Wyoming
Angling in hot water: how higher temperatures are impacting river ecosystems and fishing outfitters
Earlier this month, a heat wave broke records across the country and also hit Wyoming hard. Most counties in the eastern part of the state were under heat advisories for multiple days. But the heat didn’t just impact air temperatures, it also took a toll on water ecosystems. The increased heat is impacting rivers, fish and the guides that rely on them.
Inside the Westbank Anglers fly-fishing shop in Wilson, long sleek rods line the walls. There’s boxes on boxes of brightly-colored flies, some with hair, fur and feathers.
In the office at the back of the shop, owner Mike Dawes said company guides are seeing water temperatures on the nearby Snake River already creep close to 68° in the middle of July. That’s a number that basically means it’s time to stop fishing for cold water species like trout.
“The water temperature is getting 66°, 67° on the Snake. And that’s just…I’ve never heard that before at this time of year,” he said.
Hannah Habermann
/
Wyoming Public Media
Dawes said that’s more normal for the middle of August. Westbank Anglers has been trying to get clients out on the water earlier, and Dawes himself was doing the same during the unseasonably warm heat spell a couple days ago.
“We were putting the boat on, floating at six in the morning, which is pretty magical, but also kind of a necessity,” he said.
The state of Wyoming doesn’t implement mandatory fishing closures, like Montana does. But Dawes thinks it should, and thinks the collective community of fishing outfitters could do more.
“In general, in terms of the outfitting business, we’re just behind a little bit. We need to catch up,” he said.
Catching up, in Dawes’ opinion, could look like having fishing representation on the state’s outfitting board, which he said is very hunting-focused. It could also mean getting all the management agencies across the state to collaborate on when it’s time to shut down fishing.
As far as how those kinds of closures might impact his business?
“I think I’ve been doing it long enough that if I was worried about it, I’m worrying about the wrong things,” he said.
Dawes said if it’s this hot on the high-elevation, glacier-fed Snake, there’s no doubt the rest of Wyoming’s waters are also feeling the heat.
“We typically have colder water temperatures than the rest of the state. So if we’re hot, then we know they’re hot,” he said.
Wyoming Game & Fish Casper Regional Fisheries Supervisor Matt Hahn said there’s two main things going on for fish when water heats up.
“One is just the physics of oxygen and water, so the warmer water is, the less dissolved oxygen that it can carry,” he said.
The second, Hahn explained, is physiological.
“They end up putting a lot more energy into respiration, just trying to pull as much oxygen from the water as possible. If the water temperature continues to go up, the physiological response becomes more and more dire,” he said.
Getting caught on a fishing line and being out of the water only adds to the stress for the cold-blooded critters.
“The fish obviously is trying to escape and so that increases energy demand on the fish at a time when it doesn’t have a lot of excess energy to expend on such things,” he said.
Hahn said different types of fish are adapted for different temperature ranges. There’s cold water fish like trout and salmon, cooler water fish like walleye and perch, and warm water fish like bass and catfish.
When it comes to trout fishing, getting above 68° means you’re starting to get into what Hahn called “the lower end of the stressful range,” with 75° being the mark where long-term exposure can result in mortality and 80° being lethal in minutes for most trout.
Warm water also means the quality of fishing goes downhill quickly.
“The fish are stressed. They’re putting all their energy into respiration. They don’t really have energy to spend on feeding because there’s an energetic cost to feeding,” he said.
Hahn said that Wyoming Game and Fish has really stepped up their education around best-practices for fishing, advising people to use barbless hooks or shift their fishing to earlier in the day.
“68° degrees is just a good benchmark to remind people, ‘Maybe I should start thinking a little closer about what I’m doing at a point, maybe just a little bit ahead of when it becomes critical’,” he said.
Three rivers in the northwest corner of Yellowstone National Park got to that point. On July 15, the agency announced that it was closing fishing on the Madison, Firehole, and Gibbon Rivers, and most of their tributaries. The agency pointed to warm water temperatures and low river flows.
John Schilling is the manager of Madison River Outfitters in West Yellowstone. He said local outfitters stopped fishing those rivers weeks before the closure and thinks the park could be way more proactive.
“We usually, on our own, stop fishing them by July 1st every year because they’re just too hot. And actually, the federal government, in our opinion, should automatically close them no matter what,” he said.
Madison River Outfitters Facebook
Schilling said that’s also the norm for most guiding companies in West Yellowstone.
“The Firehole [River] has been over 80° since the third week in June, so we refuse to take clients there,” he said, pointing to the fact that it’s a geothermal river.
He said Madison River Outfitters normally start fishing again on the Firehole in September. He thinks Yellowstone should follow suit.
“There’s still fish in there that you can catch, but it’s just not good for them. Too stressful. We’ve still got lots of water,” he said.
Schilling’s been in the area for forty years and said this is only the second time he can remember Yellowstone having fishing closures. The first was in 2021 and applied to the same rivers on the west side of the park.
Madison River Outfitters is still guiding on the Upper Madison River in Montana and on rivers in the northeast part of the park. Schilling said if those rivers in Yellowstone close, it might be a different story.
“If they close the northeast corner, then we’d see some impact,” he said. “Then we’d have nowhere else to go in the park.”
Boots Allen is the advocacy and outreach coordinator for the Snake River Fund, a Jackson-based nonprofit that promotes stewardship and access. He said dealing with hot water temperatures is a relatively new topic in the industry.
“It wasn’t until like the late 90s, early 2000s that this became an issue in the fishing world,” he said.
Allen is also a senior fishing guide at Snake River Angler. He started gathering his own data on the river in 2003. At first, he was only using a personal stream thermometer, then started consulting the first water temperature gauge at Moose just outside of Jackson when it was installed in 2007.
He said in the last few years, water temperatures have been breaking the 68° threshold. In 2022, the max temp was 71°.
“It was pretty shocking to see that we’re starting to break that 70° mark,” he said.
Although Wyoming Game and Fish and Grand Teton National Park haven’t issued closures like Yellowstone National Park has, Allen said the agencies do sometimes issue recommendations.
“Once you cross the 68° mark, the general recommendation is to finish your fishing at about 3 p.m.,” he said.
Allen said water temperatures, just like air temperatures, tend to peak between 4 and 7 p.m. each day. He added that there are other precautions anglers should take, regardless of water temperature.
“When you hook your fish, try and get that fish in as quickly as possible. Expose it to air above the surface of the water as little as possible and really try not to do it at all,” he said.
He said people should also wet their hands to keep the fish’ protective “slime” layer intact and to help keep the fish cool.
Allen said some guides he knows are taking all of August off because of the high temps. He’s cutting down his own days for that month too and is seeing the shoulder seasons get a lot busier.
Hannah Habermann
/
Wyoming Public Media
But, the downstream waters of the fishing industry look a bit murky. Allen said guides will have to keep adapting, even if that means hanging up the rod.
“If it gets to a point where they have to shut down fishing in the future – might not be in my lifetime, might be in my kid’s lifetime – that’s something we’ll just deal with,” he said.
If you’re planning on visiting Wyoming, for a truly authentic experience, you must include at least one of the state’s awesome downtowns in your travel plans. Positioned at the southern end of the 60-mile-long valley known as Jackson Hole, the character-rich town of Jackson is one such place to consider. A wonderful place to explore on foot, Jackson’s unique downtown, with its Old West vibe, spreads out from the intersection of Broadway and Cache Street. While it consists of just a few blocks, it is jam-packed with fun things to do, no matter what time of year you visit. Its impressive elk arch makes for an excellent photo opportunity, while the charm of its Old West heritage exudes from the historic buildings, cowboy-themed bars, and art installations across town. The wild past also comes to life in Jackson during the Jackson Hole Shootout at the Town Square, a tradition that has endured since 1957.
Town Square And The Elk Antler Arches
Though Jackson’s Central Park is officially known as George Washington Memorial Park, locals and visitors alike prefer to call it Town Square. Dedicated in 1934, this centrally located public space occupies the block at Broadway and Cache and is famous for the elk antler archers set at each of its corners.
Made entirely from naturally shed elk antlers, the first arch was erected by local Boy Scouts and Rotary Club members in 1953, with the other three added a few years later. Each consists of around 2,000 antlers collected from the nearby National Elk Refuge and is among the most photographed landmarks in Wyoming.
For a truly memorable experience, try to time a visit to coincide with ELKFEST. Held in May, this community-wide celebration attracts visitors from across the country for events like the Mountain Man Rendezvous, a reenactment of the state’s early fur trading years.
The main event, though, is the highly anticipated Elk Antler Auction. Bidders from far and wide turn up at Town Square to purchase antlers, which are then used to make everything from furniture to jewelry (proceeds going back to the Elk Refuge).
Jackson’s Cowboy Heritage
From Memorial Day through Labor Day, Town Square becomes the backdrop of the famous Jackson Hole Shootout. This fun (and free) mock gunfight has been entertaining visitors since 1957 and includes several costumed outlaws and lawmen shooting it out (with blanks, of course). You can add to the experience by hopping aboard the Jackson Hole Stagecoach, a ride aboard a century-old coach that loops around downtown.
The Old West theme is evident in other spots around the downtown core, too. Steps from Town Square, the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar has been around since 1937 and is set in what was once the town’s first bank in the late 1890s. Highlights include its hand-carved bar top with silver dollars embedded in it, as well as its cool saddle barstools. Live music is regularly scheduled on the stage that has seen such legends as Willie Nelson and Hank Williams Jr. perform.
The Wort Hotel is another downtown landmark you’ll want to include in your Jackson itinerary. A local fixture since 1941, it’s here you’ll find the famous Silver Dollar Bar with its custom-made S-shaped counter inlaid with 2,032 uncirculated (and therefore rare) 1921 silver dollars. You’ll also want to check out its priceless collection of original Western art.
Other Fun Stuff To Do In Downtown Jackson
In addition to its iconic bars, downtown Jackson also boasts a world-class food scene. Highlights include Persephone Bakery, its old-fashioned stone hearth turning out delicious baked goods, including croissants and artisanal bread. Also yummy, Cafe Genevieve occupies an old log cabin and serves breakfast and lunch with a Southern-inspired menu.
Jackson’s art scene is also worth a mention. Art galleries are plentiful in the downtown area, with establishments like Astoria Fine Art and Mountain Trails Galleries, both on Town Square, featuring works by local, national, and international artists. The Center for the Arts is another cultural high point and features performance spaces, visual arts studios, and an outdoor sculpture park.
Snow King Mountain
Another unique feature of Jackson’s downtown is its proximity to some of Wyoming’s best (and certainly most accessible) ski hills. The base of Snow King Mountain is just six blocks from Town Square and has been in use since 1936, and really took off when Wyoming’s first chairlift opened here in 1946.
Dubbed the “Town Hill” by locals, Snow King now consists of 500 skiable acres, 41 named runs, three chairlifts, an eight-passenger gondola, and night skiing. In warmer months, the action shifts to a thrilling Cowboy Coaster, a zipline, a treetop adventure ropes course, and an alpine slide.
The Snow King Observatory and Planetarium is another excuse to head for the hills from downtown Jackson. Located at the summit of Snow King Mountain, in addition to its large telescope, this must-see attraction features a planetarium theater and a rooftop observation deck boasting incredible views over Jackson and the Jackson Hole Valley.
Explore Jackson’s Not-So-Wild Side
Downtown Jackson has so much to offer visitors seeking an authentic slice of Wyoming life. From its unique elk antler arches to its art galleries and cowboy culture, as well as its unique position steps from the ski hills, few towns in the USA’s Mountain Region can match the long list of fun things to do in Jackson’s downtown core.
The expansion would open the spigot for 550,000 barrels per day of crude, the company says. Although the crude would mostly pass through eastern Wyoming, the venture opens opportunities for Wyoming oil producers in the region for more transportation access to U.S. refineries and shipping ports, according to Bridger and local industry officials.“It would be the biggest project in our history, if it comes to fruition,” Bridger Pipeline spokesperson Bill Salvin told WyoFile on Friday. “We are, however, in the really early stages of the project. But we’re very excited about it.”Industry trade groups speculate the Bridger Pipeline Expansion is part of a competitive scramble to fill a gap left by TC Energy’s Keystone XL project. That company, in 2021, abandoned the controversial project in the face of major opposition and protests. It would have transported Canadian tar-sands oil into the U.S. market via a route extending through Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. Among many challenges for Keystone XL was acquiring new rights-of-way easements. Though the Bridger Pipeline Expansion proposal requires some new rights-of-way, that’s not the case for the 210-mile Wyoming segment, according to Salvin.“All of that distance is within, or parallel to, existing pipeline corridors,” Salvin said.
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The Wyoming segment would pass through Crook, Weston, Niobrara, Goshen and Platte counties.Bridger Pipeline, a subsidiary of Casper-based True Companies, submitted a notice of intent to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality in January and noted it will formally initiate environmental applications to the agency. Salvin told WyoFile he’s uncertain about the full spectrum of regulatory requirements in Wyoming.However, the company regards the Cowboy State as a great fit for the project, he said. “This [project proposal] just highlights how important the region is and how Wyoming is a very good place for energy projects like this.”Reached for comment, the Petroleum Association of Wyoming said the proposed pipeline only stands to benefit Wyoming producers and the state.“Investments like these, along with continued growth in areas like the Powder River Basin, show Wyoming will continue to play an important role in the nation’s energy markets,” PAW Vice President and Director of Communications Ryan McConnaughey told WyoFile. “Connecting in Guernsey allows product to be transported to refining hubs like Cushing, Oklahoma.” WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy.
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LARAMIE — Nasir Meyer converted a three-point play with 35 seconds remaining to give Wyoming Cowboys men’s basketball the lead for good, and Wyoming held Air Force Falcons men’s basketball scoreless over the final two minutes to secure a 66-62 victory Saturday night.
The win marked the 13th home victory of the season for Wyoming, which improved to 16-13 overall and 7-11 in conference play.
“Air Force deserves all the credit and let’s talk about a team that has every reason not to fight, but thats why they are Air Force and the cadets and I have a lot of respect for them,” Wyoming coach Sundance Wicks said. “They were not going to quit, and I didn’t drive that message home enough and hats off to Air Force because they deserved to win. We snuck away with a win. Adam Harakow showed when we need him and he was massive for us. Simm-Marten was made big plays and Naz was clutch for us late.”
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Wyoming shot 35% from the field and went 7 of 28 from 3-point range, making just two from beyond the arc in the second half. Air Force shot 49% overall and 44% from 3, hitting eight shots from long distance. The Cowboys made 13 of 16 free throws (81%) and scored 22 points off 15 Air Force turnovers while holding a 39-36 edge in rebounding.
Damarion Dennis led Wyoming with 16 points and three assists, going 7 of 8 from the free-throw line. Meyer finished with 14 points and tied a career best with eight rebounds. Adam Harakow added 14 points off the bench on 5-of-6 shooting, his first double-figure scoring game since the first meeting with Air Force. Simm-Marten Saadi had nine points in 13 minutes, and Kiani Saxon grabbed seven rebounds.
Air Force opened with back-to-back 3-pointers to take a 6-0 lead. Meyer scored Wyoming’s first basket, and Leland Walker added a 3-pointer to make it 8-5 with 16 minutes left in the first half.
Wyoming responded with a 9-0 run over nearly four minutes, with Saadi and Harakow each connecting from beyond the arc to give the Cowboys an 11-8 lead with under 14 minutes remaining. Air Force regained a 12-11 advantage as Wyoming went scoreless for more than two minutes.
Harakow’s second 3-pointer pushed the lead to 22-16 with nine minutes left in the half, and Wyoming used a 6-0 run while holding the Falcons without a field goal for more than four minutes to build a 28-18 lead with six minutes remaining. The Cowboys closed the half on a defensive stand, keeping Air Force scoreless for the final two minutes to take a 35-25 lead into the break. Wyoming scored 15 first-half points off turnovers.
The teams traded 3-pointers early in the second half, and Air Force cut the deficit to 40-31 with under 17 minutes left before trimming it to seven 90 seconds later. Walker answered with a 3-pointer to make it 43-33 with 15 minutes to go.
Air Force used a 9-0 run during a stretch in which Wyoming went more than 3 1/2 minutes without a point to pull within one with nine minutes left. The Falcons later tied the game at 51-51 with 5:30 remaining after forcing six straight missed shots.
A pair of free throws by Meyer and a basket from Saadi gave Wyoming a 57-53 lead with under four minutes to play. Air Force answered with three consecutive 3-pointers from Kam Sanders to take a 62-59 lead with two minutes left.
Meyer scored with 90 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to one. On the next trip, he converted an and-one to give Wyoming a 64-62 lead with 35 seconds left. The Cowboys added late free throws to close out the 66-62 win.
Sanders led Air Force with 16 points and nine rebounds, going 4 of 5 from 3-point range. Eli Robinson added 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
Wyoming closes its home schedule Tuesday against Nevada Wolf Pack men’s basketball at 8 p.m. as part of a doubleheader with the Cowgirls.
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