08-25-2006, 12:11 AM
[cool][#0000ff]I don't think I made any "elitist" accusations. My philosophy is always "different strokes for different folks". I do not think anybody is wrong, just because they do not share my opinion...just different.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I made the comment about Starvation formerly being only chubs and browns...not to disagree with anything, but from personal frustrating experience. I quit fishing it then, as did a lot of others. My perception is that Starvation has had a lot more angler hours since the addition of other species...legal and otherwise. It will probably get even more pressure until the inevitable "decline" (bust) which is sure to happen.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]My personal observation is that in a desert state like Utah we have to be properly grateful for whatever good fishing we have, at the time we have it, because there is no water or fishery that remains constant. That is true of trout waters and non-trout waters.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I also chortle when bassaholics and walleye nuts start popping off about DWR not managing those fisheries. For the most part bass and walleye would both benefit from upward changes in the limits and increased harvest...not more restrictions...especially on the smaller fish. As most of us have observed, the "teenagers" have the biggest appetites and are faster and more aggressive than larger fish. They eat a disproportionate amount of the available fodder. That's where the "cleanup" should occur, with some allowance for trophy fish being kept. I do believe that the restriction on fish over 12" (bass) is subject to modification. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I also believe that the 20" rule on walleyes is largely ineffectual. Not many people catch the bigger fish, but it is the bigger fish that clean out the larger prey species...perch, white bass, bluegills, crappies and even trout and bass. The little ones eat more small prey, but the big fish probably consume more in terms of total weight. And, the fewer big spawners in action, the fewer teenagers each year. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]No arguments from me, sir. Trying to manage the unmanageable is a difficult and thankless chore. DWR is at least making the effort. The single biggest problem, as I see it, is that by the time sufficient information comes in upon which to make a decision, the conditions have changed before new regulations can be effective.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]A good case in point is the limit on perch on different waters. The 50 perch limit on Jordanelle no longer makes sense. On the other hand, there should be a higher limit on perch at Starvation. But, by the time that could be included in the proclamation, there could well be a crash.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Not complaining, mind you, just observing.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I made the comment about Starvation formerly being only chubs and browns...not to disagree with anything, but from personal frustrating experience. I quit fishing it then, as did a lot of others. My perception is that Starvation has had a lot more angler hours since the addition of other species...legal and otherwise. It will probably get even more pressure until the inevitable "decline" (bust) which is sure to happen.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]My personal observation is that in a desert state like Utah we have to be properly grateful for whatever good fishing we have, at the time we have it, because there is no water or fishery that remains constant. That is true of trout waters and non-trout waters.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I also chortle when bassaholics and walleye nuts start popping off about DWR not managing those fisheries. For the most part bass and walleye would both benefit from upward changes in the limits and increased harvest...not more restrictions...especially on the smaller fish. As most of us have observed, the "teenagers" have the biggest appetites and are faster and more aggressive than larger fish. They eat a disproportionate amount of the available fodder. That's where the "cleanup" should occur, with some allowance for trophy fish being kept. I do believe that the restriction on fish over 12" (bass) is subject to modification. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I also believe that the 20" rule on walleyes is largely ineffectual. Not many people catch the bigger fish, but it is the bigger fish that clean out the larger prey species...perch, white bass, bluegills, crappies and even trout and bass. The little ones eat more small prey, but the big fish probably consume more in terms of total weight. And, the fewer big spawners in action, the fewer teenagers each year. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]No arguments from me, sir. Trying to manage the unmanageable is a difficult and thankless chore. DWR is at least making the effort. The single biggest problem, as I see it, is that by the time sufficient information comes in upon which to make a decision, the conditions have changed before new regulations can be effective.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]A good case in point is the limit on perch on different waters. The 50 perch limit on Jordanelle no longer makes sense. On the other hand, there should be a higher limit on perch at Starvation. But, by the time that could be included in the proclamation, there could well be a crash.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Not complaining, mind you, just observing.[/#0000ff]
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