I know a good number of spawning 4 to 6 lb largemouth were harvested by spear fisherman at deer creek during the spawn. Not much that can be done to fix that now…
**They will easily be replaced in another 8-10 years. If enough of the smaller ones are allowed to live long enough.
**
Tubedude,
Your attitude towards spearfishing seems to have changed of late. Looking at some of your older posts you used to be much more supportive or at least neutral. Did something happen? Not trying to be argumentative, honestly just curious. I am fine with closing “at risk” fisheries to spearfishing as long as it is closed to harvest by anyone else…as has been stated on here before dead is dead regardless how it happens.
**No offense taken. And hopefully none given. You are correct about my “attitude adjustment”. Since my earlier neutral position on spearfishing for gamefish I have experienced a few doses of reality. Before all of the bass populations (and others) began showing the effects of selective big fish removal I was not against spear fishing in Utah.
I lived in California for many years and have spear fished along the entire Pacific coast…from Mexico to Alaska. I have also been diving in the Gulf of California, the Gulf of Mexico and off several states on the Atlantic. And I have seen what aggressive spear fishing practices can do to even abundant salt water resources. Now there are lots of closures and restrictions where formerly they were not needed.
I have never spear fished any fresh water lakes or rivers. I have been diving and have done underwater photography in fresh water but without anything with which to kill fish. However, I have seen the aftermath of spear fishing now on some of Utah’s Lakes and I no longer believe it is not harmful.
I have fished Utah waters since the 1960s and have observed the ups and downs caused by droughts and other conditions. These natural events take out large numbers of fish, but there are always a few larger ones left for anglers…and for spawning. But in the last 3 to 4 years of increased spear fishing activities I have seen a drastic drop in the size and abundance of decent sized fish of several species. And that has been during a period of relatively high water and good overall conditions.
Even more directly, I have had field reports and seen pictures of dead gamefish…speared…many of them while vulnerable on spawning beds. That is wrong on so many levels. Even bass anglers who fish for large females on their beds try not to harm them and make sure they return to their nests. Hard to return a big egg spewing female with a hole through her side. And I saw just such a picture from Deer Creek this year.
Spear fishermen have been lobbying for equal rights with anglers. Paying a license fee does not automatically entitle anyone to kill all the big fish in a pond…just because they can go underwater and hunt them. H&L anglers must rely on luck and guesswork to find the fish and then make them bite on whatever they are offering. Skill and luck. And if they catch a big fish it usually goes back in…still alive.
Not many states allow spear fishing for game fish. There is a reason for that. Usually only the biggest fish are killed and they represent a lot of catch and release by anglers and yearly spawning activity. Remove them all from the ecosystem and it gets out of whack.
I once had a conversation with a DWR biologist. We were speculating…based upon netting surveys and creel counts…just how many fish of each species there might be in a given lake…of each size and year class. Bottom line…thousands of yearlings, hundreds of midsize…but only tens of fish in the top end size ranges. At that time we guestimated that there might be 50 to 100 bass over 3 pounds in the lake…with maybe 10 to 20 over 5 pounds. It does not take complicated math to see that a few aggressive spear fishermen…hitting the right spots at the right time (spawning) could put a big dent in the top size ranges.
This is not just speculation. This is reality. We have some pretty good anglers in Utah and they catch good fish when good fish are available. But when they are all moaning about the lack of bigger fish for 3 years in a row…during “good” runoff and reproduction years…then there is something more contributing to the downturn. The only changing factor in this time period has been the increase in spear fishing.
Where are there still good sized bass…in spite of the recent low water problems? Utah Lake. Why? Because it is too shallow and murky for spear fishing. Where are the bass (and walleye) suffering the most? Deer Creek, Jordanelle and Starvation…where the waters are clearer…enough for the spear fishing.
I am all in favor of everybody being able to enjoy their sport…up to the point that it negatively impacts the enjoyment by others. None of us actually buys the fish and has the exclusive right to their use and enjoyment. But as with all other rights, your rights end whenever they cross over into my rights.
**
Thanks for the clarification. I was not alive in the 60s[:p], but in the last 5 years freediving and spearfishing in utah I can tell you some of my observations this year.
Pineview…Just as many large bass as years past, very few fingerling and small bass, Very few large crappie, almost no musky.
Deer creek…Fewer bass of all age classes. Larger and more walleye seen than in years past.
Starvation…Consistent level of mid size and larger walley, explosion of small walleye less than 12". Fewer bass of all age classes. Lots of big perch.
Carp…I kill every one I see.
These are just my observations and in no way subtaniated by science, I can tell you if someone isn’t catching large fish in these waters they might want to change their tactics.
Sorry for the derail tubdude( in my defense I didn’t start it 
) Great report as always.
**No apologies necessary. I ain’t that sensitive. And we are talking about mutually enjoyed waters…and species. I appreciate your input.
You are right about anglers developing “tunnel techniques”…fishing the same places the same way every month of the year…year after year. They catch fish a couple of times a year…when the fish are in the right places…but blank the rest of the time and blame it on everything and everybody (else). You can always tell an opinionated fisherman…but you can’t tell them much.
I also must apologize if I seem to lump all spear fishermen into the same category. I know that many (most) are sincere, honest sportsmen who try to be respectful of the resources and others with whom they share them. But, as with any group, a few careless slobs can tarnish the overall image and undo all the good that others have done.
On a personal rant basis, I have been especially irritated by some of the divers at Deer Creek that work along the island. They seem to treat it as their own private preserve and have no consideration for anglers working the same areas. I have had them look at me…in my float tube…and then dive directly under me to keep on looking for fish to spear. On one occasion I witnessed a diver go under a boat with two anglers and then come back up with a hefty walleye on his spear shaft. He actually waved it at them and taunted them with it. Justifiable homicide in my court.
But, I have had far more “run-ins” with careless and inconsiderate anglers so I’ll call it a draw on that count.
I have conducted more than a little research on the subject of freshwater spearfishing in other states. I find it interesting that most of the major BIG states and best recognized angling states have restrictions against spearing any kind of game fish. In fact, in Florida you cannot even possess a spear gun in any fresh water environment. Pretty much the same for California and other coastal states.
I personally think that the matter needs more study and that sooner…rather than later…Utah DWR needs to realize that killing the big game fish on prime angling waters is not in our best interests.
**
Well said. There are idiots in all sports. Thanks for your thoughts.
For what it’s worth I completely agree! I have no bias against spearfishing other than it really has decimated the big fish at Deer Creek, Jordanelle, and SAND HOLLOW.
There’s still big fish in all those lakes, but certainly not in the numbers that they were even just last year.
I don’t think the bass fishing in sand hollow has been affected by speafishing as there is no spearfishing for bass allowed in sand hollow.
Just because its not allowed doesnt mean it didnt happen. I know for a fact that it has and law enforcement has caught up with a big group of poachers that were consistently taking big fish. It wasn’t just one guy… its a whole group down there.
Did not mean to hijack this good report.