Wiper limit reduction

[PACKFAN]

According to the Standard Exagerator today the proposed limit on wiper at Willard next year will be three. I think that is great, two would have been better. [fishin]
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[EvilTyeDyeTwin]

3 is just fine...however this new limit will not effect the people who actually effect the wiper population...ie the many people who fill their coolers and then go back for more. The DWR needs to start walking the dikes and stop playing parking enforcement at the bay.
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[high_n_dry]

It might help, but the best thing the DWR could do is to either close the Bay to night fishing or monitor it closer. Hordes of fish come out of that body of water late at night, and I'm certain it puts a huge dent in the population.
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[Northman]

I agree. A regular patrol by a consevation officer would go a long way. Three wipers a day is fine by me. But I don't think that just lowering the limit and thinking all is well will change anything.
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[EvilTyeDyeTwin]

Close it to night fishing....that will only punish those who don't break the law. The best solution for that would be nightly patrols. I was approached by a DWR worker at 9:30pm while camping at the Willow Campground this weekend. Maybe they shoulda got outa that truck and walk the dike as well.
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[kochanut]

[quote high_n_dry]It might help, but the best thing the DWR could do is to either close the Bay to night fishing or monitor it closer. Hordes of fish come out of that body of water late at night, and I'm certain it puts a huge dent in the population.[/quote]

great post
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[Old_Coot]

Good, good, good.

Now, maybe even I can "catch a limit"! [crazy]

I think that three is a good limit number for wipers at Willard.
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[high_n_dry]

I agree as night fishing can be fun at Willard. We've done it many times. Unfortunately, there seems to be more that abuse it than don't.

Proper enforcement is by far the best and fairest approach to all involved. Unfortunately, this isn't the first time this issue has been brought up, and to this day there is still no noticeable change in the amount of illegal activity.

Many of the folks doing this "Fish to Sell", and for some it's their living. A good stakeout and sting operation is well overdue. Catch a few of these folks with their hands in the cookie jar, make an example of them via fines and public humiliation, and I'm sure those doing the illegal activities will at least move somewhere else.

The diminishing sterile population of Wipers at Willard can't sustain commercial level fishing activities for very long, and I sincerely believe this is the main issue in the reduced catch rate. I've stopped fishing there this year altogether. When I can be on Strawberry in an extra 30 minutes or Starvation in an extra hour, Willard just isn't worth the drive anymore.

It's very unfortunate, I really miss that hard fighting Wiper action.

JMO
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[DKStroutfitter]

I know who a couple of the DWR CO's are and I have seen them at Willard in plain close several times. They are there and they are watching what is going on. Just a couple of weeks ago, the DWR monitored a guy for a few days and then followed him home. Busted him for over his limit of Wiper and a bunch of Shad in his freezer.
The CO's are doing a lot more than most of us know.
Not as much as we would like to see but they are doing what they can with the amount of Officers that they have.

I'm happy to see the Wiper limit will finally be reduced.
It was long over due.
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[petty4life]

they can change it to 3 wipers per year. then i can go catch one more and ill be done
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[joshomaru]

I agree with you about the CO's.
I think any fisherman would love to see the scoff-laws get busted everytime it happens. But the conservation officers are stretched thin. We have to realize that there is a lot more to their job than writing tickets and policing the waters. Think of all the paperwork they have to file, reports they have to write, and court hearings they have to attend!
And, to add an asterisk to your experience DKS, just because we don't see the smackdown when it happens doesn't mean the DWR doesn't know what's happening or doing anything about it!
Remember, Big Brother is always watching! []

I have never had a negative experience with a CO! They aren't cops.....they're a completely different breed.

And I would have liked to see a two wiper limit, but I think three is an acceptable "compromise."

-Josh
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[EvilTyeDyeTwin]

[quote joshomaru]Remember, Big Brother is always watching! []

I have never had a negative experience with a CO! They aren't cops.....they're a completely different breed.

-Josh[/quote]

Ya big brother is watching....and following us to our houses too. I think that is some serious OVERKILL. However they likely saw him taking Gizzard Shad with a net.....and in that case he had what was coming to him! While they were following that person to their house they likely missed several others who were there breaking the laws at Willard. Next time DWR sees a pavilon set up near the outlet they should come and check. Hint hint DWR[]. It is to think that so many get away with taking a species that can not reproduce on their own. This topic is talked about here on BFT and in all the local fish shops.....that must mean there is a SERIOUS problem.

Oh and BTW, CO's are cops...they go through the police acadamey and then take on the fish cop training. However I must agree with you, most of the time they are more polite than a cop is.
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[high_n_dry]

It's all good!

There are much better fishing opportunities elsewhere anyway. Once the population has been totally drawn down you can go to one of the many well stocked markets in town and buy your Wipers. I think the going rate last time I saw them was about $5 per lb. The commercialization of Walleye is rumored to be underway as well, but I've yet to see any in the local stores.

Then there is always the Gizzard Shad. Maybe they will grow to sport fishing size soon from a reduction in predation and start showing up in the freezer section next to the Tilapia and Carp Fillets.
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[toadly]

The limit deduction is a great idea, could have been followed up with a size limit. Say 16 inches.
The problem with this is a law is only as good as its enforcement. If the fish cops don't catch them and the fish continue to leave Willard at the rate it is, new laws don't matter.
Now if the INS were to make a few appearances or say the Border Patrol, THAT would make a difference.[cool]
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[joshomaru]

[quote EvilTyeDyeTwin]

Oh and BTW, CO's are cops...they go through the police acadamey and then take on the fish cop training. However I must agree with you, most of the time they are more polite than a cop is.[/quote]

CO's are biologists who go through POST training. There is no "fish cop training." (If there was, hollywood would have made a movie about it starring Steve Guttenberg).

If a CO follows you to your house, there's a pretty good chance you did something wrong.
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[CoyoteSpinner]

[quote high_n_dry]It's all good!
There are much better fishing opportunities elsewhere anyway. Once the population has been totally drawn down you can go to one of the many well stocked markets in town and buy your Wipers. I think the going rate last time I saw them was about $5 per lb. The commercialization of Walleye is rumored to be underway as well, but I've yet to see any in the local stores. [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/images/gforum/bobwink.gif[/img][/quote]"][/quote][/url]

Maybe I just don't live close enough to Willard - but I've NEVER seen Wiper-bass in a market. Be curious to know what market(s) you're referring to? Maybe next time I get skunked there I could stop on the way home.

I see the limit as a good thing - I don't like the idea of imposing a size limit, or maybe only one above XX inches - they already have a size limit on Walleye - how carefully is THAT followed?
More Stocking! And stocking of bigger fish - give them a chance! Yeah they throw a LARGE number in, but bitty fingerlings. Granted - they are probably some tough-ass fingerlings, but a quick kitty snarf, or toothy bite - game over man!

What I've found the fish-cops missing out on is actually checking a take. I've been approached, showed license, been "questioned", had a full 'safety rundown' on the boat, but I have yet to have a CO ask to "pop the chest". Though I've typically met them on my way "out" rather than "in".
But that could be a big part of the problem. Much of Willard technically closes at 10pm, unless you're camping. But there are the 'non-park' access areas. And I think a stronger presence, and more robust "checking of bag limits" could do a LOT to help that place after dark!

Maybe if they installed more cameras that might help caution people (if big brother, little sister, uncle Joe - are ALL watching!). And post the 'hotline number' at the bottom of the web-cam screen!

[EvilTyeDyeTwin]

[quote joshomaru][quote EvilTyeDyeTwin]

Oh and BTW, CO's are cops...they go through the police acadamey and then take on the fish cop training. However I must agree with you, most of the time they are more polite than a cop is.[/quote]

CO's are biologists who go through POST training. There is no "fish cop training." (If there was, hollywood would have made a movie about it starring Steve Guttenberg).

If a CO follows you to your house, there's a pretty good chance you did something wrong.[/quote]

Maybe I mis-spoke there. A CO is a biologist. However a DWR officer/investigator is a police officer with extra training. I have only been checked twice up there at the bay this year. There are certain times of the year where they should bump up the checks (ie the spring Crappie spawn, and the fall Wipers). A camera does not deter anyone, but checks on the dike do.
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[sunplay]

Searching your boat isn’t that easy, unless they can witness you breaking the law. Just seeing a fish being caught doesn’t constitute a full search. Remember a vehicle/boat was deemed an extension of your home. In some cases it’s considered a home there for requiring a search warrant. Although, I doubt poaching from a boat is far less an occurrence than it is from shore on Willard
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[UTExplorer]

I took my family out to fish Willard earlier this year, we were out on the north dyke close to the outlet, I witnessed a large group of people tearing up the fencing to fish the outflow where all the fish had flushed into. I watched while they were fishing and besides the trespassing I watched a few kids throwing bottles into the water. Right next to where we were fishing was a sign with a number posted to call in illegal activity. It was the first time I have ever felt the urge to report someone, so I called and they had two PR or CO's respond right away. However as they responded the group of people disbanded and left the area, while they where there. A few people remained but no tickets were written, no licensees checked.
After they left it was business as usual and everyone headed right back to fish where it was posted no trespassing and bent the fence right back the way they had it. I am not sure about how many fish they had, but it was like fishing in a barrel, I would watch as they caught fish after fish, so I imagine at least a few were over their limit.

I understand they have to catch them in the act and all that, but if they would have been more discrete about coming up on them, they would have caught all of them red handed. Also, if they would have checked a few for licensees I am pretty sure a few would have not had one.
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[PACKFAN]

For all of you guys that are brimming with different ideas on how to better the fishing at Willard there is a meeting next week in Brigham city on the 28th at 7 P.M. I'm sure they would love to hear your input.[fishin]
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