A look at whirling disease in Wyoming

The whirling disease parasite was first detected in Wyoming in 1988 in the upper portion of the North Platte River and later in the upper stretches of the Laramie River. Today, several waters in Wyoming have the parasite, which is harmless to humans. But that doesn’t mean Game and Fish is ignoring whirling disease. In fact, the department has worked to prevent it from impacting fish in Wyoming and is looking into if the disease is preventing fish from thriving in some waters around the state.

Historic release of Trojan male brook trout to save cutthroat in Game Creek

In an unprecedented move for native cutthroat trout conservation efforts in Wyoming, a historic release of 3,600 Trojan male brook trout took place in Game Creek in the upper Snake River drainage.

As summer progresses, the Flaming Gorge Reservoir surface water temperatures will continue to increase, rapidly reaching temperatures lethal to kokanee. Summer anglers fishing for kokanee are encouraged to stop once they catch their limit of fish and switch to fishing for a different species, like small lake trout.

Helicopter stocking of fish in backcountry lakes near Dubois and Lander

Over the course of a few days, a total of 30 lakes were stocked with over 40,000 fingerling-sized fish (one and a half to three inches). The fish won’t grow to a catchable size for at least two years. The stocked species include brook trout, golden trout, tiger trout, rainbow trout, Yellowstone cutthroat trout and Snake River cutthroat trout.

Sportsperson Hotline:  (307) 777-4600 | Open 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. MT Monday-Friday

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department manages and conserves more than 800 species of fish and wildlife across Wyoming.  For nearly 120 years, we’ve carried out our mission to conserve wildlife and serve people. Through these efforts, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department ensures the public continues to enjoy Wyoming’s vast fish and wildlife resource  through  hunting, fishing, trapping, wildlife watching and other forms of outdoor recreation. Hunters, anglers and wildlife watchers contribute over a billion dollars to Wyoming’s economy each year.

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