Spring fish stocking begins across Sheridan Region

Wyoming Game and Fish Department Sheridan Fisheries Biologist Andrew Nikirk made an appearance on Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse to announce the spring stocking of local ponds with sport fish. 

Although too small to be of much fight this year, the fish are transported using a specially designed water truck. The tank keeps the fish cool and provides aeration ensuring the fish survive the trip from one of many fisheries to the destination and their final home pond. 

A. Nikirk 

Forty thousand fingerling kokanee salmon were released into Lake Desmet in late April 2019 with the intent to create new fishing opportunities in the lake. Since that time, Nikirk said the fish have thrived on the lake. 

A. Nikirk 

Wyoming continues to be the only state with a  successful captive kokanee broodstock. According to the Game and Fish, the broodstock is housed at Tillett Springs Rearing Station due to the available brood pond and spawning house and the water temperature at Tillett is 54 degrees, putting it in the safe range for the brood to grow and develop eggs. 

Originally, kokanee eggs were solely-sourced from wild populations. However, as an effort to avoid disease and establish a more stable source of eggs, Tillett was selected to raise a captive broodstock. The captive brood allows the department to meet all of the requested late run kokanee production needs across the Cowboy State.