North Platte WU
Newsletter Editors
This has been a slow month for walleye news. Most of us have directed our activities to hunting and less to fishing so fishing reports are few and far between. Glendo is the only lake with fishing reports and it is still productive with jigging spoons and trolling. The spoons of choice are still hopkins, kastmasters, crippled herring s and the secret lure I told you about last month, the Flea-fly only available at the general store in Glendo. Putting a slight bend in the lure helps the action of the Flea-fly and increases the fish catching rate. At each club meeting we do a drawing from our complete membership list and if that member is present they win a $100 gift certificate from Sportsman's Warehouse in Casper. Last months winning losers was Duane and Barbara Bales. I had forgotten to mention in last months newsletter the September's winning loser which was Kirk Ziker. Most new members are attracted to our club in hopes of becoming better walleye fishermen or fisherwomen as the case may be. It is my feeling that they are like me and want to learn how to catch those blasted fickle and elusive creatures. To that end I'm going to try to have demonstrations and presentations at each club meeting. This month we will have a presentation on vertical jigging given by Ron Wirth. At our November meeting I will try to get a Wyoming Game and Fish representative to give us a lowdown on this years gill net survey at our local lakes. What rumors I have heard about the surveys at Glendo, is that it is an amazing fish factory for both walleyes and the forage fish. I had one Game and Fish biologist tell me that he was surprised that anyone could catch a fish in Glendo given the amount of forage fish available in the lake. Our community work is not going unnoticed, as we the club, received yet another email, this time from a Mr. AZIZ MUSA, stating he is a bank examiner in BURKINA FASO. He states he discovered an abandoned sum of money ($18.2 mill) from a family who died in a plane crash. Afer a futile search for any heirs to the money he has said he would like us to be the next of kin so we can inherit the money. What with the money that will rolling in soon from Princess Josephine, who is also in BURKINA FASO (what a coincidence) and the money we're going to inherit from Mr Musa, we can really upgrade the trinkets we raffle off at each club meeting. For those who don't know of BURKINA FASO, it is an African country slightly larger than Colorado consisting mostly of dust and dirt with nearly 14 million people and a goat. We should be grateful they want to give us nearly an entire years gross domestic product.
Remember that November 14th is National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day
Fishing reports, tips and tricks
HOW OLD IS THAT WALLEYE?
In 2001, we collected age data on most of the major walleye waters in Wyoming. To age walleye, we collected scales, spines or otoliths from walleye in our nets. Otoliths are the inner ear bones that are typically very reliable in aging walleye. With scales, the scales were dried then pressed on acetate slides using a jeweler's press. These impressions were then "read" on a microfiche reader. Like most fish, walleye grow faster in the summer when food is abundant and slower over the winter months. These differences in growth rates are seen on the scales as annuli (similar to counting rings on a tree), essentially periods of slower and faster growth. Scales seem to work well for aging walleye at waters where growth is fast. On slower growing waters, spines or otoliths were used to age fish.
In order to actively manage WAE (walleye), we need to better understand their populations. By doing age and growth work, we will be able to distinguish cohorts (specific age groups of fish), evaluate regulation changes or the need for special regulations, better understand WAE population dynamics and, perhaps most importantly, better communicate with WAE anglers. Figure 3 shows the time it takes to grow a walleye to 15 inches in most Wyoming walleye waters. Glendo, Hawk Springs and Grayrocks reservoirs all produce a 15-inch walleye in 3 years or less. The upper North Platte Reservoirs typically have cooler water temperatures (higher elevations) and less forage so it takes 4-5 years to produce a 15-inch walleye. -- Information taken from the 2002 Wyoming Game and Fish North Plate Angler Newsletter
Useless facts and space filler
The phrase "rule of thumb" is derived from an old English law which stated that you couldn't beat your wife with anything wider than your thumb.
The largest Great White Shark ever caught measured 37 feet and weighed 24,000 pounds. It was found in a herring weir in New Brunswick in 1930.
On a Canadian two dollar bill, the flag flying over the Parliament Building is an American flag.
The catfish has over 27,000 taste buds, that makes the catfish rank #1 for animal having the most taste buds.
Just when you've thought you have seen everything. If you get really bored someday, do a Google for Nutty Buddy and click on the video. It might give you a giggle. It did me.
Great eating
Walleye Supreme
Ingredients
o 1 pound walleye*
o 8 ounces cheddar cheese, grated
o 8 ounces sour cream
o 1 (10 1/2 ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
o 1 medium onion, diced
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place fish in shallow baking pan; place diced onion and cheese evenly on fish. Mix sour cream and soup in a bowl and spoon onto fish. Bake in preheated oven 30 to 35 minutes. Serves 4. *Ideal fillets should be approximately 3/4-inch thick.
This recipe has been generously contributed by www.fishingworks.com
Cheesy Walleye Casserole
Ingredients
o 2 (10 oz.) packages frozen chopped spinach, drained and thawed
o 2 pounds walleye fillets, cut in 3 to 4-inch pieces
o 1 medium onion, chopped
o2 Tablespoons butter, melted
o 1 (10 oz.) can cream of shrimp soup
o 1/2 cup milk
o 1/2 cup shredded Swiss cheese
o 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
o 1/8 teaspoon curry powder
o dash of pepper
o 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
o 1/2 cup saltine cracker crumbs
Spread the spinach in greased 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking dish. Place the Walleye pieces on top. Saut? the onion in butter until tender. Stir in the soup, milk, Swiss cheese, Cheddar cheese, curry powder and pepper. Cook over low heat, stirring until the cheese melts. Spoon over the fish. Top with the cracker crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
This recipe has been generously contributed by www.fishingworks.com
These businesses support us
Please return the favor!
White's Marine Center 3010 Energy Lane Casper, WY 307-235-3900 or 1-800-7884661
Western Walleye Magazine - Billy Brenton - Casper, WY Phone 307-472-9887
Ghost Town Canvas 67 South 6th Street, Mtn View addition 307-234-8208
Platte River Builders, Inc. 251 N. Jefferson Casper, WY 307-577-1244
Lathrop Equipment 4920 Lathrop Rd. Casper, WY 307-265-1870
Overhead Door Company of Casper, Inc. 2760 Fleet wood Place Casper, WY 307-265-6614
Red Butte Ranch Lodging and Fishing 8500 Bessemer Bend S Rd. Casper, WY 307-472-3784
USA Trucking 5370 Poison Spider RD. Casper, WY 307-266-3094
Scott's Hotshot Service 5370 Poison Spider Rd. Casper, WY 307-232-9000
Overman Realty 1411 E. Second St. Casper, WY 307-472-1363
Fairgrounds Homes 2130 Fairgrounds Rd. Casper, WY 307-237-7062
Stenco Supply 1465 Willer Dr. Casper, WY 307-235-4631
Compression Leasing Services, Inc. 1935 N Loop Ave. Casper, WY 307-265-3242
Some great quotes
Do not tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don't tell them where they know the fish. -- Mark Twain
It's noble to be good. It's nobler to teach others to be good, and less trouble. -- - Wit and Wisdom of Mark Twain
You should never do anything wicked and lay it on your brother, when it is just as convenient to lay it on some other boy. -- Mark Twain
On the lighter side
The two hunters
Two hunters got a pilot to fly them into the far north for elk hunting. They were quite successful in their venture and bagged six big bucks. The pilot came back, as arranged, to pick them up. They started loading their gear into the plane, including the six elk. But the pilot objected and he said, "The plane can only take four of your elk; you will have to leave two behind."
They argued with him; the year before they had shot six and the pilot had allowed them to put all aboard. The plane was the same model and capacity. Reluctantly, the pilot finally permitted them to put all six aboard. But when the attempted to take off and leave the valley, the little plane could not make it and they crashed into the wilderness.
Climbing out of the wreckage, one hunter said to the other, "Do you know where we are?"
"I think so," replied the other hunter. I think this is about the same place where we landed last year!"
wyowalleyenewsletter@hotmail.com
Tight Lines -- Woody G.