Community Keyhole Fishing Report
Warden’s Corner
By Mike Smith - Empire Guesthouse & RV Park Pine Haven, Wyoming http://www.empireguesthouse.com/
October 1 is opening day for the regular deer and antelope seasons in Campbell County, and the Game and Fish Department’s walk-in areas are a great place to start your hunt. The county has many walk-in areas, and the department’s Walk-in area atlas lists when each area is open and for what species. Pay special attention to the rules for each ranch, which are printed in the atlas, and obey the signs posted on the walk-in areas. You do not need to contact the landowner for permission to hunt any of these enrolled areas, but please respect the landowner and the land. Happy hunting!
Walleye fishing at Keyhole has not picked up much yet, but with cooling water temps it is only a matter of time. The good news is the crappie bite. After being seemingly absent since early June, the crappie have started showing up again in big numbers and size. Two fishermen that stopped in this past weekend caught 50 on Saturday, 25 on Sunday and released several others. Fish averaged around 10” with
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By Mike Smith - Empire Guesthouse & RV Park Pine Haven, Wyoming http://www.empireguesthouse.com/ Duck season came in calm and sunny which does not make for good duck hunting. Three of us hunted Keyhole on the opener and managed to take 14 ducks. It was a mixed bag of Blue-winged Teal, Pintail, Spoon bill, & widgeon. The Blue wings may have already migrated thru as we did not see the numbers that we had seen the past couple of weeks. It could also have been the weather. Without wind the ducks
do not seem to fly as much. There are a lot of geese using the lake right now and if you get set up right, you could get some good action or if you can find some fields where their feeding, it could be better yet. For the ducks, set up in some shallow bays with the wind to your back with a 2-3 dozen decoys and you should get some shooting. Once the weather starts changing, the duck hunting will pick up.
Fishing Report By Mike and Roxan Smith Empire Guesthouse & RV Park
Fishing is starting to pick up at Keyhole Reservoir with cooling water temperatures. Walleye are spotty. Crappie and smallmouth bass were good last weekend. Try minnows in deeper water near rocky cliffs.
some approaching 12”. Another fisherman stopped in and showed one that measured 14 1/2”. Fish were big and thick and made great fillets. Most were caught in 20-25’ of water off of rocky areas. Beetle spins & road runners tipped with minnows and other plastics seemed to do the trick. Until the walleye bite comes on, give the crappie a try for some real fun and tasty fillets.
908 1/2 E. 4th
For the last couple of years, we’ve been using heavy-metal shotgun shells and have seen number of cripples drop dramatically compared to other shells. We used 3” #2 in S.D. a couple of weeks ago on decoying geese and did not notice any cripples out of 31 birds taken. BB’s may be a little better on geese. Try 2’s & 4’s on ducks depending on how well they are decoying.
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Accepting Entries 10/3/11 thru 12/9/11 during the 2011 Hunting Season! 6 Divisions of Contest:
Antelope • Deer(Muledeer) • Deer (Whitetail) • Elk • Big Horn Sheep • Moose INFORMATION 1. Each entry will receive a chance for 1st place prize (set of tires) in each division. 2. Weekly drawings(gift certificates –various businesses and service) 3. Each entry will be posted on our website . 4. A big buck contest wildlife series cap will be given to each contestant with a valid entry. 5. One entry will be drawn out of all participants for the grand prize of a rifle. 6. Entries will be judged on the following in each division: · Size. · Appearance. · Uniformity. · Measurments can be submitted but will not determine the winner. · Photos - we encourage quality photos for the judging process. · Comments on hunt and area info as well as stories are encouraged. 7. Information can be obtained on our website and entry forms can be picked up at store locations or online,www.bighorntire.com. 8. Photos will be uploaded on the website and posted at both stores. RULES OF COMPETION 1. Entrant must possess a current/valid Wyoming license for division entered . 2. All entries must adhere to all Wyoming Game & Fish rules & regulations. 3. Entry must have been taken in the 2011 season in Wyoming. 4. Photo of contestant/harvest must accompany entry form. 5. Entry form and photo must be dropped off to either store location in Buffalo or Gillette , Mailed to 501 Westside Drive, or emailed to bigbuck@bighorntire.net or by December 9th 2011.
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ORN TIRE, IN H G C. BI Gillette, WY Buffalo, WY Exit 124 off I-90 307-682-9411
Exit 58 off I-90 307-684-8200