8097

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 8097
• Author: American Fisheries Society.
• Title: Proceedings of the 18th Annual Meeting, Colorado - Wyoming Chapter, American Fisheries Society.
• USFW Year: 1983.
• USFW - Doc Type: March 2-3, 1983.
• Copyright Material: NO

POTENTIAL FOR USE OF BLACK BASS
TO DIVERSIFY FISHING OPPORTUNITIES
IN COLD DESERT ENVIRONMENTS

WAYNE A. HUBERT

WYOMING COOPERATIVE FISH AND WILDLIFE RESEARCH UNIT
UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
LARAMIE, WYOMING 82071

ABSTRACT

Black bass distribution in Wyoming is limited by the short
cool summers at high elevations. It is unlikely that natural-
ized populations can be established above 1900m (6200 ft.).
Several predator-prey combinations have been tried in Wyoming
and other northerly climates with 100 to 150 day growing sea-
sons, but none has consistently produced quality fisheries.
Bass fisheries in small impoundments could provide recreation-
al opportunities in Wyoming, but strict harvest restrictions
would probably be needed to maintain angling quality.

INTRODUCTION

Two species of black bass, the largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)
and the smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieui), are probably the most
prized warmwater sport fishes in North America. The largemouth bass is the
principal warmwater predator in farm ponds and reservoirs in the United
States (Heidinger 1975). The smallmouth bass is not as widespread in im-
poundments, but it is especially prized. The smallmouth bass has been des-
cribed as being "inch for inch and pound for pound, the gamest fish that
swims" (Henshall 1899).
The purpose of this paper is to summarize available information on
the potential use of black bass in ponds and small impoundments (< 200 ha)
in the short grass prairie and sagebrush steppe biomes in Wyoming. There
are two objectives: 1) to determine the climate in which black bass can be
considered as a management alternative and 2) to summarize the small impound-
ment management alternatives that may be applicable in areas with short grow-
ing seasons.
Black bass may be considered as small impoundment management options
in situations where summer conditions are limiting to salmonids or where
there is a need to diversify sport fishing alternatives. Potential exists
for developing black bass fisheries in stock watering reservoirs on public
and private lands, for establishing warmwater fisheries in reservoirs
built for irrigation, or for specifically constructing reservoirs with
warmwater fishery options to mitigate habitat losses and human population

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