Proposed 2009 fishing rule changes.

Utah Fishing Reports & Discussion Utah Fishing General
1

http://wildlife.utah.gov/public_meetings/info/may0.pdf

Above is a link to a document that contains the proposed regulation changes for 2009. They are not final, but are being studied presently for final submission in the fall. (Some of you know how that goes.)

Highlights include:

  1. A proposal to make tiger muskie fishing C&R only at Pineview and Newton. (seems reasonable under the circumstances until a new muskie source is found)

  2. Changes in Scofield regs to better allow the tiger trout and cutts to control the chubs. This would possibly include a slot limit on the tiger trout, lowering the limit back to 4 fish, adding Bear lake cutts, a combination of above or keeping the regs the same. ( at least a slot on the tigers seems reasonable to me)

  3. Having a 2 year cycle for the proclamation and regulation changes.

  4. Allowing 6 ice rods at Flaming gorge for burbot fishing. (ice season only)

  5. Changing the regs. at Joes Valley to 4 fish, with 1 over 18 inches.

  6. Add a bunch of community ponds to the program.

  7. Make adjustments in fishing tournament rules to be more friendly for small tournaments.

  8. And there is much more listed.

2

:sunglasses:Thanks for finding and posting the proposed changes.

On another thread, we had a question about Hyrum bass regulations. According to Drew Cushing (DWR Director of Warm Water Fisheries) they are planning to make Hyrum a six fish limit with one over 12 inches.

**And, from DWR biologist Richard Hepworth: “**We have not talked about changing regulations on the waters in our region at this time, however we are talking about standardizing regulations around the state. This could result in changes at Utah Lake, Deer Creek and Jordanelle Reservoir. At this time we are looking for input from anglers (that’s you and the bassaholics you refer to). If you have suggestions or ideas send them our way we will review them and take them into consideration.”

In conversations with DWR folks, the general view of the Division is that the “average” angler really does not take an active part in creating or changing regulations. Very few anglers show up at the RAC meetings to present ideas or to show support. Not like hunters. They are always numerous and loud.

Most of the regulations pertinent to bass fishing are the result of organized “input” from various bass clubs around the state. They often invite DWR staff to attend and to discuss their issues. That is no doubt why many bass regs are seemingly slanted toward “bassaholics” rather than “normal” anglers.

Since Utah does not actively plant bass, nor do they really do much to manage them…besides the current regulations…a lot of that could change once ther e is a warm water hatchery. But, until that is a reality, we need to all do our part to help keep the existing bass fisheries viable and healthy…with some legal but limited harvest.

This might be a good place for those with ideas or questions to post them. Various folks from DWR monitor our site and I often forward links to pertinent posts or threads that they might find of interest.

**Keep it open, light and friendly. **

**I will start it off. I have long been in favor of changing the regs at Utah Lake and Jordanelle to allow keeping one large fish…but say over 15" or even 18"…as a trophy or to submit for records. A lot of anglers do want a “wall fish” and not everybody likes “replica” mounts. **

Most truly large bass are caught by knowledgeable bassers who will likely release them. If some lucky dude catches a biggun by accident, they should have the right to keep it if they want. Chances are it won’t happen again. And, for the “meat hunters”…they will keep them regardless of the regulations anyway.

3

Nicely stated!

In Utah there are roughly 400,000 licensed anglers the DWR might receive input from 20-30 anglers per year on issues. We do receive input from the organized angling groups and are thankful for that input. However that input may not and most likely does not represent the general anglers opinion on many issues. Please take part and provide input. As you know the population in Utah is growing faster every day the number of anglers is shrinking in comparison. We all need to do our share to make sure this sport is around for our kids and grand kids to enjoy.

Thanks again Pat.

Drew

4

A few recommendations:

  1. Allow the use of dead game fish (or as cut bait) as bait (similar to Idaho).

  2. Allow the use of corn in our warm water lakes (Utah Lake for example) that are infested with carp.

5

I would support a slot limit on Tiger Trout in scofield but would not want cutthroats in there.

6

Sorry, too late. Scofield is already ‘infested’ [:p] with Cutthroat Trout.

Regarding the proposal for 2 year regs cycle, I am curious as to why that is being proposed? Is it to reduce administrative costs on the division? It seems to me that it will severely restrict the division’s ability to react quickly to changing conditions (we all already know how it can be bad as is now – remember the Yuba perch debacle last year).

Although I’m no longer a Utah resident, I think it should remain as a yearly cycle.

7

i better get after the tiger on the wall goal soon.

8

More fees … More Costs … More Regulations.

If I, as a bass tournament angler need to pay more permit money to keep 1 fish over twelve inches in a tournament setting. No thanks. Who are we kidding here? We don’t keep these fish … they are released alive and well. How about a special regulation to require a state approved additive to the livewells for increased success? several states have this regulation for it’s tournaments, especially in the summer.

I don’t get this at all?

9

I am all in favor of Slot Limits on Bass, and Tiger Trout. I would still like to see a all slot limit at Strawberry and finally All Tiger Muskie are C&R.

10

1: 40 perch limit at yuba no have to keep rule!!

2: higher limit on cutt’s in E-lake to 8 fish but only 2 can be tigers..

3: more tigers for E-lake!!

4: perch planted in Gunnison res.

5: Fishing with live bait if it is cought in the same waters your fishing.. [angelic]

same as every years wish list.. [crazy]

11

Immediate emergency closure to the possession of tiger musky. Nobody knows if we will ever get replacements and the pike idea is not a good one in my opinion.

Second, a universal statewide regulation on bass. 6 fish with 1 over 18" and 5 under 13". Still plenty of room for the people who want to keep some and enough to protect the larger fish. Possibly issue tags for a trophy SMB at Jordanelle. Say 1 over 20".

3rd, make it a mandatory license revocation and increased fines for blatant violators who get caught without a valid license or over possession. This might not even pertain to the DWR but it needs to be done. It is out of control.

4th, I think waters with bucket bio’d fish should have a catch and kill policy on those species.

5th, i think the fish limits at the community ponds needs to be reduced to 2 fish. All it takes is for 1 person to run their mouth about catching a bunch of fish and within 2 days it is fished out.

6th and probably the most important is the worthless, vermin , cormorants.:angry::angry: They are devastating the community waters and nobody cares about it. I know there is technology to rid the ponds of these pests. A laser is one idea that comes to mind. They are very effective. Something has definitely go to be done about this.

7th, make bass at the community ponds catch and release. There are plenty of other species to take home.

That is about all i can think of right now.:sunglasses:

12

I agree with everything except the 2 year cycle. The faster you can respond to changes the better. Two years is too long. By the end of two years an illegaly introduced species could multiply beyond control.

I would also support longer, more exensive, and more severe penalites for wildlife law breaking. Especially so for illegal fish introductions. People just aren’t afraid of the current penalties, it is all just a big joke to them. They need a more serous spanking I tell you what! [;)]

13

Amen to you about the cormorants LH2! I HATE those stupid ugly birds…Whenever I go up to Farmington, there’s always 12 or so of those black nasties just GORGING themselves on freshly planted trout…you’re right, there is technology to keep them out, it’s called a Remington 870 Express.

14

You know i have thought about a .17 HMR with a 1 liter bottle full of toilet paper over the barrel BUT, there is waaaay too many houses around. I just chuck rocks at them whenever they get in range as well as a few other people that can see the porblems they are causing. The way i see it, i and you and everyone else that buys a license is paying to feed those worthless birds. It gets me fuming every time i see one come up with another fish. It really don’t matter what they catch either, they eat cats, slimers, 18" brooders, and anything else they can catch. I think i am going to buy some trout swimbaits and go down to the pond tonight.LMFAO!![sly][sly][sly][sly]

15

:sunglasses:Hey Drew, I just remembered a conversation we had a long time ago on the RAC process. My suggestion was to allow DWR biologists and officials to form a core group that could discuss and vote upon potential “emergency” changes and to put them into effect IMMEDIATELY…subject to further review and change should the conditions warrant reversing the original change. And, all subject to going through the formal RAC process to make it official and a part of the regulations.

**I know there is something like that on the books now, but it is never used. Many of Utah’s fisheries go up and down with the annual water levels and with periodic dieoffs or bumper recruitment. But, whenever anybody suggests a change, the excuse for not doing anything is that “IT IS NOT AN EMERGENCY”. Let’s take that word out of the process and substitute “NEEDED”…or “VIABLE”…or “SENSIBLE”. **

We anglers have seen wasted fishing potential on some waters while also seeing overharvest or abuse on other waters that could have been headed off much sooner with fast, decisive action. By allowing DWR to make necessary moves “on the fly” it could make the long term job of managing our fishing resources a lot better for everybody.

GOOD EXAMPLE: The suggestion for putting a lockdown on possession of all tiger muskies. Mandatory immediate release. Simple to do…with a news media and sign program around the two lakes affected. Several BFTers have witnessed violations of the length limit now in place, but if you made it NO KEEP for any size, then violaters would have absolutely no excuses.

16

:sunglasses:Wish I could add one:

Upping the limit of perch at Yuba to 20 (or more)… Anybody else for that?

17

I do not agree with more tigers at Electric lake, Keep it for those beautiful Cutts.

I also would like to see more Pike planted, especially in Joe’s Valley.

I also agree that all Muskies should be C&R only and that whole bait could be used to catch them.

Use of live bait if it comes from the water you are fishing.

Finally, What the heck is a slimer?

18

:sunglasses:Slimer is a BFT nickname for all Trout species for obvious reasons. Welcome to the board.

19

TB - that’s a great suggestion to have a way to change specific lake/reservoir/streams regulations as needed.

If the DWR is going to a two year fishing regulation cycle then this would become an important tool to help meet the ever changing lake levels, forest fire damages, and mother nature in general.

The whole west coast can open and close a salmon season in less than a day - the methods and tools for such administration could be modeled after exist resources.

Wouldn’t it be great to open perch on yuba for two weeks to 20 fish then change it back to the current 10 fish.

20

i absolutely agree with lunkerhunter2 about the cormorants and the bass in the community ponds. The bass should be immediately released so they can grow up big…why are they being allowed to be kept when they are not stocked like the stupid trout and cats. The other day I watched 3 birds feast on catfish while I got skunked! Down with the cormorant!