Decided to see how much the water was cooling at Strawberry. Surface temps were 57 and the fish were very active. Early on fish were feeding on/near the surface and I had a lot of success using a washing line with a boobie on the end and some hanging nymphs in between. Later in the morning when the bite slowed down, I moved to some intermediate streamer action. They loved the white ghost the most. It seemed like as soon as it started moving through the water they hammered it. It should only get better from now on.
P.S. - I doubled on my first retrieve.
I also had a chance to fish another south slope stream I’ve never explored before. I have to admit that although the fish are smaller in size, the tactics involved (pick an approach), (creep and crouch), (make the cast), all the while taking in the amazing surroundings, make this type of fishing the most enjoyable for me.
Many moons ago, I attended one of their meetings where they discussed their plans and progress on removing carp. They kept saying that the seining would result in them reaching a “tipping point”. Once they reached that point, the lake would be in equilibrium and the carp numbers would not rebound. I expressed my doubts, and I was politely (no sarcasm intended) told that I was misinformed and that they were confident that it would happen. I was doubtful then and I am still doubtful today.
The carp removal program definitely improved the Utah Lake fishery for all species, even the remaining carp; however, unless there is an ongoing program to aggressively remove the carp their numbers will return to the levels they were before this removal program was begun. I still think the only way that the carp numbers can be permanently managed (if that is even possible) is if some type of biological control is implemented.
This contest sounds like it might be fun for those who want to participate; however, I doubt that they will get enough participation to make any measurable impact on the carp numbers.
I too am skeptical about the potential for carp numbers to be kept lower strictly through angler onslaught. Most other species in Utah Lake lay eggs in the hundreds…or maybe thousands. But each carp female dumps from several hundred thousand to over a million eggs per spawn. Multiply that times the vast number of spawning female carp in Utah Lake each year and it is easy to see why carp populations grow so quickly. Here is a picture of a female carp of only about 3# in weight…and the visibly huge number of eggs she didn’t get to spawn. Bigger carp have even more eggs.
