12-14-2006, 02:04 AM
[cool][#0000ff]Just got out of the December meeting of the Utah Anglers Coalition. Good turnout, including Jim Karpowitz, Walt Donaldson and Roger Wilson of DWR. Their presentation was a "good news vs bad news" kinda thing. On the good side, fishing has never been better, statewide, for all species. And, with over a million pounds of trout being produced in hatcheries next year, it should be good for trout fans in 2007.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The big downer was that there is a new "bug" in fisheries management around the country. A fast spreading and deadly disease called [url "http://seagrant.wisc.edu/fisheries/Default.aspx?tabid=1586"]Viral Hemorragic Septicemia[/url] (info link) is already epidemic in the states of the upper midwest and other states (like Utah) are in mortal fear that it will reach them too.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Unlike whirling disease, it affects all species. And, unlike whirling disease there is high mortality within any age group that gets it...old fish, young fish, etc. Nasty stuff.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]How that affects Utah is that we get our tiger muskie fry from a hatchery in Minnesota. They have a clean record so far, but Utah would rather put a halt to any imported fish until a warm water hatchery can be set up with our own disease free fish...or to work in partnerships with such hatcheries in neighboring disease free states. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Whatever the remedy, it is going to be some time before we have new tiger muskies to put into designated Utah waters. At the very least 5-7 years. So, the current populations will continue to decline...through harvest and mortality. There will be fewer muskies, but they will get big if they stay alive. Muskies have a long life span.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]DWR is still evaluating the situation and is not sure if they will have to modify the regulations to sustain a fishery. They claim that there is little actual harvest of the tigers...mostly C&R. However, because these fish cannot withstand rough handling, or being out of water very long, there is a mortality rate among those released. We need to make sure that all who fish on tiger muskie ponds know how to take care of the fish they catch, especially if they plan to release them.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Oh yeah, more bad news from the meeting. I was voted into the UAC for the express purpose of taking over the position of secretary. Oh boy! More work. At least I will be in a position to both hear and present discussions on angler concerns and to pass along anything our BFT members might like to know about. There is some good stuff coming up after the first of the year.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The big downer was that there is a new "bug" in fisheries management around the country. A fast spreading and deadly disease called [url "http://seagrant.wisc.edu/fisheries/Default.aspx?tabid=1586"]Viral Hemorragic Septicemia[/url] (info link) is already epidemic in the states of the upper midwest and other states (like Utah) are in mortal fear that it will reach them too.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Unlike whirling disease, it affects all species. And, unlike whirling disease there is high mortality within any age group that gets it...old fish, young fish, etc. Nasty stuff.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]How that affects Utah is that we get our tiger muskie fry from a hatchery in Minnesota. They have a clean record so far, but Utah would rather put a halt to any imported fish until a warm water hatchery can be set up with our own disease free fish...or to work in partnerships with such hatcheries in neighboring disease free states. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Whatever the remedy, it is going to be some time before we have new tiger muskies to put into designated Utah waters. At the very least 5-7 years. So, the current populations will continue to decline...through harvest and mortality. There will be fewer muskies, but they will get big if they stay alive. Muskies have a long life span.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]DWR is still evaluating the situation and is not sure if they will have to modify the regulations to sustain a fishery. They claim that there is little actual harvest of the tigers...mostly C&R. However, because these fish cannot withstand rough handling, or being out of water very long, there is a mortality rate among those released. We need to make sure that all who fish on tiger muskie ponds know how to take care of the fish they catch, especially if they plan to release them.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Oh yeah, more bad news from the meeting. I was voted into the UAC for the express purpose of taking over the position of secretary. Oh boy! More work. At least I will be in a position to both hear and present discussions on angler concerns and to pass along anything our BFT members might like to know about. There is some good stuff coming up after the first of the year.[/#0000ff]
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