Utah fishing has undergone a lot of changes since my earliest experiences here in the 1960’s. But, even though we now have a lot of transplanted anglers from other states…and even though many former troutaholics have broadened their angling horizons…Utah is still a predominantly TROUT state when it comes to fisheries management.
It was only recently that we finally got a separate department in the DWR focused on the “warm water” fisheries in Utah. A major positive step, but still only in its infancy. Lots of work to be done yet and a whole lot of politics and budgetary problems to deal with before Utah could ever hope to offer some of the things taken for granted in states where trout have not been the predominant focus.
It is easy to be an “armchair” biologist and to find fault with DWR for not having all of your favorite species…gamefish or forage…in the lakes most convenient to you. But your past experiences and observations on other waters in other states are not valid when it comes to any specific Utah water. There are a whole host of factors…ecological, biological and plain common sense…that arbitrarily exclude the introduction of most other species.
**At some point you simply have to have a measure of faith in the work being done by Utah DWR. They have a history of long-term studies, observations, trial & error, successes and mistakes on Utah Lake and other state waters. They may not know all of the answers yet but at least they are pretty familiar with all of the questios. **
**It is not a matter of randomly dropping new species into a waterway and seeing what will happen. Based upon biologist studies and shared information from around the country, it can often be predicted what the outcomes will be…and with some species those outcomes are to be avoided. In Utah Lake, gizzard shad would probably become as bad as the carp…multiplying unchecked and consuming all of the available zooplankton and other micro foods that now sustain all other species during their critical fry and fingerling stages. In short, they would take far more from the lake than they would ever contribute in return. Because of the current federal focus on restoring the June suckers, there would never be any other species considered that might compete with the Junies…at any stage of their life cycle. And the Junies live on the same stuff the gizzard shad consume. **
Each lake in Utah is unique in some fashion. Unlike the large impoundments on the major rivers in other states, most of our reservoirs are highly susceptible to fluctuations in water levels in the eternal war to maintain a balance between Mama Nature and the downstream water users. The fish are in the middle and as the water levels and water quality rises and falls, so do the numbers and quality of the different fish species. We are probably lucky to have the good fishing we enjoy, given the juggling act between snowfall and irrigation.
**I too have fished around the country and have enjoyed fishing for just about all species in the nation. I love them all. And, like most others who have experienced “exotic” fishing in other states I like to dream about having some of those other fishies available in Utah. **
**I also have had a chance to compare the state angling regulations among various states. I am amazed at the quality and quantity of great fishing available in some states with seemingly little or no actual fisheries management. And, when I compare what I have seen elsewhere with Utah DWR and fisheries management I sometimes shake my head. **
It is hard to accept or understand a few of the concepts of Utah management. But, I think I might be qualified to make the statement that with only a couple of exceptions, there are few other states in our country that offer the diversity of fishing and the high quality of fishing available in Utah. We have more species easily available…and truly quality in terms of numbers and size…than can be found in many other states where some species are native or much better known.
In short (HA!) we got it pretty good. Maybe not perfect. But, by who’s definition? It all becomes a matter of opinion and we are all entitled to our own opinions. Nobody is all right or all wrong. But there are some things we can change and some things we can’t. The only way to change the fisheries situation in Utah is to become involved. Attend the RAC meetings and make yourself heard. Volunteer to do some work with DWR biologists when they need help pulling survey nets or other drudgery work. Get to know the people and let them know you. If you have a valid point, they will listen. If you are just a crackpot, they will discover that quickly enough too. They get plenty of unsolicited opinions from crackpots. Utah is full of them.
Be a part of the solution…not part of the problem.