Tagging Trout for the Ice-Fishing Derby

The fifth annual Sheridan Rotary Club’s Ice Fishing Derby will be held on February 22 at Lake DeSmet. Two hundred tagged rainbow trout will be in the lake on the day of the event, and on Friday, Feb. 7, the Rotary Club, along with the Wyoming Game and Fish met with Mike Clark of Clark Trout Farms from Spearfish, S.D. to tag and release the fish.

Megan Powers, Rotary Club, talked about the tagging operation and the upcoming fishing derby.

Each tagged fish caught during the derby can be redeemed for $250 by the lucky angler.

Although the Rotary purchased the trout from a private hatchery, the Game and Fish Personnel were on hand to do the tagging.

Gordon Edwards, fisheries biologist said.

He added that the tagging does not injure the fish.

Once the fish are tagged, volunteers on four-wheelers pull coolers full of water and fish to be released at various spots around the lake. Anthony Fairbanks, Rotary Club volunteer, described what he was doing and said this was his first year helping with the derby.

This gives the fish time to disperse through the lake, so the anglers have several chances at the tagged fish.

Tickets for the derby can be purchased through the on-line link, Buy Tickets or they can be purchased the day of the event at the event headquarters, the Lions Club Building at Lake DeSmet.

For more information about the derby contact Megan Powers at email Powers@c21bhj.com