Creel Survey at Lake DeSmet

During June, July and August, Wyoming Game and Fish Department fisheries personnel will be speaking with anglers at Lake DeSmet to ask about their fishing efforts and success. 

Game and Fish Public Information Specialist Christna Schmidt said this is a different way to take a creel survey than has been utilized in the past. 

C. Schmidt 

Personnel visiting with anglers may ask how many hours they have fished, what fish have been caught, what species they are targeting and related questions. The data collected will help estimate angling use and catch rates at the reservoir.

According to Schmidt, Lake DeSmet is primarily managed for cool water species such as rainbow and cutthroat trout, as well as kokanee salmon that have been stocked since 2019. This will be the first creel survey conducted since the kokanee introduction.

Personnel will visit with anglers on several days during each summer month. Personnel will also leave a survey card with the anglers they visit with. The cards can be dropped in the bright orange boxes located at the Monument and Mikesell-Potts areas as well as the north end of the reservoir. Cards can also be mailed back, with postage prepaid.