Snagging carp

[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]Hey Tom, this is one of those silly oversight or unintentional omission type things in the regs. Over the years carp have been "forcibly removed" from Utah Lake by ALL means...including explosives, firearms, pitchforks...you name it. I suspect that the main reason snagging is specifically excluded is because there are so many happy harvesters who aggressively snag walleyes. Allowing the deliberate snagging of carp would provide an "alibi" for someone rigged for snagging walleye to claim they were targeting carp.

Howsomever, it has been customary for DWR officers to largely ignore the accidental snagging of carp while casting bait or lures for other species. They have the discretion of not citing someone for keeping an accidentally snagged carp for bait...or for performing a "gillectomy" and releasing unharmed. I have had this confirmed in discussions with COs over the years.

You don't have to use dough balls for carp. They will actively hit small jigs and other lures. They hit especially well if you tip your jigs with worm. I catch a lot of carp every year while pitching jigs for other species...some in the kisser and others in various other parts of their anatomy.

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Dorsal diner.
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Tail taker.
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I keep what I need for bait and release the rest unharmed.
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