05-26-2016, 08:36 PM
"Tube dude - do you know anything about why we don't have more baitfish planted in some of our lakes? I see you're a proponent of chubs, but I think they'd be cyclical again. why not some type or reproducing minnows, shad, or other baitfish?"
[#0000FF]I have no firsthand knowledge of any experiments that have happened in the past few years. However, in earlier days there were a lot of trial introductions in both Utah Lake and Willard...in an attempt to find alternative bait species that would grow, prosper and feed the masses. Most never showed up again after their first trial run.
Different in the trout ponds. So many of the minnows...like chubs...compete with small trout for available forage and cover. Chubs and rainbows definitely do not coexist peacefully. Many others are not as bad, but in relatively infertile lakes like many of our Utah ponds almost any competition with hatchery pets is not allowed.
In more recent times we have the added detriment of new and nasty diseases. So many of our nation's waters are now infected with destructive fish ailments that it is difficult to find a disease free source from which to even try new species.
Utah has a bunch of native and introduced species of "minnows"...including fatheads. The only reason I suggest chubs...instead of fatheads, various shiners, dace, sculpins or other species is that they are almost universally available for quick capture and transplant. It would be like bringing a bag of chicken feed to the chicken coop.
Chubs definitely have their downsides. And, as we have experienced, if they get out of hand the solution could quickly become a whole 'nother problem. DWR has spent enough time and money trying to get rid of chubs that it's just agin' their nature to use them to supplement starving predators.
Shad are pretty much out. Threadfin shad will not live in waters below about 55 degrees. That is most of our waters above Lake Powell. Gizzard shad are hardier...but not by much. But they grow large...up to 20 inches...and would vacuum up a lot of the zooplankton needed by trout and kokanee. That is a no no in Utah. Without a top predator (like wipers or stripers) the Gizzard shad could multiply and destroy a lake.
The one issue I did not address on adding artificial structure...of any kind...is the views of the lake owners and the downstream water users' associations. They have proven very inflexible on many waters about putting anything into their waters that could even remotely cause water quality problems or increase liability to anyone using their facilities. We live in a litigious society and some folks would go out of their way to arrange a frivolous lawsuit for out of court settlement. Doesn't sound serious to us, but to their lawyers they don't want to leave any openings.
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[#0000FF]I have no firsthand knowledge of any experiments that have happened in the past few years. However, in earlier days there were a lot of trial introductions in both Utah Lake and Willard...in an attempt to find alternative bait species that would grow, prosper and feed the masses. Most never showed up again after their first trial run.
Different in the trout ponds. So many of the minnows...like chubs...compete with small trout for available forage and cover. Chubs and rainbows definitely do not coexist peacefully. Many others are not as bad, but in relatively infertile lakes like many of our Utah ponds almost any competition with hatchery pets is not allowed.
In more recent times we have the added detriment of new and nasty diseases. So many of our nation's waters are now infected with destructive fish ailments that it is difficult to find a disease free source from which to even try new species.
Utah has a bunch of native and introduced species of "minnows"...including fatheads. The only reason I suggest chubs...instead of fatheads, various shiners, dace, sculpins or other species is that they are almost universally available for quick capture and transplant. It would be like bringing a bag of chicken feed to the chicken coop.
Chubs definitely have their downsides. And, as we have experienced, if they get out of hand the solution could quickly become a whole 'nother problem. DWR has spent enough time and money trying to get rid of chubs that it's just agin' their nature to use them to supplement starving predators.
Shad are pretty much out. Threadfin shad will not live in waters below about 55 degrees. That is most of our waters above Lake Powell. Gizzard shad are hardier...but not by much. But they grow large...up to 20 inches...and would vacuum up a lot of the zooplankton needed by trout and kokanee. That is a no no in Utah. Without a top predator (like wipers or stripers) the Gizzard shad could multiply and destroy a lake.
The one issue I did not address on adding artificial structure...of any kind...is the views of the lake owners and the downstream water users' associations. They have proven very inflexible on many waters about putting anything into their waters that could even remotely cause water quality problems or increase liability to anyone using their facilities. We live in a litigious society and some folks would go out of their way to arrange a frivolous lawsuit for out of court settlement. Doesn't sound serious to us, but to their lawyers they don't want to leave any openings.
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