Burbot and DWR

Utah Fishing Reports & Discussion Utah Fishing General
21

You’re right on the money fishguy.

I’ve said it for years. The biologists that have been in charge of Flaming Gorge have their heads so far up their . . . Well, that’s all I can say here. They said 15-years ago, count 'em, 15-years years ago, on camera, that the fishery would shortly crash if “every fisherman doesn’t kill every large lake trout they catch.” They believe lake trout are vicious predators and hate them because they eat “their” little pen-raised rainbows and kokanee. The mentality is to have just a “family fishery” in which lots of fish are available for anyone with a line and pole to catch. (like there aren’t enough of those kinds of places)

And they still insist, as they have since the early 90’s, that the large trout are “starving to death.” That’s the most moronic observation I’ve ever heard of, and I see as many as anyone on a regular basis, and more in a season than the clowns in Dutch John have seen in their lives. But what could I know? I don’t have a fisheries degree in predator/prey relationships from the University of Siberia.

And now, a limit with a limit, or something like that. I guess if you catch 25, you better hope you don’t catch another one. You have to go home. And, chumming on the Utah side of swim beach would be much more detrimental than the Wyoming side, I’m sure.:laughing:

Actually, I don’t know why anyone needs to chum anyway. As with live bait, I think chumming should be illegal everywhere. Geeze, put a little sport in it and actually try to catch a fish. Any fool can chum one up and/or get a bite with live bait. Why even bother?

The bottom line: You can’t reason with insanity, illogical thinking, and senseless management. Thankfully the fish are surviving despite the efforts to mess 'em up.

And as for the burbot, I don’t have an educated opinion on that yet, but I bet a lot of those “starving to death” lake trout are chowing down on 'em, maybe even taking some predation from the trout and Kokes. Time will tell. They’re there to stay, limit or no limit. Enjoy the days we have now, and they’ll either get better or worse regardless of limits.

Close Linwood Bay–24/7–Oct. 31-Dec. 15.

22

Kokeking,

Unless I am mistaken it is illegal to return a Burbot to the water on Flaming Gorge. Also, unless I am mistaken, the Burbot was illegally introduced to the Gorge and the intent of the current regs is to eliminate the Burbot before they have a very negative effect on the “Sports Fisheries”. Me, being of a proactive nature, would just as soon decalre “Open War” on the Burbot if it has the potential to destroy the treasure we now have in the way of a Trophy, World Class Fishery on Flaming Gorge. As far as awareness, if you fish the Gorge and you are unaware of the Burbot, then you have not been paying attention.

23

If this is a non-issue, why the limit and why is it illegal to return them to the water? In fact the Regs say you must kill them.

24

TDM,your right they can’t be returned to the water the way the regs state it.I guess my prior post was a little confusing. What I was saying was that I would like to be able catch burbot on the gorge ,cut their heads off ,and throw them in the garbage with out the risk of a fine.The way it is now that would be wanton destruction of a game fish.

To PBH,I’m a little confused when you say no big deal.Are you saying that about the limit on burbot,or saying that about having burbot in the gorge?

25

Jim,

It’s like I said before “Were from the Government and we are here to help you”! That appears to be their menatlity.

TDM

26

Jim- I like the tagline—

Close Linwood Bay–24/7–Oct. 31-Dec. 15

late- pp

27

Oh brilliant…close Linwood bay and allow the lake trout all the protection they need to continue reproducing and overpopulating (like they have done in almost every major water in the Western US that they have been stocked in…)! Some guys are just plain up in the night and understand about as much about fish and fisheries management as a clown does about looking and acting smart! Honestly, how can you believe that there is enough prey options for lake trout, smallmouth bass, and burbot all to flourish?

TarponJim, I don’t care how much time you have spent on the water nor how many large lake trout you have caught, but lake trout are in serious jeopardy of overpopulating…you should thank the DWR for continually stocking rainbow trout for the lake trout to eat; otherwise, you probably wouldn’t have caught any large ones!

28

:sunglasses:We need to put up little signs for the macks…EAT MORE BURBOT.

You are right though. Anybody who fishes FG can attest to the increasing numbers of small macks. A bit of harvest on the big spawners would probably not hurt the lake at all. Of course, those who make a living by putting paying customers on the big fish don’t take kindly to a reduction in their numbers.

Like a lot of waters, Flaming Gorge might be its own worst enemy. What makes it good also increases the potential for a serious reallignment of the biomass. It has happened before. Remember the “good old days”…of huge browns and bays full of chubs (forage). Don’t see many of either these days.

29

Granted I have never fished at FG cause I don,t have a boat. But I also think they need to close Linwood during the span. It is not so much to stop people form catching the big fish, it is to stop all the jacka$$'s that go up there and just snag and foul hook fish into the boat. I do not think that the Laker’s are starving by any means. However I also think that you have to look at the entire eco-system to manage it as a hole not just this species or that one. I know the Burbot thing has been brought up several times, wile i think no CO will ticket you for having 26 fish I also think that no one person has been able to actually catch a full limit. FG has became a wold class Trophy fishery for Laker’s, and I personally would like to see it stay that way.

But hey than what do I know I am pretty new to all of this.

30

If your refering to yellowstone lake then your right,they were illegaly planted there and have overrun the lake.Macks have been in fishlake for a very long time and they haven’t overrun that lake,in fact the DWR doesn’t even mangage that lake as a trophy Mack lake like it used to be years ago,but they treasure there splake in there.It just comes down to management and certian laws for certian waters.The decision makers at there little pow wows back in SLC for the DWR regs on bodys of water make the right decision 25% of the time.Prime example is the Berry how long did it take to get a slot limit put on that lake..hmm..to the point were the chubs were taking a strong hold agian almost a little to late,you ask any field officer that question they can’t give you an answer.Let the field biologist do there job and manage the lake there over and leave the higher managment and there political BS back at the office out of it,thats were all of the screw ups and bad management comes from.. AKA..Yuba