North Platte WU
Newsletter Editor
Jan. 3, 2008
at Wyoming Game and Fish
Our last meeting of 2007 was a fun one. Bernard, owner of Armor's Silver Fox Lounge cooked up a nice brisket and pork shoulder for us, and the attending members brought some delicious side dishes and deserts.
We didn't conduct much in the way of business, but did vote to donate $500 to Joshua's Storehouse that will be matched 2 to 1 by the McMurry Foundation which makes our donation $1500 towards the Joshua's Storehouse building fund. Which reminds me that in last months newsletter I failed to mention in our list of community service projects we have been involved in, the $1000 we donated to the Salvation Army last Christmas.
Al Condor, a Wyoming Game and Fish Supervisor in the Casper District was kind enough to come to our last meeting and update us on the recent studies regarding mercury hazards in walleyes and other game fish in local reservoirs. More information is inside.
Al also mentioned the fact that the Wyoming Game and Fish has a bit of money that could be allocated to cities, towns, non-profits and the like for various projects. One of the stipulations was that the money would need to be matched by the participating organization. He sent me an application which stated it needed to be returned by Jan 2, 2008. That precluded the option of running it by the general membership for ideas. so some phone tag and emails to directors and club officers led to the decision for the club to apply for $5000 for courtesy docks and $5000 for fishing poles to be given away. If we are lucky enough to be awarded one or both of these grants we will be required to match whatever monies we receive. We should know by June how we did.
Everyone who attended our December meeting won some sort of prize. We also had our drawing of the $100 gift certificate from Sportsman's Warehouse. We had decided that we would draw from our membership until we had a winner. Our first draw was Matt Rodrick who was not present. Our second draw was Charles Weckwerth who was. Congratulations Charles.
We then drew from all the "losing raffle tickets" we have gathered over the months. The winner of the CarHartt embroidered jacket was Kelly Patten. If our permit is approved, the Toughman Tournament will be April 19, 2008. It will be the same rules and fees as last year, and yet again will be run as an membership drive and not as a fund raiser. Participation will require all participants to be club members and hopefully all fees will be returned as winnings and door prizes. Mark your calendars now.
Useless facts and space filler
January is National Braille Literacy Month
Jan 3rd is Fruitcake toss day
Jan 10th is Peculiar People Day
Jan 12th is Feast of Fabulous Wild Men Day
Jan 27th is Chocolate Cake Day
Fishing reports, tips and tricks
An email from Bruce parker said 12/12/07:
Word is they have started fishing the ice at the South end. It is going to be very cold and calm the rest of this week and the inversion has set in. Will be making ice! The lake is 8 feet lower in elevation than it was last year at this time so will be looking for new "hot spots".
Called Tim James and he has some minnows but not as many as years past. He doesn't, however, want to sell any until 7:00 am. His # is (307) 876-2349.
The former Walleye Cafe in Shoshoni is being transformed into a Bait Shop? called Walker's. They will be selling minnows (possibly certified) and the message on their answering machines states they are open for business Wednesday through Saturday from 6 to 6 and Sunday from 6 to 4. Phone # is (307) 876-2345 or call Sean at (307) 231-1194.
An update from John Green stated there is 10 to 12 inches of ice at boysen and the fishing is good with jigs and minnows most everywhere on the lake.
FOR SALE - 8" Strike Master ice auger, 2 man ice fishing tent, 6 tip ups, ice scoops, parka, ice fish-ing boots size 12. $300.00 call Bob 235-1794.
FOR SALE - 1993 Dodge Pickup. Cummins Diesel, 5-speed, ext-cab long box. Good Shape $5500 Call Woody 235-1405.
Casper has an outdoor show once again, presented by Wyoming Walleye Unlimited (The Wyoming Walleye Circuit). Walleye seminars all weekend long, presented by Walleye Pros from all over the west. Boat dealers, Sporting good dealers, outfitters, Equipment vendors and much much more. The theme behind the show is to get youth off of the couch and into the outdoors. Part of the proceeds going to Jasons Freinds, a charity that helps children and their families deal with childhood illness. A very good cause. Admission will be $4.00 per adult and children 14 and under get in free accompanied by an adult. Many prizes to be won for all. We hope to see you there. Location: Casper fairgrounds in the industrial building.
On Saturday, Nov. 17, Bob Hart, of Missoula, caught his first walleye, a 14-incher. On Sunday, Nov. 18, for his second walleye, he broke the Montana state record. Hart, 46, caught a 17.75-pound walleye at 7:15 a.m., Sunday on the north shore of Tiber Reservoir, southeast of Shelby. The fish measured 35 inches long with a 22-inch girth.
"We were just sitting on shore fishing with a minnow and a weight to keep it on the bottom," Hart says. He had the five-inch minnow at about 20 to 30 feet when the walleye struck. It took about 15 minutes to land, Hart says. He had 6- or 8-pound test line on his reel.
(Editor's note: In an e-mail followup, Hart confirmed the fact that he was sitting in a lawn chair on the bank when the big fish hit. Asked what brand lawn chair it was, Hart wrote, "I think it was a 'Double-Bun-A-Rest"" Personally, I think he made that up, but just in case, I'll be on the lookout for that brand before I head walleye fishing next summer.) -From the Walleyes Forever newsletter
From the Wyoming Walleye Circuit website: A recent article in the Casper Star Tribune stated that the Speas fish hatchery upgrades will allow the game and fish to triple the output of that facility. It stated the increased output would be sufficient to stock trout species into the North Platte river and area reservoirs including Seminoe, Pathfinder, Alcova and Glendo.
After reading the article I was excited about the possibility of another forage fish being introduced into Glendo. After contacting Al Condor about that possibility, he laughed and said there was slim possibility of trout stocking into Glendo, a very nice walleye factory.
These businesses support us
Here is the list of Donors and Sponsors of our 2007 Banquet. Drop by and say thanks!
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White's Marine Center Compression Leasing Sportsman's Warehouse Casper Well Products Rocky Mountain Discount Sports Overman Realty LLC Bentz's Town Pump Mckendree Trucking, Inc Liquor Shed Andreen Hunt Construction, Inc Eagle Claw Ken Mayer-Countrywide Home Loans Terry Doughty Extreme Exteri-ors Hilltop National Bank Ben Knox White's Mountain Motors Platte River Builders Silver Fox Lounge USA Trucking Lowrance Electronics Scott's HotShot Service Rick's Rocks Lathrop Equipment Co Wilson Equipment Hilltop National Bank Jim Ellison - Versa Ramp Parkway Plaza Walgreen's Overhead Door Company Staples Shakespeare Minn Kota | John Green Buffalo Creek Clothing Company Lake Tobin Lodge Greg and Tracy Alvar Red Butte Ranch Bed and Breakfast JTL Group Inc. John Ma-rohn Western Walleye Magazine Bakers Narrows Lodge Lowrance Pro Team Walleye Circuit Rick Mclaughlin A1 Tires Dave Underhill Overhead Door Company Shawn and Connie Edmonson Wyoming Builders Supply Xtools Kevin Reinhart Red Rum Sport Fishing Karst Motorsports Cowboy Auto Spa Team Outdoor TV by Lowrance Berkley Abu Garcia Mack's Lures Bar D Signs Woody's Little Print Shop Big Wyoming GMC Shoremaster Docks Walmart Artist Choice Gallery Woody G's Gallery & Frame Shop |
Some great quotes
Everywhere is within walking distance if you have the time. -Steven Wright
It is better to have loafed and lost, than never to have loafed at all. -James Thurber
Women and cats will do as they please; and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea -Robert A. Heinlein
Anybody who doesn't know what soap tastes like never washed a dog. -Franklin P. Jones
If your dog is fat, you aren't getting enough exercise. -Anonymous
News from Game and Fish
POPULAR CENTRAL WYOMING WATERS RECEIVE DIFFERENT WALLEYE MGT STRATEGIES
LANDER- Central Wyoming's Boysen Reservoir and Ocean Lake are important destinations for walleye anglers and both fisheries have been under the Wyoming Game and Fish Department radar for several years as biologists seek ways to improve fishing for the sought-after species.
Because issues can vary greatly between waters, biologists have adopted different management strategies and studies for both Boysen Reservoir and Ocean Lake.
The health of walleye populations is more often than not a function of the fish's habitat. Preferring cool, clear waters with lots of oxygen, walleye tend to flourish in large lakes. Rocky shorelines for spawning habitats are key to walleye reproduction, without which populations cannot sustain themselves. Biologists take all of the factors into consideration when crafting a strategy for managing different populations and habitats.
The populations and habitats in Ocean Lake and Boysen Reservoir are just that -- very different -- giving managers the challenge of two very different approaches. Ocean Lake, for example, is the only water in the Lander region in which walleye are stocked, mainly because good spawning habitat does not exist in the lake near Pavillion for the species to reproduce. Conversely, Boysen Reservoir offers good spawning habitat that allows walleye to reproduce on their own.
"Walleye populations in Boysen Reservoir are self-sustaining because there is good spawning habitat," said Game and Fish Fisheries Biologist Kevin Johnson. He adds one of the main reasons the Game and Fish doesn't stock walleye in Boysen is to reduce chances of hybridization with its close cousin the sauger.
"Because the native sauger population in Boysen and upstream in the Wind River is one of the last genetically pure populations in North America, we don't want to jeopardize that with a walleye stocking program," Johnson said.
Because there is adequate habitat for walleye reproduction in Boysen Reservoir, fisheries managers focus their energy on monitoring walleye populations and improving habitat for other cool water fish species. The walleye population is monitored annually by netting samples of the fish on their shoreline habitat.
"Walleye populations are cyclic in most waters, and in recent years we have noted an increase in the number of fish we catch in gill nets," said Game and Fish Fisheries Biologist Joe Deromedi. "We are especially encouraged to see an increase in young fish in this year's netting effort. Nearly half of the walleye caught in gill nets were 15 inches or less; average length for walleye netted was 16.3 inches."
"Walleye recruitment is dependent upon several factors such as adequate spawning habitat, cover and food for the young, predation and other factors. Boysen Reservoir supports an abundance of mature fish, has large areas of spawning habitat, and stable water conditions are usually available during egg incubation for walleye. Poor walleye recruitment results from predation on young walleye during years when nursery habitat "cover" is not available."
Fisheries managers also use gill nets to monitor walleye populations in Ocean Lake, but take a different approach. Gill nets are floated at the water surface to reduce the chance of catching other species. Information on age classes and overall health of the fish is noted to help determine stocking strategies. About 320,000 fingerling (1-2 inch) walleye are stocked in Ocean Lake each year.
Although some fillet/whole fish regulations will impact Boysen anglers beginning in January 2008, there are no changes proposed for walleye regulations on either Boysen Reservoir or Ocean Lake. Johnson and Deromedi hope the information obtained from their studies will help improve walleye fisheries and management strategies.
Wyoming Residents Advised to Avoid Eating Fish High in Mercury
The Wyoming Department of Health and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department are advising state residents to be mindful about mercury levels in fish they eat. In addition to some saltwater fish, the agencies are advising caution when consuming certain fish from Big Horn, Seminoe and Pathfinder reservoirs.
"Eating fish with high amounts of mercury can cause health problems, especially in children," said Timothy Ryan, environmental public health section chief with the Wyoming Department of Health.
"In general, Wyoming fish are low in mercury," Ryan said. "But we are recommending that women of childbearing age, pregnant women, nursing mothers and children under the age of 15 should eat more small Wyoming-caught fish and fewer large fish, and should avoid eating channel catfish, bass, sauger and walleye from certain waters." Specifically, the agencies offer the following guidelines:
Women of childbearing age, pregnant women, nursing mothers and children under 15 are advised to consume no more than two meals per week of fish that are low in mercury. People in that group should not eat fish that are considered high in mercury.
For others, the agencies are advising prudent consumption of fish low in mercury and no more than one to two meals per month of fish high in mercury.
Freshwater fish low in mercury include: Wyoming-caught trout and farm-raised tilapia and catfish.
Freshwater fish high in mercury include: channel catfish, sauger, and walleye from Big Horn, Seminoe and Pathfinder reservoirs.
Mike Stone, fisheries chief with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, explained that fish size is a factor affecting mercury levels. "The longer a fish lives the greater its chances of accumulating mercury in its tissues," Stone said. "In general, fish that feed on other fish or bottom-feeders are also more likely to accumulate mercury." Game and Fish has conducted baseline surveys on major reservoirs around the state for several years. Fish from the majority of waters exhibited low levels of mercury. A few waters warranted additional testing, which led to the fish consumption advisory. Mercury is a naturally occurring element that is distributed throughout the environment by both natural processes and human activities.
On the lighter side
Beware what you eat
A Dietician is giving a lecture at a Nursing Home.
"The material we put into our stomachs is enough to have killed most of us sitting here, years ago. Red meat is awful. Soft drinks corrode your stomach lining. Chinese food is loaded with MSG. High fat diets can be disastrous, and none of us realizes the long-term! harm caused by the germs in our drinking water. But there is one thing that is the most dangerous of all.
Can anyone tell me what food it is that causes the most grief and suffering for years after eating it?"
After several seconds of quiet, a 75-year-old man in the front row raised his hand, and softly said, "Wedding Cake."
wyowalleyenewsletter@hotmail.com
Tight Lines -- Woody G.