TU Chapter, Gregg Bierei proudly displays his new Wyoming Cutt-Slam bamboo rod and walnut rod case.Congratulations,Gregg.

“We’re checking a lot of boxes,” Schultz said. He noted that much of the project area publicly accessible by either boat access or via the Summer/Grindstone Public Fishing Area, and landowners here have really stepped up in wanting to help make good things happen for the river.

Grindstone Cattle Company and the Sommers Ranch, along with two additional landowners, are great partners Schultz noted. “They are very supportive of this project and want to see it be successful,” Schultz said.

It probably comes as no surprise to folks that fish the rivers around Pinedale that angler pressure has inched up in the past couple decades, but habitat work by TU, Game and Fish,

and several other entities hopes to spread the pressure around these waters and make for more enjoyable fishing experiences and better fishing throughout the region.

“Although a project of this magnitude will likely take several years to complete in its entirety, work on one of the project areas will occur in August 2023,” Schultz added.

In conjunction with this work,Wyoming Trout Unlimited and the Upper Green River Chapter are planning to hold their fall council meeting in Pinedale and possibly having a work day on the river as part of the meeting agenda.

Dates and events are subject to change.Watch for more details as they become available.

Local Trout Unlimited Chapter joins Cheryl Gowdy for special day at Curt Gowdy State Park

Curt Gowdy Trout Unlimited Chapter president Chris Brown from Cheyenne was excited when he found out that the TU chapter was going to be part of a very special day at the Curt Gowdy State Park west of Cheyenne.

On June 11, Cheryl Gowdy, the daughter of famous sportscaster and outdoorsman Curt Gowdy, was at the Curt Gowdy State Park to dedicate the Little House on the Park cabin.The unique center is designed for children to have a place they can learn, be kind, share, read, do artwork, play games and enjoy being in the outdoors and learning to be stewards of our state parks and public lands. Cheryl Gowdy spent most of the morning reading to a large number of children present Sunday morning at the cabin.

In addition to the dedication of

the Little House on the Park,Wyoming State Parks and the Gowdy family invited the Curt Gowdy Trout Unlimited Chapter to be involved with the event by teaching children to cast a fly rod and learn how to fish.

All equipment needed was provided by the Curt Gowdy Trout Unlimited Chapter based out of Cheyenne.

Chapter members stepped up to help with the event. Despite cooler, wet weather, kids still showed up for the dedication and to try their hand at fishing from shore, or learning how to cast a fly rod.

A special thanks to the volunteers who helped out with this fun event at the beautiful Curt Gowdy State Park.Thanks to Chris Brown, Emmet and Courtney Pruss, Michael Kelly, Helen Jarvis and her husband, Mike Jensen, Scott Scheffey, Eric Whitfield and his wife, Craig Boal, Bob Mason, Dan Moede, and Becky and David Evans.

Congratulations to the new Little House on the Park facility.

ABOVE: The Sommers Bend Work area at the Green River: Huston to Sommers Restoration.The vertical eroding streambank here will be restored in 2023 with a bankfull bench and plenty of toe wood. Photo courtesy of Wyoming Game and Fish Department

Star Valley Chapter bounces back by strong by electing full slate of officers and board

Tuesday, May 16, was a great day for the Star Valley Trout Unlimited Chapter. After struggling to reorganize and revitalize the chapter, the members of the chapter rallied and recruited a great group of potential officers and board members to be considered for a full-slate of positions.

After drawing some raffle prizes, the group got down to business and elected four new officers and seven board members. Those elected were Ron Quinn, president; Bari Bucholz, vice president; Mike Schiffhauer, treasurer; and Lizzy Bachman; secretary.

Board members elected were Paul Stauffer, Jared Johnson, Steve Cook, Fred Pritchard, Skylar Webb, Clark Johnson, and Dave Bucholz.

It’s worth noting that Tanner Belknap, Salt River Watershed

ter president Rick Slagowski, 195 kids attended the event on a beautiful day in Evanston.There were plenty of smiles and lots of fish were caught.

Each child at the event received a free Zebco fishing rod and lunch was provided that included a hot dog, bag of chips and a drink.

Rick noted there were plenty of smiles at both events.

The Platte Valley/Rawlins Chapter is back and better than ever

Manager, has been a big part of the chapter’s reorganization. He has already organized a couple of volunteer days on the water, planting willows with volunteers and chapter members.

On May 22, 11 volunteers planted 800 willows along the banks of the West Fork of the Salt River near Freedom. On May 23, the second day of project work, 15 volunteers planted 1,200 willows on the upper and lower Burton’s fishing access.

Congrats to all the new officers, board members and volunteers of the Star Valley TU Chapter.

Upper Bear River chapter hosts two great events for Evanston community

The Upper Bear River chapter continues its tradition of hosting successful community events, and this year was no exception.

The chapter hosted a F3T Film Tour event at the Strand Theatre on May 13.A large crowd — young and old — were on hand to participate in prize giveaways, a terrific raffle and silent auction.

Held on Saturday, June 10, the chapter hosted its annual Kids’ Fishing Day event at the Evanston Ice Ponds.According to chap-

After a long pause of inactivity with the Platte Valley/Rawlins Chapter, a great group of volunteers stepped forward to be nominated and elected to officer and board positions at the May 6 Wyoming Trout Unlimited council meeting in Rawlins.

member; John Moore, Secretary/Treasurer;Tom Brown (East Yellowstone Chapter President who awarded the traveling “Bucking Fish” award, complete with cold beverages, to the Platte Valley/Rawlins chapter); Rich Grauberger, vice president; and Steven Heinitz, board member. Not pictured are board members Brian Lally and Darrin Willis. Congratulations to all.

By SARAH PRUDEN Sporting Lead-Free Community Outreach Coordinator

Whether it’s split shot, jig heads, streamers, flies, or nymphs, having weight on your line is an integral part of ensuring that you catch that story-worthy fish. The part of the story we can’t control is if our line breaks, our net fails, or we just can’t keep that fish on the line. Hooking into a hog and having it break away is every angler’s worst nightmare, but what we may not think about is what that fish takes with it when it snaps our line.

If we aren’t careful with the type of weights, jigs, and flies we use, we could end up unintentionally adding lead to the environment, and to the food chain. While weight is essential to getting your lure into the water column, a large number of those materials mentioned above can contain lead.

Many waterfowl species like ducks, swans, and cranes routinely swallow pea-sized pebbles (also known as grit) from the bottom of lakes and rivers to help grind up their food. Unfortunately, these birds aren’t able to tell the difference between a pebble and spent lead shot, sunk jigs or lost split shot, and can inadvertently ingest lead from the bottom of waterways.

There is also recent evidence that highlights a risk to piscivorous species, a carnivorous animal that eats primarily fish like loons, bald eagles, osprey, and herons that can die from lead poisoning after ingesting fish with lead lures or weight still attached.

For most anglers, preserving the health and vitality of waterways and wildlife is an integral part of conserving angling heritage for future generations. That’s why encouraging anglers to start taking small steps toward a leadfree legacy today is so important.

We all have that old tackle box in the garage that has been handed down from generation to

generation over time or given to us from a buddy, and those tend to be filled with lead-based tackle. While we shouldn’t feel any shame for having that tackle in our possession, we can start to shift the materials being handed down. No one likes to leave sporting goods stores empty-handed. Start transitioning your tackle box to lead-free by purchasing tackle alternatives made with materials like bismuth, tin, stainless steel, tungsten, ceramic, recycled glass and natural granite each time you stop in your local shop. With each small step, we can build a new angling legacy to pass down, one that is free of lead-based tackle.

Lead exposure from lost or broken fishing tackle is a humaninduced problem but is also easily preventable.

Sporting Lead-Free is a Wyoming-based initiative working to encourage the use of lead-free ammunition and tackle in the field and promote the conservation ethics of our sporting communities.

sportingleadfree.org

Sporting Lead-Free takes leadership role to maintaining sporting heritage, wildlife populations, ethics, rights

ABOVE. Sporting Lead-Free member James Bedrosian nets a lake trout caught with lead-free tackle.

LEFT: Here’s a great example of some old split shot found in the river.

By ZOE BOMMARITO

Snake River flows secured. For now.

By ZOE BOMMARITO Trout Unlimited Mountain West Communications Director

Built in the early 1900s by the Bureau of Reclamation to control lake levels for irrigation in Idaho and reduce flooding for a rising local population, Jackson Lake Dam drives water into the Snake River and its interconnected aquatic ecosystem.

The Snake River Headwaters provide critical habitat for one of the most resilient and intact cutthroat trout fisheries in the lower 48 and are a core economic driver for the regional economy, generating over $20M in fishing-based revenue annually

Proposed reduction in water flows from Jackson Lake Dam

The region, known for its iconic landscape, treasured public lands (including Grand Teton National Park and Bridger-Teton National Forest) and incomparable outdoor recreation opportunities, experienced an above average snowfall this winter right on the heels of back-to-back drought years that nearly drained Jackson

Lake dry.

This complex water management situation – high snowpack following several years of drought, left Jackson Lake the only reservoir with available space to store water for the upcoming irrigation season – caused the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) to propose a reduction in flows from Jackson Lake Dam this spring. The reduction would cut flows to 50 cfs, well below the 280 cfs minimum established by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

Flows from Jackson Lake have not gone below 280 cfs since the late 1980s, when Senator John Turner, Wyoming Governor Mike Sullivan, state agencies, and the BOR – with advocacy from the local Jackson Hole TU chapter (JHTU) – agreed on the pur-

See SNAKE RIVER DAM on page 13

Jackson Lake Dam

Photo courtesy Grand Teton National Park

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SNAKE RIVER HEADWATERS, CLICK HERE

Near the dramatic jagged peaks of the Teton mountains sits Jackson Lake Dam

Photo courtesy Grand Teton National Park

chase of a 33,000 acre-feet storage water right owned by the State of Wyoming to guarantee a minimum flow needed for the fishery to survive.

Not only would the reduction in flow have caused widespread detriment to the Snake River ecosystem and native trout fishery, but it also would likely have completely drained Oxbow Bend in Grand Teton National Park, a crescent-shaped section of river considered a national treasure and symbol of the community’s rich natural resources.

on behalf of the Snake River and its unparalleled native trout fishery.

That same week, the new Snake River Headwaters Watershed Group met for the first time. Over 60 community members –including ranchers, fishing guides, county commissioners, agency officials, nonprofits, and volunteers – met to discuss the watershed’s challenges and conservation goals. Unsurprisingly, Jackson Lake Dam flow management was top of mind for all, further bolstering support for the effort to maintain minimum flow requirements.

It’s not often that grassroots advocacy efforts find success quickly, but the incredible mobilization of the Jackson community and collaboration with agencies and Congressional partners resulted in a swift temporary solution. The State of Wyoming and Bureau of Reclamation reached an agreement on water management for the Upper Snake River Basin. The state agreed to use its storage water rights to supplement flows to protect the ecosystem, and Reclamation committed to covering any shortfalls should they occur. Crisis was averted for native cutthroat trout in the Snake River – at least through the upcoming spring and summer.

Looking Ahead: The Future of the Snake River Headwaters

Coming together to protect the Snake River ecosystem and native cutthroat trout

In the week leading up to May 10, the day that flows were scheduled to be cut by the Bureau of Reclamation, Trout Unlimited along with many partners and community members leapt into action. Everyone from TU’s President and CEO Chris Wood to local and state staff, and JHTU chapter volunteers worked together to urge decision-makers to maintain 280 cfs flows. Through personal phone calls, action alert responses, partner meetings, social media, and press statements, “One TU” came together to advocate

While minimum flows have been secured in the short term, there is still work ahead. With drought, climate change and growing demands on water supply, water management in the Upper Snake Basin will only increase in complexity and importance. The Snake River Headwaters Watershed Group aims to address this and other challenges to the ecosystem, utilizing collaborative conser vation practices to bring together diverse interests.

Looking ahead, the State of Wyoming and federal land and water management agencies have committed to developing a collaborative framework for water management decisions – that way fish and aquatic ecosystem health is considered, even during crises and unusual water conditions. TU is committed to working alongside our partners and community members on these longer-term solutions.

Oxbow Bend in Grand Teton National Park

Photo courtesy Grand Teton National Park

Dam Diplomacy: TU’s Beverly Smith fishing with John Tanner, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee

Photo courtesy Leslie Steen

Dam Diplomacy: TU, Grand Teton National Park, and Senator Barrasso staff sample the fishery below the dam to see what’s at stake.

Photo courtesy Leslie Steen

It’s all about stability

Editor’s Note: This article was first published in the July 2023 issue ofWyomingWildlifemagazine

By TRACIE BINKERD

Asection of the Green River is more stable and has improved fish habitat after a multi-partner project led by Trout Unlimited. The section of river flows through an area known as Scott’s Bottom, which is part of FMC Park in the town of Green River.

Over the years, the river bank continued to erode, dumping around 1,600 tons of sediment into the Green River and Flaming Gorge Reservoir each year. The Seedskadee Chapter of Trout Unlimited undertook a project to stabilize the bank in order to reduce the sediment entering the river.

Scott’s Bottom is a popular recreation area in Green River. The park offers walking trails, an archery range, a shooting range, picnic

areas and access to the river.ÊÊ

“This is one of the most visited parks in Green River,” said Nick Walrath, Green River project manager with Trout Unlimited. “People walk their dogs down there, ride their bikes and walk on the path. The contractors had an audience every day they were working.”

The first phase of the project included stabilizing more than 2,000 feet of riverbank downstream from the Scott’s Bottom bridge. Crews placed toe wood along the banks. This process includes putting logs along the toe of the bank to reduce erosion. Over time, vegetation will grow and further stabilize the bank as the logs decay.

“We put around 450 logs in the river,” Walrath said. “Most of the logs are buried, so the wood in the water provides a bunch of cover, aquatic invertebrate habitat and habitat for small-bodied and juvenile fish.”

In addition to improved aquatic habitat, the project resulted in approximately 2.5 acres of new riparian habitat next to the river.A

See GREEN RIVER on page 15

ABOVE: An overhead view of construction at Scott’s Bottom along the Green River. Photo by 495Films

A recently completed project led by Trout Unlimited reduces sediment in the Green River and improves habitat

boat ramp was recently installed downstream from the project, which provides more opportunities for people to float and fish the treated area with a location to pull their watercraft from the river.

Phase one of the project cost about $600,000 to complete, so multiple funding partners worked together to accomplish the task. Funding and planning partners included the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Wyoming Game and Fish Department Trust Fund, City of Green River, the Greenbelt Task Force, the Central Utah Project CompletionAct,Ê Dominion Energy, Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust Fund, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Partners Program, Ducks Unlimited, Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality and Seedskadee Trout Unlimited. Trout Unlimited also contributed funds earned from auctioning a Game and Fish Commissioners hunting license.

“The fact that we had so many partners speaks to how good this project is and how many boxes it checks for a lot of people,” Walrath said. “From this project, we got wetlands, water quality improvement, improved aquatic and riparian habitat and improvements on existing city infrastructure.”

Trout Unlimited plans to monitor the area over the coming year to see how the area recovers from a large-scale project. This monitoring effort may provide hands-on learning opportunities for local students.

Phase two of the project will include stabilizing 600-800 feet of river bank upstream of the Scott’s Bottom Bridge.Astart date has not been set and will depend on available funding.

— Tracie Binkerd is the editor of Wyoming Wildlife magazine

ABOVE: Prior to a bank stabilization project at Scott’s Bottom,the bank on that section of the river eroded and put sediment into the water.

Photo courtesy of Trout Unlimited

BELOW: Workers began the task of improving the Scott’s Bottom area of the Green River even with the presence of snow and ice.

Photo courtesy of Trout Unlimited

Debarbing whoppers

It is a tradition as old as the sport. At dusk, when the stream no longer boils with surface-feeding trout, fly fishermen retire to a creekside campsite to remove their waders, climb into fleece jackets, enjoy a swig from the ubiquitous flask of Irish whiskey, fire up the propane stove to cook dinner and finally circle the campfire to warm themselves and talk of the day’s successes on the water.

It is no different with the members of the Rattlesnake Butte Fly Casters. The term “liar” is widely regarded as a synonym for “fishing.” And these tossers of insect imitations fashioned of fur and feathers wound around a thin piece of sharpened steel wire live up to the reputation. But these fly fishers are more subtle. They don’t tell stories as ridiculous as bragging of catching a brook trout so large it needed to be gaffed, spotting the mythical Bigfoot while exploring a backcountry stream, or fishing for peacock bass or bonefish from a belly boat, but their campfire braggadocio does raise eyebrows, triggers snarls of disbelief and most often induces gales of laughter.

The club shares the same characteristics of Colorado’s Grumpy Old Farts Club. Both are populated by old, white males who choose to fish obscure streams and enjoy the camaraderie of friends. But the two clubs do not share the same political ideologies.

A half dozen of the Wyoming fly tossers club circle the glowing fire on the bank of the Grey’s River as the sun dipped over the forested horizon. The club was situated about 50 yards from the road. A gap in the cluster of Douglas firs allowed vehicles to enter a natural secluded amphitheatre, shielded by the wind but receiving plenty of sunshine to dry out tents and wading gear. The club has held anAugust reunion in this spot for over 20 years.

Picket Fence, the titular head of the club, was the first to spit in the fire.

A retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, he has a martinet personality — a quality barely tolerated by the club. He earned his nickname from his wide, gap-toothed smile. His Napoleonic frame appears mismatched to his booming cartoon-like voice. He moved to Wyoming upon leaving the military and, needing something to occupy his time when he was not writing his memoirs of the Rhodesian Bush War, he took up fly fishing.

He was elected as the club’s president because it served two

purposes. First, one one else wanted the job. Secondly, it gave Picket Fence the opportunity to again wield the mantle of command, although it was largely a symbolic title.

Picket leans back in his campchair and starts a long-winded account of one of his often-told stale war stories, when he is interrupted by Windy Bill. No one can finish a sentence when Bill is around. He rudely breaks into any conversation and interjects his opinion.

Bill brusquely dismisses Picket’s tale of his heroics and instead steers the conversion to one about the day’s fishing. He asks questions, but no one has an opportunity to complete an answer because Bill answers for them.

Chef Ptomaine is silently listening from behind the propane cook stove. Ptomaine has been the club’s volunteer cook for years, a job he relishes. He does fish, but he quits early enough to get a head start on cooking dinner. When the club members return home, they are not surprised to learn they weigh a few pounds heavier than when they left.

Ptomaine is preparing ribeye steaks with baked potatoes and all the fixin’s.

His kitchen is situated in an old canvas tent. It has the odor of smoke and mildew, acquired through decades of use.

Ptomaine doesn’t tie his own flies. He uses a 30-year-old Fenwick fiberglass fly rod, a yellowed Pflueger Medalist reel, and an old, weathered, cracked fly line which barely floats. He doesn’t have the close-up vision to pass a tippet through the eye of any hook larger than a size 16, even with the help of his cheaters.

While the evening meal is simmering on the grill, a bottle of Irish cream is passed around, with each swig preceded by a toast –or boast.

Clyde accepts the bottle with a hand the size of a catcher’s mitt attached to arms long enough to substitute for oars on his driftboat. A mountain of a man, Clyde has spent the bulk of his life in the Wyoming oil patch. Injury forced him to abandon the rigs, so he now runs a hot-shot service. He manages to get enough time off to enjoy the monthly outings of the club.

He raises the bottle and boasts that he caught over 30 cutthroats

See WHOPPERS on page 17

Randall Stalker

By the time of the evening campfire, this Bonneville cutthroat trout will measure 28 inches and weigh over five pounds.

WHOPPERS continued from page 16

on his size 28 extended body clipped deer hair hopper

“Here’s to the cutthroat trout,” he toasts, raising the bottle to his lips. “May tomorrow be even better than today. My two weight bamboo really got a workout today. Those small-spotted trout really put a stretch on my 8X tippet.”

While most of the club members choose to sleep in tents, Q tows his small bumper-pull camper behind his pickup. Q is a retired aerospace electronic engineer who used a chunk of his NASA pension to buy a slice of Wyoming paradise south of Glenrock.

As the dean of Boxelder Creek, Q has the opportunity each spring to step outside his back deck and test the designs of microdrones he fabricated during the winter. A bespeckled man with a face masked by an ungroomed grey beard, Q uses the Irish cream to toast the success of his newest creation.

Q designed and built an micro-electronic prototype PMD mayfly, size 16, which would be hard to tell from the natural insect other than the tiny horizontal blades which give the imitation its lift and thrust. He does not cast the fly; instead, he delivers the contraption with a small radio controller attached above the cork grip of his 4 weight bamboo fly rod. His next idea is develop a nymph, complete with camera lens.

The reason he was late in returning to camp is because he wanted to catch one particular fish -- the one which broke his 5X tippet and escaped with the electronic imitation embedded in the side of its mouth. The ribbing he would take from his fellow club members would be relentless and vicious, so he remains silent. He would try again tomorrow.

Listening to the bloviating toasts of his buddies, Q looks over the bifocal glasses resting on the end of his nose with a condescending expression not unlike that of a gourmet chef who has just been asked by a customer for a bottle of ketchup to slather a plate-sized slab of prime rib.

“I was using a pattern designed to imitate the instar pupal stage of the fibberus frequens mayfly genus,” he says simply as he passes the bottle.

After a few more rounds of toasts, the campfire chatter turns to an argument.

With a thrusted pointer finger, Picket, an applause junkie, was confronting Flat Earth Dave, a whisper of a man. A confessed conspiracy theorist, Dave lives off the grid in a single room cabin far from civilization and the intrusive nose of government.

Dave was known for his paradoxical or malapropic quips. “I always fish dry flies, except when I’m nymphing.” “The towels in that fishing lodge were so thick I almost couldn’t zip my duffle.” “I found good fishing on the upstream side of the gullavert under the highway.” “If you think that sporting good store is big, on a top of it they have a bargain basement.”

The two were debating the differences and subjective superiorities of two handgun cartridges; the semi-automatic .490 Patton and the rimmed .560 Eastwood Magnum. The two were boasting about bullet weights, muzzle velocities, downrange energy and 50 yard accuracy.

Picket, as a military vet, favored the Patton. Dave preferred the wheel gun cartridge.

Picket said he could have used the pistol to dispatch rogue elephants in Rhodesia during his assignment there. But instead he used an English double rifle in .505 Webley-Churchill. As a vestige of his many African safaris, he still fits his size 7-1/2 head into the

40-year old pith helmet. He carries all his fishing gear in a drab olive Alice backpack. He wears the oak leafs of his former rank on the pocket flaps of his wading vest.

After dinner, serious bragging gets underway. Each fisher attempts to top the preceding story with boasts of larger and bigger fish caught. Inevitably, the campfire swagger becomes ridiculously exaggerated or downright fictional.

“Windy has a 40 percent markup on every fish he catches,” quipped Q.

“Oh yeah? Well you cut the first ten inches off your slide rule,” Windy countered.

But the club has a remedy to instill more honesty in the campfire chatter. The club appoints someone — preferably a preacher who also practices the art of fly fishing — to act as a referee and officiate the grandiose campfire claims.

At times during the marathon stories, the club’s bailiff acts like an NFL official and reaches for an orange penalty flag or blows a whistle to point out a flagrant transgression of any reasonable standard of honesty.

A penalty is meted on the “players” for these fouls. But the judgment could be appealed to a “jury.” Those around the campfire can vote whether to convict the accused based on the voracity of his “testimony” against their personal experiences.

The jurors most often acquit the “defendant” because they, too, could be tried for departures from the truth.

So when another club member, Semaphore, a nickname gleaned from his habit of waving his arms excessively like a Navy signalman when expounding on one of his adventures, boasts about catching a monster cutty from the Grey’s on a size 18 articulated streamer, the others nod their heads in disbelief but no one contests the claim.

Semaphore goes on.

“I crossed the footbridge and ventured upsteam, fighting my way through the brush and willows and cast my fly to that large rock on the bank. It drifted down and across, and suddenly a flash of yellow splashed the surface and the fly disappeared in the foam of the seam. The fish bolted for the cover of a submerged log. I was able to coax it to my net. Geez … it must have been a five pounder.”

“Five pounds? Is that all?” insulted Gerber. He gained his nickname because he retained his baby looks even through he’s now in his late 60s. “I caught one larger than that, but I didn’t have the opportunity to get a photo of it.”

Gerber said the “monster” he snagged ripped off his line into the backing until it snapped.

The bailiff with a Bible contested his claim. A jury was about to render a verdict and issue a sentence (washing the dinner dishes) when a red-shirted figure emerged from the shadows. A glint of light reflected from the badge pinned to his shirt. A sidearm was holstered to his belt.

After checking the licenses and conservation stamps of those huddled around the fire, the game warden engaged in small talk with the group about the fishing successes on the Grey’s during the weekend outing.

“I was watching one guy through my 10 power Colorado fish finders,” he began. “I saw one guy tie into a real impressive native.

See WHOPPERS on page 18

Wyoming students and teachers wrap-up another successful year of Trout in the Classroom

By MIKE JENSEN

The Trout Tale Editor and Wyoming Council Coordinator

Despite some challenges early on in this year’s Trout In The Classroom (TIC) program, teachers and students at six Wyoming schools prevailed and all six programs finished the year with successful TIC programs.

The teachers and schools that participated this year included Jenna Krul at Torrington Middle School; Mick Novotny at St.Anthony Tri-Parish Catholic School in Casper; Lonna Schmick at SE Schools in Yoder; Roger Spears at Lingle-Ft. Laramie High School;Allison Baas at Whiting High School in Laramie and Lee Harper at Expedition Academy in Green River.

After receiving rainbow trout eggs from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) in early January, each class housed the eggs in a 55-gallon tank in their classroom which provided a great laboratory for a few months to observe the eggs as they developed into trout fry.

Each teacher was able to develop a locally-driven curriculum to teach their students about monitoring tank water quality, engaging in stream habitat studies, learning to appreciate water resources, fish identification and to begin to foster a conservation ethic and grow to understand ecosystems, to name a few.

Lonna Schmick at SE School in Yoder also conducted a coloring contest for her elementary students whose art displayed the various life cycles of a Rainbow trout.

As the school year progressed, Lee Harper’s students at the ExpeditionAcademy in Green River were excited to take measurements for the variety of water quality tests and using that water in their classroom greenhouse and aquaponic setup.

Wyoming Trout Unlimited (WYTU) wishes to thank the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the six teachers for their outstanding contributions to this program this past year.

Beginning this summer, the WGFD will be taking on a larger role with the TIC program by looking to expand the program to include more schools and opportunities in Wyoming with their program partners, including WYTU. To find out if your school might be eligible, contact William Poole, R3 Coordinator at the Wyoming Game and Fish Department by calling (307) 631-3062.

WHOPPERS continued from page 17

It raced upstream like a rocket and I could hear the line ripping off the click and pawl reel.”

“That was me!” Gerber applauded. “I knew you guys wouldn’t believe me. Now I have a credible witness.”

“Yeah, I saw the whole thing,” the rabbit sheriff said. “At the time, I wondered how your backcast got tangled up in that jumbo’s paddles.” “Uh-oh,” Gerber quietly mumbled, sensing the gavel was about to fall on his guilty.

A collective smile was beginning to form on the faces of the fishing friends surrounding the campfire.

“When you hooked him, he took off, dragging that 100 yards of line with him,” the warden explained. “That was probably one of the largest shiras moose I’ve seen in the valley this summer. He must be halfway to Cokeville by now.”

Randall Stalker was born in Cheyenne, graduated from Central High in 1971, enlisted in the Navy and served in Southeast Asia, and used the G.I Bill to attend the University of Wyoming and graduated with a journalism degree in 1978. He ran the Glenrock Independent newspaper for 26 years (a solo act). Suffering burnout, he retired from journalism and worked in a rifle and ammo plant for 10 years before finally retiring. He uses his time now to camp and fish as often as possible, and at 70 years old, he is struggling to learn the craft of shooting videos for youtube. He is also a member of the Casper Grey Reef Trout Unlimited Chapter.

ABOVE: A healthy trout fry finds a meal with a less healthy fish in Jenna Krul’s Torrington Middle School 6th grade science class.

ABOVE: Students monitored water quality on a regular basis and kept detailed logs.

RIGHT: SE School teacher in Yoder, Lonna Schmick, and her students took pride in keeping a clean tank environment for the trout fry to thrive.

 Angling Destinations

Clark Smyth Sheridan, WY 82801 (307) 672-6894

clark@anglingdestinations.com www.anglingdestinations.com

 Arrow Land and Water, LLC

Chad Espenscheid Big Piney, WY 83113 (307) 231-2389 chadespen@gmail.com

 Dunoir Fishing Adventures, LLC

Jeramie Prine Lander, WY 82520 (307) 349-3331 jlprine@gmail.com www.dunoirfishing.com

 Fish the Fly Guide Service & Travel

Jason Balogh Jackson, WY 83001 (307) 690-1139 jb@fishthefly.com www.fishthefly.com

 Fly Shop of the Bighorns

Clark Smyth Sheridan, WY 82001 (307) 672-5866 clark@anglingdestinations.com www.sheridanflyfhishing.com

 Frog Creek Partners

Brian Deurloo Casper, WY 82601 (307) 797-7720 brian@frogcreek.partners www.frogcreek.partners

 Frontier Brewing Company & Tap Room

Shawn Houck Casper, WY 82601 (307) 337-1000 frontierbrewingcompany.com

 Grand Teton Fly Fishing

Scott Smith and Mark Fuller Jackson, WY 83002 (307) 690-4347 ssflyfish@rocketmail.com markwfuller@gmail.com www.grandtetonflyfishing.com

 Graylight Outfitters

David Collom Elsinore, UT 84724 (435) 720-7440 graylightoutfitters@gmail.com www.graylightoutfitters.com

 Guild Outdoors

Adam Guild Afton, WY 83110 (307) 799-6409 guildadam@yahoo.com www.guildranchwyoming.com

 Jackson Hole Fly Company

Greg Epstein Jackson, WY 83001 (800) 346-4339 support@jacksonholeflycompany.com www.jacksonholeflycompany.com

 JD High Country Outfitters Jackson, Wyoming 83001 (307) 733-7210 scott@jdhcoutfitters.com www.highcountryflies.com

 Live Water Properties

Macye Maher Jackson, WY 83002 (866) 734-6100 macye@livewaterproperties.com www.livewaterproperties.com

 Maven Brendon Weaver Lander, WY 82501 (800) 307-1109 customerservice@mavenbuilt.com www.mavenbuilt.com

 North Fork Anglers

Tim Wade Cody, WY  82414 (307) 527-7274 tw123r4w@yahoo.com www.northforkanglers.com

 North Platte Lodge

Erik Aune Alcova, WY 82601 (307) 237-1182 info@northplattelodge.com www.northplattelodge.com

 The Red Rock Ranch

Steven Stimmel Kelly, WY 83011 (307) 733-6288 info@theredrockranch.com www.theredrockranch.com

 Rock Creek Anglers

Clark Smyth  Sheridan, WY 82801 (307) 684-7304 (888) 945-3876 clark@anglingdestinations.com www.rockcreekanglers.com

 Sunlight Sports

Wes and Melissa Allen Cody, WY 82414 (307) 587-9517 info@sunlightsports.com www.sunlightsports.com

 Sweetwater Fishing Expeditions, LLC

George H. Hunker III Lander, WY 82520 (307) 332-3986 george@sweetwaterfishing.com www.sweetwaterfishing.com

 Thin Air Angler

Bob Reece Cheyenne, WY 82009 (307) 256-2741 coach.bobreece@gmail.com www.thinairangler.com

 TroutHut Net-Worx

Mike Jensen Cheyenne, WY 82009 (307) 421-3188 trouthut@gmail.com

Trout Unlimited Business members are TU ambassadors in protecting, restoring, reconnecting and sustaining North America’s coldwater fisheries.

L Guides Lodges

 Turpin Meadow Ranch

Ron Stiffler Moran, WY 83013 (307) 543-2000

gm@turpinmeadowranch.com www.turpinmeadowranch.com

 Two Rivers Fishing Company

Josh Hattan Pinedale, WY 82941 (307) 367-4131 info@tworiversfishing.com www.tworiversfishing.com

 Ty Outdoors

Ty Hallock Casper, WY 82609 (307) 315-8287 ty@tyoutdoors.com www.tyoutdoors.com

 West Laramie Fly Store

Brandon Specht Laramie, WY 82070 (307) 745-5425 flystore@flystore.net www.flystore.net