The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is asking anglers to report any tagged trout they catch in the North Fork of the Shoshone River and the Buffalo Bill Reservoir west of Cody.

Game and Fish personnel recently captured, tagged and released trout in those areas in an effort to better understand the species’ seasonal distribution and to help generate an estimate of angler catch and harvest rate.

By reporting tagged fish, the department says anglers are playing a crucial part in local research to better understand the migratory nature of trout in the unique fishery — and better evaluate the effectiveness of current regulations in place to protect migrating fish.

“The more people who report tagged fish, the better quality our data will be and the more information we will get out of this important study,” said Fisheries Supervisor Sam Hochhalter. “To take the time to call-in and report tagged fish is a huge ask of anglers, but this is important information that will ultimately benefit this cherished fishery.”

Anglers can report tagged fish by calling 307-527-7125 or 1-800-654-1178. Most fish will have two different tags. Game and Fish asks anglers to report each tag number and color, the date and location where the fish was caught and if the fish was harvested or released. For each tagged fish reported, anglers will be entered into a raffle to win a Traeger grill, a Yeti cooler or cash. The raffle is sponsored by the Adiposse Chapter of Trout Unlimited.

As part of this effort, fisheries biologists plan to tag up to 2,000 rainbow, rainbow/cutthroat hybrid and cutthroat trout each year for the next four to five years. In June/July, the Game and Fish will also conduct surveys of the North Fork River corridor from Pahaska downstream to Gibbs Bridge to document the distribution of tagged fish.

“This is our chance to learn a lot and have data that informs present and future management,” said Hochhalter. “We appreciate the support from the angling community to help us collect this valuable information.”

Anglers are reminded that seasonal closures to fishing are in place from April 1 to June 30 for the North Fork Shoshone River drainage from and including Newton Creek downstream to Gibbs Bridge. Fishing is also closed from April 1-July 14 on a section of Buffalo Bill Reservoir which includes Gibbs Bridge to that portion of Buffalo Bill Reservoir which lies west of a straight line connecting the mouths of Rattlesnake Creek and Sheep Creek (commonly known as Spring Creek).