TUESDAY, July 21, 2026|
Photo – Rainbow trout – Courtesy Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Wyoming Game and Fish is asking anglers to avoid fishing on the stretch of the North Platte River that runs from the Colorado–Wyoming State Line to the Dugway Campground north of Interstate 80. Our region’s high temperatures have lowered dissolved oxygen in the water, making it more difficult for fish to recover after being caught.
Game and Fish Laramie Region Fisheries Biologist Caroline Rosinski is quoted as saying, “The Upper North Platte River is our greatest concern in the region at this time. The last week of warm weather has resulted in sustained high temperatures. Even in the early morning hours, temperatures are high enough that trout are not getting much of a break from the heat. The best thing we can do at this point is prevent any additional stress by encouraging anglers not to fish.”
Game and Fish is encouraging sportsmen to carry thermometers and check water temperatures throughout the day. If the water reaches 70 degrees, they should stop catch‑and‑release fishing. The agency also recommends fishing early in the morning when temperatures are coolest, landing fish quickly to reduce exhaustion, and considering harvesting any fish too tired to hold itself upright after release.
Fisheries Biologist Caroline Rosinski wrote that, “We all love these fisheries and want to see them thrive into the future. The conditions trout are experiencing right now are tough, and anglers can have a meaningful impact by abiding by these voluntary closures.”
Check the Game and Fish website for up‑to‑date information on closures across the state. A direct link to the agency’s Fishing in the Heat advisory page is included with this story on Bigfoot99.com.
