01-17-2014, 07:21 PM
management plan does NOT equal stocking fish. Stocking fish is only a portion of 1 component of managing a fishery. There are really only four tools used to manage a fishery:
1. Rules and regulations
2. Public relations and education
3. Fish stocking and fish removal
4. Habitat improvement and manipulation
It is quite possible to manage a fishery WITHOUT stocking fish.
So, at Lake Powell for example, limit increases are a DIRECT management plan aimed to decrease fish numbers in an effort to prolong quality fish!
Jordanelle does have a liberal bass limit (6 fish!), and the DWR has continued to try to get it even higher, although anglers continue to fight it because they do not understand basic biology. Protecting the large smallmouth bass in Jordanelle will not help prolong the trophy quality of those fish. Harvest more bass from Jordanelle will help continue producing large bass at Jordanelle. It's the same concept as Yuba.
Attached are two documents that you (dog-lover) should read.
[quote wormandbobber]
Also, the Boulder Mountain lakes have seen the exact thing we are warning against at Yuba--anglers were so concerned about protecting big brook trout about 15 years ago that regulations were suggested and adopted at RAC meetings that would "limit" the harvest of big fish. What has been the result? Fewer big fish! [/quote]
BINGO!
Look at McGath. It is probably the most well known trophy brook trout fishery on the Boulder. Anglers cried "protect the big fish". Selective harvest has been promoted by anglers for a number of years, with the assumption that increased popularity and pressure would harm the "trophy" status of this lake. The anglers wishes have been accepted by other anglers, and harvest rates have been down. Guess what? Population numbers have increased and average size has gone down. The DWR will most likely adjust stocking rates to help compensate for the lower mortality rates to help increase average size and get that quality aspect back. Harvest is need to grow big fish in this fishery, just like at Yuba.
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1. Rules and regulations
2. Public relations and education
3. Fish stocking and fish removal
4. Habitat improvement and manipulation
It is quite possible to manage a fishery WITHOUT stocking fish.
So, at Lake Powell for example, limit increases are a DIRECT management plan aimed to decrease fish numbers in an effort to prolong quality fish!
Jordanelle does have a liberal bass limit (6 fish!), and the DWR has continued to try to get it even higher, although anglers continue to fight it because they do not understand basic biology. Protecting the large smallmouth bass in Jordanelle will not help prolong the trophy quality of those fish. Harvest more bass from Jordanelle will help continue producing large bass at Jordanelle. It's the same concept as Yuba.
Attached are two documents that you (dog-lover) should read.
[quote wormandbobber]
Also, the Boulder Mountain lakes have seen the exact thing we are warning against at Yuba--anglers were so concerned about protecting big brook trout about 15 years ago that regulations were suggested and adopted at RAC meetings that would "limit" the harvest of big fish. What has been the result? Fewer big fish! [/quote]
BINGO!
Look at McGath. It is probably the most well known trophy brook trout fishery on the Boulder. Anglers cried "protect the big fish". Selective harvest has been promoted by anglers for a number of years, with the assumption that increased popularity and pressure would harm the "trophy" status of this lake. The anglers wishes have been accepted by other anglers, and harvest rates have been down. Guess what? Population numbers have increased and average size has gone down. The DWR will most likely adjust stocking rates to help compensate for the lower mortality rates to help increase average size and get that quality aspect back. Harvest is need to grow big fish in this fishery, just like at Yuba.
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