4-H members team up with G&F

Last week, members of the Hot Springs County 4-H Fishing Club set out on the Bighorn River with staff from Wyoming Game and Fish to gather information on the fish population.

Using electrofishing, a process which involves dropping electrodes in the water to create a mild electric field and cause involuntary muscle contractions in the fish so they are easier to net, the fish are then weighed and measured.

The full process takes about four days, with fish marked with small fin clips to ensure the same fish are not being caught twice. 4-H members helped with the process on Tuesday and Wednesday of last week.

Leader Dick Staiger said there were a total of 10 4-H members helping during thier two days on the river, six on Tuesday and five on Wednesday. Among them were Eli and Porter McCumber, John Maier — who went both days — Carson Williams, Hardy and Hadley Johnson, Jeffrey Lewis, Seth Wyer, Simon Ream and Owen McCumber.

Being the oldest, Maier had a boat and was able to row and take kids with him. In addition to Staiger, other leaders were Joel Farber, John Thruman, Bob Vosseler and Alyssa Halls.

All of the 4-H members had a good time, Staiger said, handing fish out of baskets for processing and placing them in recovery baskets prior to releasing them back into the river. Staiger explained the muscle spasms caused by the electrodes are very minimal, and when they are going to actually handle the fish a bit of clove oil or its equivalent is put in the water to slow them down without completely anesthetizing them. Recovery baskets are used to give the fish time to get the oil out of their system.

The entire process, Staiger said, involved putting the fish on a measuring board, calling out the length, then moving it to a scale and tallying the weight. It was also noted if a fish was clipped on a given day. The actual process started from the bridge below Wedding of the Waters and ended at the WYDOT building, Staiger said, with processing at four pre-determined locations.

Staiger said his personal goals for the kids are to have a good time doing this type of activity and to “appreciate the phenomenal resource they have running through their back yard.” He also wants them to have the opportunity to meet the Game and Fish staff and gain an appreciation for what they do.

4-H member Jeffrey Lewis said his favorite part was when the electrodes were placed in the water and the fish were put to sleep for them to net. The biggest fish he saw was a 24-inch brown trout.

Lewis also noted there was a muskrat that happened to be in the water and was unintentionally shocked.

This was his first year going out on the river with Game and Fish, but something he plans to do in coming years.

Member Carson Williams said he learned there is a lot more fish in the river than he thought, and the average is one fish every two feet. He added he really enjoyed measuring and weighing the fish.

Member Owen McCumber also said his favorite part was the weighing and measuring, but also holding and seeing the different types of fish. McCumber was part of the electrofishing group last year, and plans on doing it in future years. To those considering coming along on the boats, he said it’s a really fun time and they get to learn something. He expressed his appreciation to Game and Fish, the leaders and 4-H for making the opportunity possible.

Cody Region Fisheries Biologist Joe Skorupski said it was still a bit too early to give accurate estimates of the fish populations, but they did see a good number of fish the days they were here.

Since 2008, Skorupski said there has been a trend of seeing around 2,750 trout, and from the numbers collected it appears that will continue for 2017. He noted there has been a big increase in population since the flushing flows began.

Skorupski further added the electrofishing provides a great opportunity for Game and Fish to work with local 4-H youth, as the boys helped them with catching and handling the fish, even doing a bit of clipping. He added the group was really engaged, which was great to see, and it will be nice to continue working with 4-H in the future and stay connected with the community.