The Wyoming Game and Fish Department recently stocked 19 community fishing ponds across the state with 6,000 channel catfish, so anglers should prepare to head for the water.
The fish are considered jumbo-sized and are around 13 to 14 inches in length, according to a news release from the department. The catfish came from the Wyoming’s Women Center in Lusk from their in-house aquaculture program.
This is the first time Game and Fish has worked with the Women’s Center’s aquaculture facility to raise and provide fish for the state.
“Game and Fish doesn’t have a cool and warm water fish hatchery — our fish culture facilities are primarily supplied by colder water sources which make them great for raising trout,” Guy Campbell, Game and Fish fish culture supervisor, said in the release. “With the Women’s Center, there was a unique opportunity for them to raise a warm water fish to benefit anglers.”
Typically cool and warm water fish, like catfish, are acquired by fish trades with other states and then stocked in Wyoming.
“These jumbo catfish will create an instant summer fishery,” Campbell said.
The jumbo catfish were stocked at:
- Sloans Lake in Cheyenne, which received 1,500 fish;
- Minnehaha in Cheyenne, which received 750 fish;
- Rock Lake in Wheatland, which received 750 fish;
- Festo Lake in Wheatland, which received 500 fish;
- Gillette Fishing Lake in Gillette, which received 250 fish;
- Panther Pond in Wright, which received 200 fish;
- Sundance Fairgrounds Pond in Sundance, which received 200 fish;
- Mavrakis Pond in Sheridan, which received 175 fish;
- Ranchester City Pond in Ranchester, which received 175 fish;
- Basin Water Plant in Basin, which received 380 fish;
- South Worland, which received 400 fish;
- Big Bends 5 and 6 in Riverton, which received a total of 300 fish;
- Yesness in Casper, which received 250 fish;
- Fairgrounds Ponds 1 and 2 in Rock Springs, which received a total of 80 fish;
- Rock Springs Pond, which received 30 fish;
- Diamondville Pond in Diamondville, which received 30 fish;
- Lyman City Pond, which received 30 fish.
Fishing licenses are available online, from Game and Fish regional offices and community license selling agents. Kids under 14 fish for free, although non-resident youth under 14 must fish with a licensed adult.
