| Flaming Gorge fishing heats up as temperatures cool | |
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Source: einnews |
11/4/2023 |
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While many folks may have already traded their rods and reels for rifles, late fall and early winter remain a great time to target small lake trout that continue to impact other sport fish populations at Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Game and Fish encourages the harvest of small lake trout < 28 inches or “pups.” Regardless of the species you fish for, the future of your fishery depends on the continued harvest of these small predators. High numbers of small lake trout remain a concern for fisheries managers. |
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A recently completed population estimate suggests there are approximately 143,000 lake trout under 28 inches in Flaming Gorge, over three times higher than estimates completed in the 1980s. There is also concern regarding the number of young kokanee these small predators consume. Diet analysis work by the University of Wyoming shows that kokanee comprise approximately 25% of pup diet annually. Managers are concerned that these high consumption rates of juvenile kokanee by small lake trout are the main reason anglers are catching fewer kokanee. The same can be said for rainbow trout in the reservoir |
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