Flying fish into alpine lakes

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) used a helicopter to stock trout at several Snowy Range alpine lakes with trout on Aug. 7.

A helicopter is WGFD’s preferred method for alpine lake fish stocking as it provides easier access to the lakes and is less stressful for the fish. Fish can be stocked in just minutes using a helicopter, resulting in a high survival rate.

Helicopter stocking is normally conducted in even numbered years in the Snowy Range. Small fingerling trout are stocked to allow the helicopter to handle the largest possible number of fish.

The following lakes were stocked in the Libby Flats area of the Medicine Bow National Forest:

Bear Lake: golden trout.

South Gap: Bear River cutthroat trout and rainbow trout.

East Glacier Lake: Bear River cutthroat trout.

Golden Lake: Bear River cutthroat trout.

Shelf Lake #1: golden trout.

Shelf Lake #2: golden trout.

Albany South Twin Lake: Bear River cutthroat trout.

Alpine lakes in the Snowy Range are highly scenic areas requiring anglers to hike to most of them. Many of Wyoming’s high country lakes are not capable of supporting a reproductive population of fish. Therefore, it is necessary for WGFD to periodically stock these lakes to provide an adequate fishery for backcountry anglers