Spent some time on the hard deck this weekend at Scolfield, I caught plenty of fish mostly small cutts but way too many chubs. I was just wondering what the state’s positions is on the chub, and what you guys usually do with them. I used a few for bait them kept some for bait. I know they have killed the lake trying to get rid of them. Are they to be treated with the same respect as carp?
My group caught a few Saturday also I don’t know what to do with them but I don’t throw them back in the hole.
Leave them on the ice. The crows and coyotes really enjoy them!
The DWR put the Tiger trout and Bear Lake Cuts in the lake to reduce the numbers and keep them in check, so I would guess that using them for bait or leaving them out for wildlife to pick up would be a great idea. That’s what I do.
You can freeze a bunch of them up and mail them to me[;)][;)][;)]
Might get a half dozen of your favorite lures or something else in return[;)]
Five or six bags of chubs in the freezer right now. Where you located?
What part of the lake did you catch those chubs at? I like catching them and using them for bait. I’ve yet to find them this year. Thx in advance.
Coyotes and crows gotta eat too!
Perhaps if coyotes started eating more chub…they wouldn’t eat so many fawns!
Just doin my part!
Knickers aren’t in a wad[;)] When I made that post, I thought someone might try to save me from myself by quoting the regs to me. No offense taken. I sincerely appreciate it when someone takes interest in my welfare. God knows I need all the nudges in the right direction I can get. Some days my wife thinks it’s pretty much a full time job just keeping me out of trouble. Most days…she’s right.
That said, I still might be tempted to leave some chubs again this year. Then on a warm day, next spring, when I can no longer get on the ice, I’d like to think about one of my mis-placed chubs melting from the ice, slowly floating to the bottom of the lake, and half way down getting absolutely slammed by that huge cuttthroat that Jacksonman put back down the hole a few weeks ago…Ok, I probably need to rethink my postition on chub littering some more[crazy] I promise! I’ll try really hard not to leave any!
Here’s a pic of some chubs from last year. I don’t know what happened to them…the next day there were four sets of coyote tracks into where the pile was, and four sets out, but no chubs left. I was hoping to use them for bait…coyotes stole my bait! Poor coyotes…just one more reason to hate them!
A CO stopped by last year to see my license and how I was doing. When he saw my pile of chubs he asked what I was going to do with them. I replied I didnt know. He said, “Whatever you do, don’t put them back in.” Now he in no way was encouraging me to waste them, but what is one to do with so many chubs???
I have tried to save as many as I could. With half a beef, two elk, and a deer in the freezer, the wife just can’t see the wisdom of ten pounds of chubs taking up freezer space. Bless her heart, she puts up with untold inconveniences from my outdoor adventures, but she really hates moving those bricks of chubs around. I seldom use chubs for bait and I have tried to give some away on this board. I am seriously entertaining the idea of making a run to Fontenelle to look for some burbot, just so I can use up some chubs. I have to do something to start using these chubs!!! Otherwise, I’m just gonna have to start putting them back down the hole, and that isn’t going to make anyone happy.
The poor little utah chub. Not as tasty as the burbot. No derbys for the chub. Almost as misnderstood as the coyote, and ravens! Chubs never get no respect! There is a big derby on Scofield in a few weeks. Why doesn’t someone offer a prize for the most pounds of chub. Lets put some effort into ridding Scofield of chubs.
I truly can’t believe the effort going into the burbot derbys. Ok, Ok, get the good cause thing, but do you really believe fishing a few miles of shoreline on a lake the size of Flaming Gorge is going to make any difference at all??? Have you seen the burbot numbers and size Fishley has been pulling out the the Gorge? Do you truly think we can make a dent in the burbot population? Really? (I’ve wanted to pose that question for years. I can hardly wait for the responses. Kinda feel like HookJawBrimhall! [:p] STIR THE POT! )
Ok, I think we have a much better chance of putting a dent in the chubs at Scofield. Just catch a bunch!
Come on guys! What can I do with all these chubs? Can’t eat them, can’t feed them to the critters, can’t bury them in the garden…I’ve been afflicted with the scourge of the fish world!
Sorry this got so long! Hope we get more ice soon. Obviously I have too much time on my hands…and since you just read all this…so do you!
PS: Birch Creek!..always wanted to type that[:p]
Merry Christmas to All
Might try smoking them…if you can figure out which end to light.
[inline “FISH SMOKING.jpg”]
RE “I have tried to save as many as I could. With half a beef, two elk, and a deer in the freezer, the wife just can’t see the wisdom of ten pounds of chubs taking up freezer space.”
I would be happy to take a few pounds of beef, elk, and venison off your hands so you can put more chubs in.[;)]
RE"Come on guys! What can I do with all these chubs? Can’t eat them, can’t feed them to the critters, can’t bury them in the garden…I’ve been afflicted with the scourge of the fish world!"
Seriously, If one puts them in a sack and throws them away, I would surmise that would not be viewed by the authorities as a problem. I also would definitely argue that burial in the garden does constitute “beneficial use”. Finally, one could “dispatch” them as they are caught and send them back in the lake, which would be definitely be appreciated by the crayfish.
And yes, Merry Christmas all!
You can use Utah chubs as fertilizer. You can’t use gamefish as fertilizer though. Chubs can be used as bear bait, or in trap sets too. You could practice CPR with them. Catch, puncture, and release. The crawdads, cutts, and tigers would love them.
And you could put them back in the hole after they’re frozen stiff.
best photo ever.
oops…
Just give em a hard knock to the head or gil slit and throw em back in 
Some laws are more important than others. you could probably throw dozens and dozens of these on the ice and a Game and Fish officer would probably not say a word to you about it.
The law is the law though and if you break it you are giving them a chance to bust ya for it. I know sometimes they let stuff slide but if you follow it to a T you have nothing to worry about.
I’ve thought about slitting their gills and throwing them back in, but that would really mess up my fishing. You probably think I’m sitting there catching chubs all day just to reduce the chub population. Not at all. That would be very noble, but the real reason I like catching chubs is the fact that it attracts BIG fish.
Distressed, struggling chubs attract alot of attention from the larger predators. The biggest tigers and cutts I caught at Scofield last year were hooked while pulling chubs out of 5 ft of water or less. All of a sudden the chubs would disappear and I’d get a hit from big fish coming in to see what all the excitement was about. I even had some huge strikes while I was reeling a chub in. Great fun.
If I slit their gills the predators would eat the chubs, not my offering.
Chubs in the freezer are all spoken for. No more problem! Thanks guys!
See you on the ice!
You can use Utah chubs as fertilizer. You can’t use gamefish as fertilizer though. Chubs can be used as bear bait, or in trap sets too. You could practice CPR with them. Catch, puncture, and release. The crawdads, cutts, and tigers would love them.
And you could put them back in the hole after they’re frozen stiff.Would you be so kind as to provide a written source for your claim so that the rest of us can avoid any difficulties with Conservation Officers that may want to inforce the Utah proclamation guidelines? Myself and others would like to stay on the legal side of the law. Thank you in advance. 