In this undated photo, an angler is fishing in the Madison River. This summer’s record or near record temperatures are causing fisheries and land administrators across the state to seriously warn anglers of heat stress on fish.
Neal Herbert, NPS
Christine Peterson www.wyofile.com
In the past 60 days, temperatures in parts of northern and southwestern Wyoming have risen up to 8 degrees above normal. And these aren’t just highs.
For example, if a city is used to night lows in the mid-50s, it experiences lows that never go below 60 and highs well into the 90s, said Chris Jones, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Riverton.
“We don’t see the relief we’re used to at night, and it often becomes more apparent to people,” said Jones. “For example, if it doesn’t go down to 66 and it’s 71, the next day it gives a boost and dries up the floor more, and then it makes the temperature a little higher every day.”
The record or record temperatures this summer, combined with the low snowpack in winter and exceptionally low river runoff, are causing fisheries and land administrators across the state to issue serious warnings to anglers. Fish die, and fishing in the heat of the day will make it worse, they say.
Some of these warnings come in the form of recommendations, and others involve changes to fishing regulations. In Yellowstone National Park, for example, fishing is prohibited after 2 p.m. The park also has a warning for those who don’t want to abide by it.
“Your collaboration will protect the park’s fishing and may prevent the need to ban fishing in some rivers and streams at any time of the day if conditions deteriorate,” the park said in a press release.
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