More Cats than I can count

[Cowboypirate]

I caught more cats than I can count today - course I cant count that high - North Summit High Grad / Weber State Degree - I think that means I can go up to 27 without getting off track…

Anywho - windy and spotty rain this morning when I took off. Was pretty sure most places would be a bust, so I opted to run up really high on the Mallad and take a look at a different place to catch bait than I normally go.

Had a minnow trap, a pole with tiny salmon egg hooks for chubs, and the Wookie (my Dog) along

Walked into the crossing culvert at the new spot and threw out the traps and set up a simple double hook rig with them salmon egg hooks tipped with a bit or worm. And BOOM the cats fest began. I could not keep the kittys off the hook. Caught 27 of them rascals (see above counting for reference to counting ability).

Now before ya all grab the rods and head out in the morning for the Mallad - ya better check out the photo of one of the “BIG” ones of the day

Ya 27 cats between 4-7 inches. (or maybe I caught one cat 27 times, maybe I should have notched a fin to make sure)

Sure messed with my attempts to fill the bait bucket with chubs and suckers. I did manage 3 chubs in a lull with the kittens, and a few smaller chubs in the trap.

The good news - there are a lot of cats growing in that River - Bad news - it might be a few years before they are ready for the frying pan.

I better check with Forrest and see if this one is in line for the smallest in the contest

[thatchergreg]

It sounds like a carbon copy of my last trip to the Malad. Cat after cat after cat and nothing big.

[wiperhunter2]

@hook_sets

Perch is making a big comeback in Utah Lake. Friends and I caught about 50 in the marina, but kept 30 for fish fry.

](IMG 2531 — Postimages)

That’s awesome, thanks for the report, any over 9 inches?

[system]

@hook_sets

Perch is making a big comeback in Utah Lake. Friends and I caught about 50 in the marina, but kept 30 for fish fry.

](IMG 2531 — Postimages)

I didnt know they were at risk? I watched another fella on youtube catch a mess on the docks at Provo harbor, looked like fun!

[wiperhunter2]

@chubby chaser

@hook_sets

Perch is making a big comeback in Utah Lake.  Friends and I caught about 50  in the marina, but kept 30 for fish fry.

I didnt know they were at risk?   I watched another fella on youtube catch a mess on the docks at Provo harbor, looked like fun!

In lakes that have perch, I doubt they are ever at risk but their numbers can change greatly, depending on conditions. I could be wrong but I believe their numbers have been low in recent years at UL but it sounds like their numbers are increasing.

[MrShane]

You can thank the Carp removal program for their comeback.
Kill every Carp you can in UL to keep the gamefish biomass numbers up.
Arrows, spears, rip gills out, run over pods of Carp with your boat, use shotgun if in safe direction, whatever it takes to kill The Carp!

[Kent]

@MrShane

You can thank the Carp removal program for their comeback.
Kill every Carp you can in UL to keep the gamefish biomass numbers up.
Arrows, spears, rip gills out, run over pods of Carp with your boat, use shotgun if in safe direction, whatever it takes to kill The Carp!

I remember, as a teenager, shooting at carp in the river below Mona Reservoir.  I use the phrase “at carp” intentionally, because my experience was that even if they are just a couple inches under the surface of the water a shotgun had no impact on them.

[fishnate]

Using a gun of any kind to control carp would be a bad idea if you don’t like dealing with law enforcement. Check the regs.

[dubob]

@fishnate

Using a gun of any kind to control carp would be a bad idea if you don’t like dealing with law enforcement. Check the regs.

I agree fishnate.  An AI generated synopsis of the question “Is taking fish with a firearm legal in Utah?” will get you this answer:

“Taking fish with a firearm is generally not legal in Utah. According to Utah Administrative Code R657-13-11, a person may not use a firearm, crossbow, pellet gun, or archery equipment to take fish or crayfish, except as specifically allowed in certain sections.

The only exceptions are for specific nongame fish under the rules for taking nongame fish, where certain methods like bow, crossbow, or spear fishing are permitted statewide for carp and Utah chub. However, the use of a firearm is not authorized for these activities. Additionally, the use of any firearm to take fish is prohibited unless explicitly permitted by a rule, proclamation, or order of the Wildlife Board, which does not currently include general firearm use for fish.

Therefore, using a firearm to take fish is illegal in Utah except in very limited, specific circumstances not applicable to general fishing.”

[FishfulThinkin]

@dubob

@fishnate

Using a gun of any kind to control carp would be a bad idea if you don’t like dealing with law enforcement. Check the regs.

I agree fishnate.  An AI generated synopsis of the question “Is taking fish with a firearm legal in Utah?” will get you this answer:

“Taking fish with a firearm is generally not legal in Utah. According to Utah Administrative Code R657-13-11, a person may not use a firearm, crossbow, pellet gun, or archery equipment to take fish or crayfish, except as specifically allowed in certain sections.

The only exceptions are for specific nongame fish under the rules for taking nongame fish, where certain methods like bow, crossbow, or spear fishing are permitted statewide for carp and Utah chub. However, the use of a firearm is not authorized for these activities. Additionally, the use of any firearm to take fish is prohibited unless explicitly permitted by a rule, proclamation, or order of the Wildlife Board, which does not currently include general firearm use for fish.

Therefore, using a firearm to take fish is illegal in Utah except in very limited, specific circumstances not applicable to general fishing.”

Let’s not cast too many stones. Kent stated that he did this as a teenager and I’m pretty sure the laws have changed since the 1960’s or 1970’s. If he had admitted to shooting at carp last week it might be warranted, but this was back in the 1900’s when times and laws were different.

[dubob]

@FishfulThinkin

Let’s not cast too many stones. Kent stated that he did this as a teenager and I’m pretty sure the laws have changed since the 1960’s or 1970’s. If he had admitted to shooting at carp last week it might be warranted, but this was back in the 1900’s when times and laws were different.

I can’t speak for for fishnate, but I wasn’t casting anything at Kent.  I was merely reminding anybody thinking it might be fun to “shoot fish in a barrel” that the practice is unlawful.  Some of todays Gen Z’ers (certainly not ALL Gen Z’ers) have been known to think anything they see online is a good idea or a fun thing to do.  I’m 100% certain that Kent wasn’t advocating it as a good idea in 2025.  

[Kent]

@dubob

@FishfulThinkin

Let’s not cast too many stones. Kent stated that he did this as a teenager and I’m pretty sure the laws have changed since the 1960’s or 1970’s. If he had admitted to shooting at carp last week it might be warranted, but this was back in the 1900’s when times and laws were different.

I can’t speak for for fishnate, but I wasn’t casting anything at Kent.  I was merely reminding anybody thinking it might be fun to “shoot fish in a barrel” that the practice is unlawful.  Some of todays Gen Z’ers (certainly not ALL Gen Z’ers) have been known to think anything they see online is a good idea or a fun thing to do.  I’m 100% certain that Kent wasn’t advocating it as a good idea in 2025.  

I can’t remember for sure, but I probably knew that it was illegal to shoot carp with a firearm back in the 1960s but being a teenager, I may have disregarded that detail and fired a few shots at the carp in an extremely remote area.  That said, I have seen many sunrises and sunsets since then and I definitely don’t encourage the breaking of any laws.

[Springbuck1]

@chubby chaser

@hook_sets

Perch is making a big comeback in Utah Lake. Friends and I caught about 50 in the marina, but kept 30 for fish fry.

](IMG 2531 — Postimages)I never caught even one for yearems when fishing for bluegills,crappie, e5c. For several years now, the fall and winter have been great for perch.

I didnt know they were at risk? I watched another fella on youtube catch a mess on the docks at Provo harbor, looked like fun!

[doggonefishin]

@Kent

@dubob

@FishfulThinkin

Let’s not cast too many stones. Kent stated that he did this as a teenager and I’m pretty sure the laws have changed since the 1960’s or 1970’s. If he had admitted to shooting at carp last week it might be warranted, but this was back in the 1900’s when times and laws were different.

I can’t speak for for fishnate, but I wasn’t casting anything at Kent.  I was merely reminding anybody thinking it might be fun to “shoot fish in a barrel” that the practice is unlawful.  Some of todays Gen Z’ers (certainly not ALL Gen Z’ers) have been known to think anything they see online is a good idea or a fun thing to do.  I’m 100% certain that Kent wasn’t advocating it as a good idea in 2025.  

I can’t remember for sure, but I probably knew that it was illegal to shoot carp with a firearm back in the 1960s but being a teenager, I may have disregarded that detail and fired a few shots at the carp in an extremely remote area.  That said, I have seen many sunrises and sunsets since then and I definitely don’t encourage the breaking of any laws.

I think the statute of limitations has expired on that incident and you have nothing to worry about.

[dubob]

@doggonefishin

I think the statute of limitations has expired on that incident and you have nothing to worry about.

[Kent]

@doggonefishin

@Kent

@dubob

@FishfulThinkin

Let’s not cast too many stones. Kent stated that he did this as a teenager and I’m pretty sure the laws have changed since the 1960’s or 1970’s. If he had admitted to shooting at carp last week it might be warranted, but this was back in the 1900’s when times and laws were different.

I can’t speak for for fishnate, but I wasn’t casting anything at Kent.  I was merely reminding anybody thinking it might be fun to “shoot fish in a barrel” that the practice is unlawful.  Some of todays Gen Z’ers (certainly not ALL Gen Z’ers) have been known to think anything they see online is a good idea or a fun thing to do.  I’m 100% certain that Kent wasn’t advocating it as a good idea in 2025.  

I can’t remember for sure, but I probably knew that it was illegal to shoot carp with a firearm back in the 1960s but being a teenager, I may have disregarded that detail and fired a few shots at the carp in an extremely remote area.  That said, I have seen many sunrises and sunsets since then and I definitely don’t encourage the breaking of any laws.

I think the statute of limitations has expired on that incident and you have nothing to worry about.

Barry, thanks for that reply.  After over 50 years of worrying, I can finally not be concerned about getting arrested and sleep well at night.

[doggonefishin]

@Kent

@doggonefishin

@Kent

@dubob

@FishfulThinkin

Let’s not cast too many stones. Kent stated that he did this as a teenager and I’m pretty sure the laws have changed since the 1960’s or 1970’s. If he had admitted to shooting at carp last week it might be warranted, but this was back in the 1900’s when times and laws were different.

I can’t speak for for fishnate, but I wasn’t casting anything at Kent.  I was merely reminding anybody thinking it might be fun to “shoot fish in a barrel” that the practice is unlawful.  Some of todays Gen Z’ers (certainly not ALL Gen Z’ers) have been known to think anything they see online is a good idea or a fun thing to do.  I’m 100% certain that Kent wasn’t advocating it as a good idea in 2025.  

I can’t remember for sure, but I probably knew that it was illegal to shoot carp with a firearm back in the 1960s but being a teenager, I may have disregarded that detail and fired a few shots at the carp in an extremely remote area.  That said, I have seen many sunrises and sunsets since then and I definitely don’t encourage the breaking of any laws.

I think the statute of limitations has expired on that incident and you have nothing to worry about.

Barry, thanks for that reply.  After over 50 years of worrying, I can finally not be concerned about getting arrested and sleep well at night.

Who was president when you did that?  Eisenhower?

[FishfulThinkin]

@doggonefishin

@Kent

@doggonefishin

@Kent

@dubob

I can’t speak for for fishnate, but I wasn’t casting anything at Kent.  I was merely reminding anybody thinking it might be fun to “shoot fish in a barrel” that the practice is unlawful.  Some of todays Gen Z’ers (certainly not ALL Gen Z’ers) have been known to think anything they see online is a good idea or a fun thing to do.  I’m 100% certain that Kent wasn’t advocating it as a good idea in 2025.  

I can’t remember for sure, but I probably knew that it was illegal to shoot carp with a firearm back in the 1960s but being a teenager, I may have disregarded that detail and fired a few shots at the carp in an extremely remote area.  That said, I have seen many sunrises and sunsets since then and I definitely don’t encourage the breaking of any laws.

I think the statute of limitations has expired on that incident and you have nothing to worry about.

Barry, thanks for that reply.  After over 50 years of worrying, I can finally not be concerned about getting arrested and sleep well at night.

Who was president when you did that?  Eisenhower?

I may or may not have shot some carp in the head with a pellet gun at Lake Powell. Feeding on scum right at the slickrock and heads actually above the water. Does it count if their head is out of the water? Bush was President.

[MrShane]

@FishfulThinkin

@doggonefishin

@Kent

@doggonefishin

@Kent

I can’t remember for sure, but I probably knew that it was illegal to shoot carp with a firearm back in the 1960s but being a teenager, I may have disregarded that detail and fired a few shots at the carp in an extremely remote area.  That said, I have seen many sunrises and sunsets since then and I definitely don’t encourage the breaking of any laws.

I think the statute of limitations has expired on that incident and you have nothing to worry about.

Barry, thanks for that reply.  After over 50 years of worrying, I can finally not be concerned about getting arrested and sleep well at night.

Who was president when you did that?  Eisenhower?

I may or may not have shot some carp in the head with a pellet gun at Lake Powell. Feeding on scum right at the slickrock and heads actually above the water. Does it count if their head is out of the water? Bush was President.

Hey, whatever it takes to kill them Carp sounds good to me! Haha

[hook_sets]

Perch is making a big comeback in Utah Lake. Friends and I caught about 50 in the marina, but kept 30 for fish fry.

](IMG 2531 — Postimages)