10-14-2013, 03:50 AM
The lakers don't actually successfully spawn in bear lake. There are a few eggs that make it, but the silt, currents, lack of good structure and egg sucking fish pretty much make it an event if a laker is born in this lake. It is stocked and managed as a put and take fishery, so keeping only certain sizes does very little to the population. Still, it does feel nice to let a big one go to fight again knowing that you may be the one to catch him a second time.
I have spent the last 20 years fishing the spawn and have seen lots and lots of fish released. Though some may try to "force feed" the spawning lakers, most I've seen just enjoy the night fishing and may only end up catching one or two per trip if they are lucky. It's a unique fishing opportunity to catch a large trout from shore and the closest thing to catching a large salmon that most anglers in utah will ever get. I'm against shutting it down to satisfy the concerns of the few, but I still keep my eye on other anglers when I'm fishing lest they try pillaging our lake while they think no one is watching.
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I have spent the last 20 years fishing the spawn and have seen lots and lots of fish released. Though some may try to "force feed" the spawning lakers, most I've seen just enjoy the night fishing and may only end up catching one or two per trip if they are lucky. It's a unique fishing opportunity to catch a large trout from shore and the closest thing to catching a large salmon that most anglers in utah will ever get. I'm against shutting it down to satisfy the concerns of the few, but I still keep my eye on other anglers when I'm fishing lest they try pillaging our lake while they think no one is watching.
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