Game and Fish trout reintroduction meetings create public comment

WORLAND – Designated the state fish in 1987, the Yellowstone cutthroat trout, a native to Wyoming before settlement and once abundant, is scheduled to be reintroduced to the Absaroka, Beartooth and Big Horn Mountains, but ahead of the measure, Game and Fish officials taking public input from interested anglers and outdoors enthusiasts.

Last month in Worland, a group of wildlife officials led by Cody Regional Fisheries Supervisor Sam Hochhalter met with a half dozen residents to take recommendations before holding similar meetings in Cody and Lovell.

This week Game and Fish released their public input from those meetings, and announced more meetings for the same three communities.

The anglers and outdoorsmen in attendance, all from the Big Horn Basin, noted that fishing has changed greatly since the 1950s due to reduced cutthroat population, and agreed that family-friendly fishing is still important, so there is a need to preserve the brook and rainbow trout where appropriate, but emphasis should be on native species.

After reviewing input from the approximately 80 participants spanning three meetings across the Big Horn Basin, several themes were identified: Interests and Concerns, or ideas that must be considered and balanced, and Questions and Information Needed, which include clarifying information to be offered at future meetings.

Overall, it was decided that a balance needs to be found concerning opportunities to fish for native and nonnative trout species, opportunities for both consumptive and non-consumptive users and opportunities for both backcountry and front country experiences.

Also of importance were access considerations (public/private; motorized/non-motorized), preserving existing populations of cutthroat, and better understanding impact of regulations (catch & release, creel limits, bait, etc.)

Many anglers valued quantity of catch, and youth/new angler experiences, many value the unique experience of fishing a native species.

One important point was to improve public education and understanding of native species (in general) and the cutthroat issues (specifically).

Due to the smaller number of participants in Lovell and Worland, Game and Fish will merge meetings two and three into one.  That means that the next meeting in Lovell and Worland will be the second and final meeting of this collaborative effort. Participants at the next Lovell and Worland meetings will be expected to provide the department with their recommendations for future cutthroat trout restoration.

The next set of public meetings will be held March 5, 5 p.m., Lovell Community Center, March 6, 5:30 p.m., Grizzly Hall, Park County Library (Cody) and March 7, 5 p.m., Washakie County Emergency Management Meeting Room at the fairgrounds.

More information can be found online at https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Get-Involved/Cutthroat-Trout.