During the coming months, fishing activity will be on the increase and 2012 is already shaping up to be one of Wyoming’s biggest years for new fish records.

                In most years several records are set, but anglers have already set five new records this year.  Some records are not likely to be beat, like the 11 pound 4 ounce golden trout caught in 1948, but a glance at the records shows that half of Wyoming’s entries have been caught since 2000.

                Over the years there have been numerous reports of anglers catching large fish that for one reason or another were never entered into the state record book. Entering a fish for record consideration is quite easy, but there are rules that must be followed. 

·         The fish must be weighed on a scale certified for legal trade.  Scales in post offices or places of commerce are usually all certified.  The scale in your tackle box is not.  The weighing must be witnessed by two persons other than the applicant.

·         Fish caught from private club or fish hatchery waters, or private ponds not accessible for angling to the public are ineligible.

·         Fish must be caught on rod, reel, and line or pole and line, and hooked (no snagging) using legal methods.

·         The species must be verified by the Game and Fish Department.  The identity of most fish is usually obvious, but there are certain species such as lake trout, splake, brook trout, walleye, sauger, and some of the sunfish species that could easily be mistaken. 

·         Fish must be taken during the legal open season of the water where caught.

                Other advice is to get the fish officially weighed as quickly as possible.  Over the years, several fish have been submitted as possible state records that were not officially weighed until a number of days after they were caught.  A large fish will lose moisture over time and that can add up to enough weight loss that the time spent in the freezer could keep a fish from becoming a new state record.  

              Fish record entry forms are found on the Game and Fish website http://wgfd.wyo.gov. Anglers can contact Game and Fish regional offices or Game and Fish headquarters (307) 777-4600 for more information.