They are more concerned about giving parking tickets or no pass in vehicle, than checking for licenses. The trash around the island is getting bad also, I counted 6 diapers left last Saturday.
**I think I can truthfully say that I am more of an ally than a foe to DWR. So I try to be sympathetic to the plight of their thinly-stretched field folks. Lots of territory to “manage” with a finite number of hours in a day and distance they can effectively cover. But I do also have to be a wee bit upset with the complete lack of supervision on some waters and followup on regulations for specific species.
You have been checked 3 times in 10 years…for a license? I fish a lot of “popular” ponds…many trips a year…and I have only been approached by any kind of enforcement folks ONCE. And that was a Ranger on Utah Lake…first admiring my float tube setup and then asking as an afterthought if I had a PFD. I did, and he blasted off to nail someone who had just violated the 150’ proximity rule…while the ranger was very visible. Morons of all ilks.
There are days on many lakes when I suspect there are more than a few “happy harvesters” who are not only keeping grundles of fish but are likely fishing without benefit of a license. At least they tend to pack up and boogie whenever a marked vehicle drives into the area. Maintaining a frequent presence would likely preserve more fish for those of us who abide by the regulations and buy licenses. I have heard it said that many of these folks prefer to play “CO roulette”…fishing as often as they can without a license with a less than one in six chance they will be caught.
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In a year when the water is this low, your best bet for a LMB is in the far north end, up shallow in the grass. Someone else was looking to catch a bass on a frog and that is where they are right now. You can see the stumps that are out of water up there. They used to stretch from the river channel to almost the Charleston road, but some of our more pyro buddies have burned the ones that were high and dry several years ago !! Wallsburg bay also has some spots where the LMB will hang in the back, but with the low water, many of those are out of water now. The big fish are there, they have just pulled out and are suspended somewhere waiting for us to give up on finding them !!
I must be doing something wrong because I’ve had my license checked four times this YEAR.
Probably not coincidentally, all four were bank tangling in popular spots.
I’ve been checked twice at Deer Creek, once at Utah Lake, and once at TibbleFork.
I know the mussel problem is sapping a lot of resources. There is at least one resource per popular lake dedicated to checking mussel compliance in my experience.
“I must be doing something wrong because I’ve had my license checked four times this YEAR.”
**You must be shifty-lookin’ or somethin’. Maybe you fit a “profile” they have been trained to look for. Do you wear a turban or funky hat while fishing?
It is probably “luck of the draw”. I also know folks who seem to get checked almost every time they go out, even on lesser fished waters.
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I usually get checked at bountiful pond. No where else.
Yep Im doin ok. Thanks. I miss the perch Ice Fishing. Those of us that remember the Deer Creek of the early 60s when you could take a youngster out for their first few fishing trips and watch them catch perch by the dozens. My sons learned to fish there. Hard to find any really good perch activity in Utah. There are a few god days but as you said a lot of searchin. I agree with the Doctors diagnosis…More fishing!!!
Another great fishing report. I love your pictures. It looks like you have created another interesting fishing lure. Give us the details on what looks like some sort of spinner on the red head, red body, chartreuse minnow.
**That is the “jingle jig”. A takeoff on the Roadrunner, with a blade to add flash and vibration. I just add a short piece of wire to the hook eye, slide on a couple of beads and a small blade and I’llthen make an eye. The whole thing is only about a half inch long but really adds some appeal. I have posted lots of pics with those hanging out of fish lips during the past year or so of your absence. I’ll be happy to give you a quick show and tell on how to make them. Simple.
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Sounds great. Thanks!