09-30-2010, 08:35 PM
I don't know that much about Daniels, so I can't really make a guess as to what is happening there.
However, Kolob Reservoir has a similar issue. Relatively few fish make it over 18" in Kolob, and regulations required fish under 18 (then moved to 21) be immediately released.
The problem? Too many fish. Kolob is one of the few reservoirs in Utah where rainbow trout successfully reproduce. Cutts also reproduce in Kolob. With almost no harvest at Kolob the lake began to basically "stunt". Fish would hit the 18" mark, and simply stop growing. The solution? Recent changes to the regulations are an attempt to allow anglers to harvest additional fish. A slot was put in place to allow anglers to keep 2 trout under 15" or over 22". Reduce some fish, and maybe they'll start to grow again.
Maybe Daniels is seeing a similar issue, where more fish need to be removed from the lake in order to grow bigger fish.
Personally, I think more like you. I think that the fish have found a way to survive, by limiting their growth to stay under 20".
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However, Kolob Reservoir has a similar issue. Relatively few fish make it over 18" in Kolob, and regulations required fish under 18 (then moved to 21) be immediately released.
The problem? Too many fish. Kolob is one of the few reservoirs in Utah where rainbow trout successfully reproduce. Cutts also reproduce in Kolob. With almost no harvest at Kolob the lake began to basically "stunt". Fish would hit the 18" mark, and simply stop growing. The solution? Recent changes to the regulations are an attempt to allow anglers to harvest additional fish. A slot was put in place to allow anglers to keep 2 trout under 15" or over 22". Reduce some fish, and maybe they'll start to grow again.
Maybe Daniels is seeing a similar issue, where more fish need to be removed from the lake in order to grow bigger fish.
Personally, I think more like you. I think that the fish have found a way to survive, by limiting their growth to stay under 20".
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