Download the Official Wyoming Trout Unlimited Save The Cutthroat Donation Form

Watch Save The Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Video Part 1 of 3

Save The Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Full Video Series. Many are aware that there is a problem with Yellowstone Lake but do you know what that problem is? Or if anything can be done about it?

The Dubois Anglers and Wildlife Group, a non-profit Organization in Dubois, Wyoming recently held a presentation by Mr. David Sweet, Project Manager for the Yellowstone Lake Project. This is Part 2 of a 3 Part fascinating presentation.

Watch Save The Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Video Part 2 of 3

Lake Trout Problem in Yellowstone

Chock full of incredible studies about the battle between Yellowstone Lake Trout and their predation on the native Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout. Tracking, telemetry, gill-netting efforts, surgically implanted trout and more are explained in great detail.

Watch Save The Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Video Part 3 of 3

Donate Now: Your Help Is Needed

Donate Today: The YL Project Needs $85K by May 2012. Any amount will help

Even if you can’t donate money, you CAN share this Save The Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Video Series with family, friends and fishing buddies. Please do and ask them to share it as well.

Any amount is appreciated and will help to fund the 3 year long study.

Download the Save The Cutthroat Trout PDF and Donation Form – fill it out and send it in.

Wyoming TU, Wyoming Trout Unlimited, Wyoming Game and Fish and Yellowstone Lake welcome your support.

In our previous article we discussed the Yellowstone Lake Trout issue

You can also watch the Save The Cutthroat Trout Videos on youtube

We have a video that will help you discover the following:

• How dawgsonline.org Works
• What The Navigation Is Like
• How To Check Out The Nice DAWGS Pictures
• How To Find and Read The Posts and Articles
• How To Download The DAWGS Membership Form (so you can join us)
• How To See The DAWGS News, Projects and More Quickly
• Where To Leave Comments

You will also be introduced to the new Webmaster. He is Dubois Anglers and Wildlife Member, Bradley. He shares how you can get in touch with him anytime. Your comments are welcome.

It has been said that Lake Trout or Mackinaw, a species of Char, “were discovered” by anglers in 1994.

However, this information does not necessarily mean that this is when the problem began.

“But since non-native lake trout were discovered in Yellowstone Lake by an angler in 1994, the famous cutthroat population has been threatened.”

Source: YellowstonePark.com

…and this

“Yellowstone Lake is home of the premier surviving inland cutthroat trout fishery in North America. This fishery is threatened with destruction by illegally introduced lake trout, which were discovered in 1994.”

Source: A Report To The Director of the National Park Service 1995

In fact, it could be said that The U. S. Bureau of Fisheries Department was responsible for the initial introduction of Lake Trout to Yellowstone Park (along with other non-indigenous species).

Additionally, DAWGS Member Leon Sanderson has this to say about the subject of Lake Trout on Yellowstone Lake:

Lake Trout in Yellowstone Lake

“It is no mystery how the Lake Trout found it’s way to Yellowstone Park. The Bureau of Fisheries Department is the responsible party for the initial introduction of Lake Trout into Yellowstone Park (along with other non-indigenous species). Although there is no documentation to prove they planted the fish directly into Yellowstone Lake itself, they were responsible for the species finding a home in the two lakes closest to Yellowstone Lake. The practice of trapping bait fish has been wide spread, legal and used by sportsman (largely ice fisherman) for decades if not centuries. This practice spawns (no pun intended) the spread of fish species from one body of water to another. The dumping of bait “down the hole” at the end of the day or season is and was commonplace. That said, the issue of “who is responsible” is a moot point at this stage of the game.”

Sanderson continues, “The Lake Trout have thrived in Yellowstone Lake, feeding primarily on the native Cutthroat trout. The park service, TU and many other organizations have joined forces to find the best possible solution to this problem. After listening to Dave Sweet (Yellowstone Lake Special Project Manager, WY TU) give a presentation on the issue, I feel like there may be a glimmer of hope! Dubois Anglers and Wildlife Group (DAWGS) made a contribution to help purchase equipment for the research project. We encourage all join in and help the effort of finding a solution to this problem.”

Despite this argument as to who is to blame for the Lake Trout in Yellowstone Lake, the fact remains that it is a problem.

In fact, if you would like to see how much of a problem it really is, please watch the full Save The Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Video Series Talk about a great presentation! If you ever wanted to learn more about the lake trout problem – these are the videos to see.

Of course the Lake Trout Battle has been waged for several years:

“Dr. Robert Gresswell of the USGS, with the support and encouragement of the fisheries team in Yellowstone, has launched a hydro-acoustic telemetry study on Yellowstone Lake. On this last Thursday the first of 140 hydro-acoustic tags were implanted in adult lake trout aboard the Sheepshead that were taken from the trap nets.”

Source: Wyoming Trout Unlimited

On March 5th, 2012, the Dubois Anglers and Wildlife Group will meet at the Headwaters to discuss the situation.

Many representatives for the Wyoming Game and Fish will be there, Trout Unlimited, DAWGS Members and more.

We hope you will be able to attend.

UPDATE: David Sweet, YL Project Manager, gave his presentation at the Headwaters about Saving The Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout in Yellowstone Lake.

Dubois Anglers and Wildlife Group Members, representatives from the Wyoming Game and Fish, and other interested parties were in attendance.

Video of the entire presentation was taken and is now available for you to see. If you ever wanted to really know what is happening with the Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout in Yellowstone lake, were interested in what is being done – or are simply curious – you will want to watch these three videos

Click Here To Download the full-color YL Brochure. YES! I Want To Help SAVE The Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout! Please except my tax-deductible donation.

Ranch Manager Reg Phillips, Diamond D, Jeff Vanuga, TU's Corey T, WG&F and Members Discuss The Horse Creek Diversion Project

Trout Unlimited Wyoming, Wyoming Game and Fish and Diamond D Cattle Ranch are also involved and will be donating their time and energy into this needed project.

Reg Phillips, Ranch Manager for the Diamond D Cattle Co Ranch, owned by Jeff Sussman are also supporting the project.

Will Rigsby, Ranch Manager of the EA Ranch is also involved and supporting the project.

At issue is an old barrier and head-gate that does not allow fish to move freely up and down stream.

The Horse Creek Diversion Project Will:

1. Replace the Head-Gate
2. Put in a Diversion That Allows Fish “Free Travel”

You can download the Horse Creek Diversion Plans right here.

As many of you know, we have been volunteers with an organization called Casting for Recovery (CFR) for the last few years. CFR hosts retreats for survivors of breast cancer which allows participants to gather in a natural setting and learn the sport of fly fishing. Rick and I have been involved with the organization in NC/SC. Mary has agreed to be the Program Coordinator (with Rick as her able-bodied and ever-willing assistant) for the first CFR retreat to be held in Wyoming.

It will be August 12-14, 2011 at the Absaroka Ranch near Dubois. CFR retreats are staffed by trained counselors and facilitators, including a psycho-social therapist, a health care professional as well as fly-fishing instructors and river helpers. Just as importantly, the retreats offer an opportunity to meet new friends, network, and have fun.

About the Casting For Recovery Wyoming Retreat

Our two-and-a-half day retreats are offered at no cost to women of any age at any stage of breast cancer treatment and recovery. We are actively working several aspects of the retreat (volunteers, logistics, funding, etc). CFR believes in its mission of providing women with powerful tools for healing at no expense to them. For this reason, we are reaching out and asking you to consider making a tax-deductible donation to our Casting for Recovery Wyoming Retreat. We have a goal of raising $14,000 before August.

Here is the link to the online CFR donation site. Please be sure to use the drop-down menu under Designation to select “Specific Retreat program” then enter Wyoming in the “Specific Retreat Name.” This will assure that the funds are directed to the retreat in Wyoming this summer instead of the general funds. If you want to write a check or send your donation via regular mail, please download the CFR (PDF) form. You can print the form and mail it to the National CFR Office address which is on the form. Please indicate Wyoming in the “For the following retreat” section.

Casting For Recovery will host retreats this year in 34 states. If you are interested in a retreat as a participant or as a volunteer, please follow this link to learn about CFR Retreats in your State. Feel free to share this information with friends who may be interested in participating or volunteering with one of the retreats.

The New York Times did an article about CFR last fall.

Here you can read the news article from Cody Enterprises about the Dubois WY Casting for Recovery Event 2011

Please contact us if you have any questions.

Thank you, Mary and Rick
Casting for Recovery is a 501(c)(3) non-profit.

Download the pdf application for the retreat here.

Trout Unlimited and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department are conducting a cutthroat trout movement study in the Wiggins and East Forks of the Wind River.

DAWGS has assisted with this project by helping to tag the fish. The project also has an educational component where students from the Dubois Wyoming K-8 school came out to the East Fork to learn about telemetry.

Here is a Trout Movement Study News Video that features the Dubois Wyoming children learning all about this project:

Dubois anglers and Wildlife Group volunteers also ran a clinic for the students and introduced them to the art of fly fishing.

Download The Final Report on The Trout Movement Study

Wyoming Game and Fish and Trout Unlimited will be monitoring the fish movement for several more months.

DawgsOnline.org

© 2005-2012 Dubois Anglers & Wildlife Group. All Rights Reserved.

Loads of fun to be had for these children! Looks like we may have some Future Angles and DAWGS in this great group

©2005-2012 Dubois Anglers & Wildlife Group. http://dawgsonline.org All Rights Reserved.

Wind River Riparian Area a few miles West of Dubois

By definition, riparian areas are the green, vegetated places on either side of streams and rivers. These areas serve many important functions, including:

• Purifying water by removing sediments and other contaminants
• Reducing the risk of flooding and associated damage
• Reducing stream channel and stream bank erosion
• Increasing available water and stream flow duration by holding water in stream banks and aquifers
• Supporting a diversity of plant and wildlife species
• Maintaining a habitat for healthy fish populations
• Providing water, forage, and shade for wildlife and livestock
• Creating opportunities for recreationists to fish, camp, picnic, and enjoy other activities

Riparian demo from the WY Game & Fish Dept

Through the years, the Upper Wind River stream banks and overflow channels gradually lost the natural diversified riparian vegetation. Channel alterations, such as cutting through meanders, facilitated further deterioration of the channel area over time. Improper irrigation waste water return and poor irrigation water management in the channel vicinity further eroded the streams.

Seasonal high water, resulting from melting snow pack and snow, flushes the various watershed channels with high volumes and velocities of water. Tremendous amounts of sediment are washed from raw banks and channels into the streams that make up the watershed which in turn, dumps sediment into the Upper Wind River and eventually into Boysen Reservoir.

Efforts by neighboring organizations such as the Wind River Alliance to restore the riparian buffer along the Wind River Watershed are enhanced by projects sponsored by DAWGS

Here is how the DAWGS Sawmill Habitat and Handicapped Access worked in 4 Phases

The Sawmill Habitat project has a very long history. It was proposed back in 2004 and went on until 2010 where DAWGS completed the project with the Handicapped Access points and walkway.

Phase One of the Sawmill Site Project was completed upstream of the bridge (present site of the third handicap access platform) in efforts to improve fish habitat. Two structures were installed in the river – a weir and a J-hook. DAWGS also removed a considerable amount of rubbish from this stretch of the river including vehicles, old pipe, and a massive amount of concrete.

Phase Two consisted of another weir installed above the bridge for improved fish habitat and the channels under the bridge retrenched to improve irrigation. Both phases one and two were solely funded by DAWGS.

Phase Three brought in both the pathway and the three handicap access platforms to the Sawmill Site. The pathway stretches 1,200ft upstream of the bridge and the platforms access the improved habitat created in the earlier phases of the project. This major phase of the project was funded with the assistance of Wyoming Game and Fish and Dubois Volunteer, Inc.(DVI).

Phase Four occurred downstream of the bridge. Channels were deepened and point bars installed to improve the fish habitat to the downstream section of the site.

Future Sawmill Site Projects: DAWGS is hoping to continue pathway development and handicap access sites to the downstream section of the river. DAWGS is currently seeking additional funding to assist with the project. A grant application has been submitted to Wyoming Game and Fish and DVI is willing to allocate funding for this future project.

Check out the article about the project completion here: Casper Star Tribune article(LINK) to this article: Dubois Group Finishes Handicapped Accesses on the Wind River

A while back, someone probably asked the question so, what’s works around here? Referring to flies on the Wind River and other nearby creeks, streams and lakes. While the the question still gets asked to this day, The Dubois Anglers and Wildlife Group came up the Wind River Steady Eddies. A collection of six tasty bugs that flat work around the Dubois WY area.

Here is a little more information about them:

1. The Elk Hair Caddis – The caddis fly can come off any month of the year in the “Banana Belt”. Size 14-18
2. The Woolly Bugger – An early and late season fly. A dead drift achieves a stonefly imitation while actively stripping imitates a sculpin or minnow. Size big and bigger.
3. The Gold Ribbed Hair’s Ear – Trout love it! Whitefish love it more!! Whitefish need love too!!! Size 10-16
4. The Parachute Adams – One can probably see more of these in the trees and bushes along the Wind than any other dry fly. Size 14-16
5. The Prince Nymph – There is so much controversy over WHAT this fly imitates that we refuse to use it except for on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, every Tuesday and Thursday, and always on weekends! This is the most eaten nymph in the valley. Size 10-16
6. The Hopper Patterns – If the wind ever happens to blow, some of these terrestrials end up in the water, soon to become fish food! Size 8-12

dawgsonline.org
© 2005-2012 Dubois Anglers and Wildlife Group. All Rights Reserved.