For about five years running, it’s been miserable news for trout fanatics at Soda Lake, just north of Pinedale, and angling opportunities will remain “limited” again this year, according to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
Fishing season opens on Friday at Soda Lake, which at one time had a world-class reputation as a brown and brook trout fishery, and was a favorite quick-getaway spot for locals.
Citing persistent drought and warm temperatures as the primary problem, Game and Fish says anglers shouldn’t expect much from the lake.
“When the lake opens to angling on May 1, there will be few fish available for anglers to pursue,” according to the agency.
Some local fishing fanatics told Cowboy State Daily that they haven’t even bothered going to Soda Lake for years.
‘We’re Sad About It’ …
Rhett Bain of Pinedale owns Real Deal Anglers guide service and told Cowboy State Daily that Soda Lake used to be his favorite place to go relax and catch a few fish for himself.
“It used to be so amazing. I would usually go fish there in the evenings, and you could just see fish rising all around you,” he said.
The quality of fishing there started to decline around 2004. And over about the past five years, it’s absolutely tanked, Bain said.
He wasn’t exactly sure when he last went there, but thinks it might have been “the year before last.”
“I mean, it’s just not worth the time or effort now,” Bain said.
Noted outdoorsman and fishing guide Paul Ulrich said that when he first moved to Pinedale in the early 2000s, the trout angling at Soda Lake was beyond belief.
“Soda Lake was a destination for still water anglers from all over the country at one point. It was a special resource for Wyoming,” he said.
“Two Rivers Fly Shop in Pinedale used to sell flies, specifically made just for fishing at Soda,” he said.
But those days are over.
“It’s made it very sad. We’re sad about it,” Ulrich said.
What Happened?
Trout don’t spawn at Soda Lake, so Game and Fish stoked it.
According to the agency, the population peaked in 1997. There were an estimated 47,000 adult trout in Soda Lake, roughly 58% brown trout, and 42% brook trout.
Trout numbers plummeted to about 1,500 adult fish in Soda Lake in 2004, and have struggled ever since, according to Game and Fish.
Dropping water levels are partly to blame, and that didn’t improve this year.
“The water level of Soda Lake dropped more than 19 inches last summer, and this winter’s snow pack did not replenish the loss, only refilling the lake with less than 4 inches,” according to Game and Fish.
It’s also thought that high PH levels in the water have contributed to algae blooms, which can kill the fish off.
Until 2003, Game and Fish stocked Soda Lake with 30,000 brook trout and 30,000 brown trout each year.
Because of the declining water levels, those numbers were reduced over the years.
This spring, Game and Fish stocked 10,000 young fish of each species, about 5 inches long.
Next year, the agency plans to add 5,000 Bonneville cutthroat trout to the mix.
“This subspecies of cutthroat trout is well adapted to warmer water and poor water quality,” according to Game and Fish.
The odds of catching trophy-sized brown trout in Soda Lake are “very low” although there might be some large brook trout left, Game and Fish stated.
Will It Get Better?
As long as water levels continue to get lower and water temperatures stay warm, it seems not much can be done for Soda Lake.
Ulrich and Bain said they’re not sure the lake can ever be restored to its full former glory.
But precipitation this spring could at least give the trout that Game and Fish just stocked there a chance to survive and grow, Bain said.
Pray for snow, rain, sleet. Anything with water,” he said.
He also encouraged other anglers to stay away from Soda Lake, at least for a while, to help aid in recovery.
“The whole thing just needs a break,” he said.
Ulrich said that while Soda Lake’s decline remains vexing, he appreciates Game and Fish’s efforts.
“I know that Game and Fish is aware that was, and could again be, a world-class fishery, and they’re doing everything they can to manage it,” he said.
He hasn’t given up on good angling returning to Soda Lake someday.
“As an eternal optimist when it comes to good fishing, I always hold out hope for the future,” Ulrich said.
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
