Stewards of the Stream

Fremont County, Wyoming

Photography contributed by The Popo Agie Anglers

The Popo Agie Anglers

Anyone who likes to spend a little time wetting a line knows that the Rocky Mountain West is an angler’s paradise. Fremont County, specifically, is a true gem for a widely diverse amount of fishing. 

The Wind River Range boasts more than 1,600 alpine lakes and is the headwaters for three major drainage systems in the United States. There are wilderness streams, crystal clear lake waters, and rivers that weave and bend through the Wind River Valley. However, perhaps the most unique part about Fremont County is not its pristine waters or numerous varieties of fish, but the local anglers that work so hard to protect them.

Established in the late 1980s, the Popo Agie Anglers have led cold water conservation in Fremont County for over 35 years. Serving as a Trout Unlimited chapter, this local group of anglers works to conserve, protect, and restore Fremont County's cold water fisheries and their watersheds.

Trout Unlimited has thirteen chapters in Wyoming that work on rivers to help communities recover from wildfires and floods, as well as helping farmers and ranchers improve their operations and look after the rivers running across their land.

George Hunker, the Treasurer of Popo Agie Anglers, has been an active member of the club since 1991. He’s been a professional fishing guide for the majority of his life and offers guided fishing trips into the Wind River Mountains.

“Originally, we weren’t part of Trout Unlimited. It was just a fishing club that got together, whose mission statement was to do good things for fisheries in Fremont County,” George said. “These guys had a strong sense of fly fishing in Fremont County and it was important to them and future generations.”

Right from the beginning, Popo Agie Anglers hosted banquets and auctions to raise money for projects around the county, even funding scholarships for local students planning to attend college to study natural resources, fisheries, and other related fields.

The procurement of Luckey Pond was one of the first projects that the Popo Agie Anglers initiated to establish a clean and safe place for kids to learn how to fish. George explained that their goal was to find a place for a fishing pond that was within biking distance from Lander. Partnering with the Wyoming Life Resources Center, the pond was established in a draw that would naturally collect water.

“It was exactly what we were looking for,” George said. “It was surprising, once the pond was built, to see how many people use that space, even if they’re not fishing. It’s a spectacular view of the Wind River Mountains. People go out there to walk their dogs and look for birds. Some just go out there for a nice place to eat their lunch!”

Each year, on the first Saturday of June, the Popo Agie Anglers partner with Wyoming Game & Fish to sponsor Annual Kids Fish Day where kids can enjoy a fun, free day of fishing at Luckey Pond. Additionally, the club participates in the Wyoming Outdoor Weekend, which takes place at the end of May every year. Educational Friday is a subevent of that weekend teaching kids about the outdoors, wildlife, and fishing, focusing on fish anatomy and aquatic macro-invertebrates.

As a small group, they make a mighty impact – focusing on an educational emphasis for the local community and youth. 

Peter Cella is the current President of Popo Agie Anglers. Splitting his time between planning the next meeting or community event and working full time as an HVAC Journeyman for Baker Heating and Air, he often sneaks out to fish the occasional stream or river. His favorite part, though, is in the educational aspect that the club provides.

“We have eight people on the Board and our group consists of some really talented fly tiers and world class anglers,” said Peter. “But my favorite part of this club is the educational pieces. When we put up a booth at Wyoming Outdoor Weekend or work with students on how to cast a fly rod, it’s incredibly rewarding.”

John Burrows, former President of Popo Agie Anglers, agreed. He also works full time as the Energy & Climate Policy Director for the Wyoming Outdoor Council and is still an active member of the club. 

“There’s lots of fishing in and around Lander during certain times of the year,” John said. “We want to make sure that kids know that and have a way to go out, be safe, and learn in that environment.”

While Peter grew up fishing as a part time hobby in upstate New York, he never considered himself a lifelong angler when he moved out west. So when Peter first got to Lander, John took him out on one of his first western fishing expeditions.

“You could tell that it excited John more to see me succeed than it was for him to be out catching fish himself,” Peter said smiling. “It’s so cool to connect with someone about fishing, but there’s also this avenue where we can help other people and show them the benefits of fishing.”

Peter, John, and George are just as passionate about the education of the youth and community as they are dedicated to be stewards of the land.

“One of the primary accesses that we all enjoy is very tentative. It could just go away and that would be a huge loss,” John explained. “That’s a big piece of where we’re headed. There’s ethics and responsibility that comes into the signage and education of the community to make sure people are fishing responsibly and thoughtfully.”

Angling has gained significant popularity; therefore, efforts are underway to safely expand public fishing access around the Lander area. The mountains are only a seasonal option, and there is actually very limited public access in the lowlands.

The group works continuously to promote healthy rivers and healthy fisheries. They partner closely with Wyoming Game & Fish on projects such as fencework on public fishing easements, public cleanup days, and adding more signage. They also funded the low flow channel project in Lander City Park to try to benefit the fishery of the Popo Agie River in the summer months when the water level is critically low. 

“It’s a challenge, too,” John said, “trying to organize clubs in small Wyoming communities. Everyone is already doing about ten different things and wearing a lot of hats.”

The Popo Agie Anglers meet at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month at the Inn at Lander. These meetings are open to the public and everyone is welcome to attend. They often include educational events and presentations such as Wildlife on Tap, fishing on the reservation, and trout habitat talks with Wyoming Game & Fish.

“There’s a handful of young guys in the club right now, and it’s at a fairly active stage and in good hands,” George beamed. “We’re proud of what we do!”

In addition to their monthly meetings, educational events, and many projects in the works, the Popo Agie Anglers also have their Bi-Annual Meeting coming up on May 3. The Bi-Annual Meeting takes place at The Inn at Lander and includes all-day presentations, a feature film at 7 p.m., raffles, and more. This event is also open to the public.

“This club is an opening to give back, teach ethics to younger folks and people who are new to angling, and give back through time and volunteer efforts to improve the habitat,” said Peter.

“If we touch one person anytime that we’re out doing anything, that’s important,” George concluded. Every once and a while, I’ll run into someone that I taught years ago and they’ll tell me that they’ve been fly fishing to this day ever since. It makes it feel worthwhile by modeling something that you enjoy that can bring joy to somebody else.”

Learn more about Popo Agie Anglers!

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