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Author Topic: Wyoming contemplates the costs of high fishing pressure  (Read 6146 times)

RalphH

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Wyoming contemplates the costs of high fishing pressure
« on: February 07, 2025, 05:04:52 PM »
The State of Wyoming is facing the consequences of a drastic increase in fishing pressure on the North Plate River and drainage. Popularity of North Plate has jumped dramatically in the last several years. Fish numbers and size have dropped. Proposals to regulate who can fish where, how and with what sort of tackle now pits fly anglers against gear anglers, boat anglers against wade anglers, guiding vs non-guided and local against non-residents.
 
https://cowboystatedaily.com/2025/02/06/fishing-could-be-limited-to-lures-and-flies-because-too-many-released-fish-are-dying/
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dennisK

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Re: Wyoming contemplates the costs of high fishing pressure
« Reply #1 on: February 07, 2025, 07:16:02 PM »
Excellent article Ralph. Thank you.

I've always believed this was the huge downside of catch and release fisheries. There is a lot of salmon trauma going on that we have no way of monitoring accurately. The natural extension of this Wyoming reality on our rivers suggests a re-thinking. Maybe prohibit methods of fishing on rivers with wild stocks; or pause fishing outright during the first few months of wild returns.
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ShaunO

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Re: Wyoming contemplates the costs of high fishing pressure
« Reply #2 on: February 07, 2025, 07:38:23 PM »
Interesting read, indeed.

What I found of interest is the out of state guides operating on the river.  In one part of the article, it talked about going from zero observed boats on the river to over 1,900 in 21 years - with 95% estimated to be out of state.  The BC Angling Guide License is for specific waters in BC and that's it.  If you want to guide in BC, you pay the fees, show the insurance and plans, and take the test.  On top of terminal gear changes, regulating the out of state guides will undoubtedly see a reduction in boat pressure
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