Trout Fishery Threatened

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By Penny Preston

Story Published: Sep 4, 2008 at 4:45 PM MST

Story Updated: Sep 4, 2008 at 4:45 PM MST

CODY, WYOMING - An illegal introduction of a non-native could ruin Northwest Wyoming's best wild trout fishery: The Buffalo Bill Reservoir.

That, according to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. The G&F is offering a $10,000 dollar reward to catch the person, or person's who put a voracious trout eater in the lake. Wyoming's Game and Fish biologists are spending a lot of time on the water these days. They're setting nets, and finding more and more dangerous intruders.

Game and Fish Fisheries Biologist Steve Yekel said, "We are finding a number of walleye in the the 10-to-11 inch size that we were hoping we would not find." But why not? A fish is a fish is a fish, right?

Yekel explained the Buffalo Bill Reservoir is not the right place for walleye. "This is a wild trout fishery. History has told us wild trout fisheries don't do well in the face of a walleye coming into a reservoir, especially in a lake like this where the majority of forage for a walleye are trout."

Of particular concern is the Yellowstone cutthroat trout, which draws thousands of anglers to northwest Wyoming. Yekel sees evidence the walleye are reproducing. He predicts a direct impact on angling success if the non native walleye become established in the Buffalo Bill Reservoir.

Yekel hopes fishermen can help solve the problem. "We're going to propose an unlimited harvest on walleye for this reservoir." That would take effect next year. In the meantime, fishermen who do catch walleye here, are asked to keep and not release them.

Yeke said the Wyoming Game and Fish Department does allow walleye populations in other areas.

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mahuntinfool said on Friday, Sep 5 at 9:12 PM

this is the best thing to happen to buffalo bill. i hope they take hold and stay walleye are great to eat, who wants to eat a trout. But the game and fish are going to try and ruin a good thing imagine that.

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