Fisheries Resources – High Lakes WSA

1. Fisheries Resources – High Lakes WSA Sam Hochhalter, Cody Regional Fisheries Supervisor, WGFD

2. Overview • History of Fish Management • Fish Resources Today

3. History of Fish Management West-ward expansion in the 1800’s -High harvest of existing fish and wildlife pops. -Early management – harvest could be offset with stocking

4. History of Fish Management 1874 – 1929 Brook and Rainbow trout stocked throughout most accessible waters. By 1923 over 72 Billion fish stocked by train

5. History of Fish Management 1910 – 1939 Brook, Rainbow, and “Black spotted” trout stocked in less accessible waters.

6. History of Fish Management Beartooth Plateau Lakes were historically fishless or “barren” 1933 - 1939 Brook Trout were stocked in at least 32 of the ~50 lakes within the HighLakes WSA

7. Fish Resources Today Brook Trout Heaven Highly abundant brook trout populations in most streams and lakes.

8. Fish Resources Today Non-Brook Trout Lakes -Snyder Lake – golden trout -Native Lake – cutthroat trout -Echo Lake – cutthroat trout -Emerald Lake – cutthroat trout

9. Fish Resources Today Angler Use -No estimates of angler effort/use -Popular location for backpack fishing trips

10. Questions