09-28-2010, 10:16 PM
I had posted this under another post and figured I would put it somewhere it would be viewed and discussed. The DWR has worked with every organized angler group that could be found and had interest in this issue. The DWR after working extensively with anglers has come up with the following thoughts and recommendations:
The most successful bass anglers are the folks with the equipment to pursue bass (boats and lots of tackle). Most of these types of anglers have progressed in their angling level to a more advanced catch and release mode. This is the same level of angling advancement as the trout anglers moving up to fly anglers. There is nothing wrong with either but with this progression anglers take a greater interest in conservation. The issue with this is.....over 95% of the fish caught on the Provo and the Green Rivers are being released. The size of the fish in those rivers is decreasing as the numbers of fish increase. Even though the anglers know it would be in the best interest of the fish to take some home they haven't. The same is true for our bass waters. The DWR does creel surveys on the management waters and I figured I would share some results on our bass waters.
Pineview Res. 2003 only 51 bass harvested or .5% of the estimated adult population.
Jordanelle Res. 2003 only 1972 bass harvested or 3.2% of the estimated adult population.
Deer Creek Res. 2005 only 770 bass harvested or 1.3% of the estimated adult population.
Willard Bay Res. 1998 only 334 bass harvested or .17% of the estimated adult population.
Flaming Gorge Res. 2003 only 15508 bass harvested or 1.8% of the estimated adult population.
Lake Powell Res. 2006 approximately 145,000 bass harvested or 4.8% of the estimated adult population.
Mantua Res. 2007 only 253 bass harvested or 2.5% of the estimated adult population.
Hyrum Res. 2009 only 336 bass harvested.
We need more harvest at our bass waters of the sized fish allowed within the legal limit. We are resting at about one-half the appropriate recommended harvest rate.
Ethical angling sometimes requires taking some fish home to improve/maintain the fishery. I also believe that part of the natural progression of an angler is harvest. So in order to recruit anglers into the sport that we love, harvest needs to be part of the equation.
I would like to state that water levels and not anglers is our number 1 impact to fisheries in Utah. In good water years our fisheries respond positively. In drought cycles they repond negatively.
We currently have a large number of bass regulations in Utah. The DWR is recommending a reduction to fewer but more meaningful regulations. We can effectively reduce our limits to two main management limits.
The one limit would be 6 bass total and only one bass over 12 inches. This limit should encourage harvest of fish surrounding that 12 inch size. This regulation is recommended to be put in place on Jordanelle, Quail Creek, Gunlock, Utah Lake and Huntington North.
The second limit would be six bass total with no size restrictions. This would be at all other bass management waters except Lake Powell and Flaming Gorge. This limit would hopefully encourage additional pressure of bass on waters that have very limited pressure and harvest.
The DWR will continue to creel and survey all high use bass waters to determine the effectiveness of these regulations and adjust as needed.
For what it is worth. Your thoughts would be most appreciated. If you want to contact me directly please do. My phone number is 801-538-4774 or email me a [url "mailto:andrewcushing@utah.gov"][#212126]andrewcushing@utah.gov[/#212126][/url]
Thanks
Drew Cushing
[signature]
The most successful bass anglers are the folks with the equipment to pursue bass (boats and lots of tackle). Most of these types of anglers have progressed in their angling level to a more advanced catch and release mode. This is the same level of angling advancement as the trout anglers moving up to fly anglers. There is nothing wrong with either but with this progression anglers take a greater interest in conservation. The issue with this is.....over 95% of the fish caught on the Provo and the Green Rivers are being released. The size of the fish in those rivers is decreasing as the numbers of fish increase. Even though the anglers know it would be in the best interest of the fish to take some home they haven't. The same is true for our bass waters. The DWR does creel surveys on the management waters and I figured I would share some results on our bass waters.
Pineview Res. 2003 only 51 bass harvested or .5% of the estimated adult population.
Jordanelle Res. 2003 only 1972 bass harvested or 3.2% of the estimated adult population.
Deer Creek Res. 2005 only 770 bass harvested or 1.3% of the estimated adult population.
Willard Bay Res. 1998 only 334 bass harvested or .17% of the estimated adult population.
Flaming Gorge Res. 2003 only 15508 bass harvested or 1.8% of the estimated adult population.
Lake Powell Res. 2006 approximately 145,000 bass harvested or 4.8% of the estimated adult population.
Mantua Res. 2007 only 253 bass harvested or 2.5% of the estimated adult population.
Hyrum Res. 2009 only 336 bass harvested.
We need more harvest at our bass waters of the sized fish allowed within the legal limit. We are resting at about one-half the appropriate recommended harvest rate.
Ethical angling sometimes requires taking some fish home to improve/maintain the fishery. I also believe that part of the natural progression of an angler is harvest. So in order to recruit anglers into the sport that we love, harvest needs to be part of the equation.
I would like to state that water levels and not anglers is our number 1 impact to fisheries in Utah. In good water years our fisheries respond positively. In drought cycles they repond negatively.
We currently have a large number of bass regulations in Utah. The DWR is recommending a reduction to fewer but more meaningful regulations. We can effectively reduce our limits to two main management limits.
The one limit would be 6 bass total and only one bass over 12 inches. This limit should encourage harvest of fish surrounding that 12 inch size. This regulation is recommended to be put in place on Jordanelle, Quail Creek, Gunlock, Utah Lake and Huntington North.
The second limit would be six bass total with no size restrictions. This would be at all other bass management waters except Lake Powell and Flaming Gorge. This limit would hopefully encourage additional pressure of bass on waters that have very limited pressure and harvest.
The DWR will continue to creel and survey all high use bass waters to determine the effectiveness of these regulations and adjust as needed.
For what it is worth. Your thoughts would be most appreciated. If you want to contact me directly please do. My phone number is 801-538-4774 or email me a [url "mailto:andrewcushing@utah.gov"][#212126]andrewcushing@utah.gov[/#212126][/url]
Thanks
Drew Cushing
[signature]