I like some of the new regs especially one the one’s concerning community fisheries but my biggest gripe isn’t with the regs its enforcement & education of these regs. DWR can added more and more regs but if only a small group is following the them whats the point. I think there needs to be a reg for more law enforcement and even a so called fisherman reg test or just something so poachers cant use the “I didnt know that was the reg on this water” excuse. I know that sound insane but over the years that seems to be every poachers excuse.
Also I know many of us have called the 800 DEER poacher hotline and nothing has happened not even and officer showing up. Pretty lame in my book !!![:/][:/][:/]
I missed the federation meeting so I appreciate the info. but what does any of this have to do with bass fishing in E. Canyon or Starvation?
I’m all about catching big bass but what, in the proposed changes, would lessen the trophy population of bass in any lake in Utah? Am I missing something?
Also I know many of us have called the 800 DEER poacher hotline and nothing has happened not even and officer showing up. Pretty lame in my book !!![:/][:/][:/]
There are 5 officers that cover over 500 sq miles of area. They are not all on shift at the same time and are not always near the area you have an issue in. The best you can do is report everything you can and hope they can make it to most of them. If they say they cannot get there in time or at all, call the sheriff’s department. They can issue a citation just like the DWR CO’s. Never stop reporting illegal activity that takes away from you, me, and the rest of the lawful anglers and hunters in our state. I personally have called 6 times this year. They made it to 5 of them and issued 4 citations. That is a pretty good return in my book.
Also, if you call the poaching hotline and nothing happens, call the ogden office directly and they can call the CO’s on their cell phone. Another thing to do is get the CO’s numbers in your phone. I have 5 DWR CO’s in mine as well as 2 State Parks officers and 3 county sheriff’s. If you want them shoot me a pm.
They are doing a fairly good job with what they have to deal with and the resources they have. It is the bone heads that sit on the boards and the desk jockeys that need to be replaced. Give the guys a break.[frown]
I’ve called it 3 times now, once in Hoytsvile\Wanship, Causey, & Willard Bay.
Officers have only shown up at Willard. I definite understand they cant be everywhere all the time but I honestly think with the amount of $$$ utah\dnr gets from hunting and fished they could hire more officers.
I can tell by what you just wrote you have not fished east canyon or starvation that much…
Even Drew said that a big bass is 1 1/2 to 2 lb in east canyon now, yes some one may get a bigger one over the years time but LOTS of big bass…Not a chance…
They can keep the regs. just like they are for bass…
One thing that Drew said was he didn’t think kids can tell what the different types of fish they have in the ponds and the DWR would hate to give any kid a ticket…
They want to change the state wide bass laws so almost all bass lakes are like East canyon, Drew said he thinks a big bass is only 1 1/2 lb to 2 lb and now that is just about the size of the bigger bass in East canyon with lots of smaller ones…
I thought that the bass in East Canyon were illegally introduced? Why even worry about the bass in East Canyon if it’s not managed as a bass fishery? I really don’t think that Drew would say something like that unless it was taken out of context.
What are these changes to the state wide bass laws and how come they aren’t on the proposals?
Drew said they are still going to try and make the bass regs the same for ALL but a couple of lakes…
All that is on the papers I tried to post he said would take till the first of Jan. to go in…
Cliff, you made a thread stating that some of the DWR proposals “… will effectively ruin what big fish fishing we may have.” So far you have been unable to provide anything in writing (unless increasing the statewide limit on perch to 50 is all you have) to support your claim. IMO best to not make such strong claims before being able to support your position.
Neither the DWR website nor the posted documents (which appear to be complete) mention any statewide changes to the bass regs. I would suggest to you that there are likely none in the works for this upcoming year.
The DWR has talked hypothetically about simplifying the bass regs. for years. Perhaps you heard a comment to the effect that they are looking into doing this sometime in the future (beyond this year).
Perhaps we need to have set regulations for black bass in Utah:
One set that addresses trophy bass concerns on waters that can be managed as trophy black bass water.
One set that addresses middle of the road sized bass concerns on waters that are suitable for that purpose.
One set that addresses the need and interest of harvesting lots of bass of a smaller 12 inch or so size.
The point I was making was that not all anglers have the same needs or wants when it comes to angling and we need to attempt to address as many of those needs as possible.
As I said in the meeting the DWR will involve anglers in those discussions when they take place.
I, at not time said that all/most black bass water would have the same regulation. I did say that we need to declare the purpose of black bass management at each water and manage it as such in as efficient and effective manner as possible.
If any one would like to discuss this matter further please feel free to contact me.
East Canyon was planted by the DWR years ago just before Jordanelle was opened up for fishing…It may have been done by mistake but it was still done by them…
How much money do you think it takes to hire just one extra officer?? Try 100K a year for a full-time officer + his vehicle. I’m not very good at math so you figure out how many licenses they have to sell to add one additional officer.
He/she works a 40 hr week in 4 days, required to take 40hrs of inservice training per year, no over-time allowed, comp-time earned is to be taken off at a later date and they build up a ton every year. Many officers are the only guy for the entire county or area. These guys are not a 24-7 police department; wildlife enforcement is rarely a life threatening situation, therefore you can’t expect someone to be available at all times. They have church, little league, dance class, school functions, just like you do…
The worker bees at the DWR are so poorly paid at one time they couldn’t even fill the positions along the Wasatch front.
Here is the biggest problem; More often than not citizens don’t supply enough information on a complaint where an officer can chase down a lead. Generally you get: 3 males fishing on the bank at lake xyz, complainant states they are in possession of too many perch OR 2 males shooting at a cow elk near Black hawk campground, driving a blue Cheve truck.
Seriously that is how the complaints come in. No physical description, no plates numbers, many times no exact location, and 40% of the time the original complainant doesn’t answer his phone after he makes a complaint, 30% of the time he can’t provide any additional information, 20% he is no longer in the area, 10% of the time he doesn’t even leave his name.
I’m not a DWR employee, but I’ve tried to help them out from time to time on wildlife complaints. So if you want a decent investigation do your civic duty and provide some solid information. The real world isn’t the CSI you see on TV, if ya don’t want to get involved then don’t make the initial call…
