08-26-2005, 10:10 AM
[cool][#0000ff]There have always been rumors of blue cats in Utah Lake. But...what most unknowing anglers call "blue cats", or "blue channels" are really just large male channel cats. They get a large head and turn a blue or grey color. THEY ARE NOT A DIFFERENT SPECIES. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Utah DWR stays on top of what is in the Utah waters. They know there are no REAL blue cats, and that species does not appear as one of the species in any Utah water. If there really were blue cats, they would be included in the proclamation and there would be limits and regulations for them. There ain't.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Your passion for catfish is evident. That's okay. But, you need to leave fisheries management to DWR. There are good and educated reasons for stocking the species they do, and for NOT stocking just whatever any angler or small group of anglers wants them to stock.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Willard Bay is not managed strictly as a catfish pond. The decision to make it a wiper fishery was based upon being able to control populations of both wipers and shad by tracking both populations and adding wipers when needed. Wipers, being sterile, would not mess things up by spawning and overpopulating and then overeating the food base. It was a great decision. Wipers provide many more enjoyable fisherman-hours, for a lot more people, than would simply adding more catfish, or different species of catfish.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]You also need to lighten up on Pineview. It has also suffered from the drought years and needs to find its own level again. Tiger muskies were a lot better choice than northerns. There are many waters in the west where northern pike have been introduced...both legally and illegally...that they have exploded in population and totally destroyed the balance in the fisheries. Putting northerns in any lake with smaller species is like putting pit bulls in with chihuahuas. Guess which one is gonna survive.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]DWR does listen to anglers. There are RAC meetings throughout the state, throughout the year, open to the public. That's where everybody with any concerns about different fisheries and management policies can go to get information on planning and to put in their two cents worth. However, you have to realize that they make their decisions based upon actual surveys of the waters and years of education and observation...not upon what any one person would like to fish for in any given water.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]In short, you DO have a voice, and you CAN state your case. But, if you do, you had better have some science behind your suggestions or you will not get very far. Better yet, if you can go as a member of an organized group, with some credibility, you are much more likely to get some attention. Now, if you can only find an organized group of fisherman. Good luck.[/#0000ff]
[signature]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Utah DWR stays on top of what is in the Utah waters. They know there are no REAL blue cats, and that species does not appear as one of the species in any Utah water. If there really were blue cats, they would be included in the proclamation and there would be limits and regulations for them. There ain't.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Your passion for catfish is evident. That's okay. But, you need to leave fisheries management to DWR. There are good and educated reasons for stocking the species they do, and for NOT stocking just whatever any angler or small group of anglers wants them to stock.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Willard Bay is not managed strictly as a catfish pond. The decision to make it a wiper fishery was based upon being able to control populations of both wipers and shad by tracking both populations and adding wipers when needed. Wipers, being sterile, would not mess things up by spawning and overpopulating and then overeating the food base. It was a great decision. Wipers provide many more enjoyable fisherman-hours, for a lot more people, than would simply adding more catfish, or different species of catfish.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]You also need to lighten up on Pineview. It has also suffered from the drought years and needs to find its own level again. Tiger muskies were a lot better choice than northerns. There are many waters in the west where northern pike have been introduced...both legally and illegally...that they have exploded in population and totally destroyed the balance in the fisheries. Putting northerns in any lake with smaller species is like putting pit bulls in with chihuahuas. Guess which one is gonna survive.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]DWR does listen to anglers. There are RAC meetings throughout the state, throughout the year, open to the public. That's where everybody with any concerns about different fisheries and management policies can go to get information on planning and to put in their two cents worth. However, you have to realize that they make their decisions based upon actual surveys of the waters and years of education and observation...not upon what any one person would like to fish for in any given water.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]In short, you DO have a voice, and you CAN state your case. But, if you do, you had better have some science behind your suggestions or you will not get very far. Better yet, if you can go as a member of an organized group, with some credibility, you are much more likely to get some attention. Now, if you can only find an organized group of fisherman. Good luck.[/#0000ff]
[signature]