Fishing Forum

There was a thread going on the UDWR website regarding why the use of corn was not allowed as bait in Utah. Here is the definitive answer from the UDWR:

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Joined: 01 Jan 2004
Posts: 255
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
[/size][url "http://wildlife.utah.gov/forums/viewtopic.php?p=36064#36064"][size 1][/size][/url][size 1]Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 12:27 pm[/size][size 2] [/size][size 1]Post subject: [/size][url "http://wildlife.utah.gov/forums/posting.php?mode=quote&p=36064"][size 1][/size][/url]

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[size 2]I've asked a few fisheries biologists here at work, and it pretty much turns out you're all right, but it focuses primarily around chumming problems.

-- Too many people not being able to resist the temptation of chumming
-- Possible digestive problems in fish as a result of chumming
-- Litter problems as a result of chumming
-- Water pollution problems as a result of chumming
-- Changes in fish feeding behavior, again, from chumming

If you've ever been to a private fish pond that lets people throw handfuls of fish food into the water, you've likely seen water quality problems and fish packed around the shore looking for handouts. Nobody wants to set the stage for those kinds of situations to develop in any of the state's fisheries, so chumming and fishing with corn (or even possessing it while fishing) is illegal.
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Cory Maylett
Web editor, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources[/size]
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I thought the issue was corn not chumming. We could outlaw all baits you could throw in the water based on the chumming criteria.
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I can see both sides. One difference with corn and most other chumming options is how inexpensive corn is and how convenient it is to use for chumming (open a can and throw, or flip into the water). However, it is also another case of the majority being punished for the actions of the minority.
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You can buy and use any of several baits that are corn flavored. But it is a lot tougher to chum with corn flavored power bait. It is a few bucks a bottle, and it floats. It seems like I saw corn flavored "Exude" bait as well. It even comes in a kernel shape.

The idea of punishing all for the actions of a few may hold true now, but back twenty or so years, it was common for the favorite fishing spots to see several cans of corn tossed from each and every boat that anchored there. Multiply that by the number of boats, and by the number of days that people could fish, and you wound up with lots of corn on the bottom of certain areas of a lake.

Fishrmn

For a couple years, when I was a teenager, chumming was legal in Utah. I remember seeing lots of people chum with corn, in fact I did it some myself. People also chummed with whole cans of dog food (just punch a few holes in the can with a can openner and toss the entire can into the water). Can anyone remember if they banned the use of corn simultaneously with the ban on chumming? It is unfortunate, because corn is an excellent bait for carp and also for kokanee salmon.
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One carp can be cut into a lot of chum but if used would not be legal on most waters. The cost or availability of chum should not be the determining factor as to a legal bait.
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I really love "educated" people. They always have a opinion (like all of us) and their opinion is always bolstered by "Masters" from BFE college and lernin.

Give me a break just cause someone thinks they have been lerned at the finest of colleges. They forget sometimes thery were lerned by idiots who think their jobs suck and have not a care in the world for what they teach.

I am not sure how many folks here remember the San Juan shuffle (I believe that is the name it had)? It was outlawed as chumming back in the 80's. It was when fishermen would wade in the river and stir up the bugs then their buddies would be waiting downstream for the "bit to pick up". Is that still outlawed?

I will give you the old "Opinions are like A-holes everyone has one, but they all don't always work right".
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This reminds me of a question I've been meaning to ask. Back when I lived in Arizona I once saw a guy using popcorn to catch bass and bluegill (with good success). Is that allowed in Utah? It seemed to work great, but I can't imagine popcorn would be good for a fish to digest.

Im not sure on that one, but i would have to play it safe and say that sence it is still technically corn and can be chummed just as easily with, that it wouldnt be accepted
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that is just as lame of a excuse as any other excuse the DWR has came up with on useing corn for bait..

this is why!!
any of you been to a fish hatchery and seen them feed the fish with there fish chow!! looks to me when i seen it that they were training the fish to do just what this guy said they dont want the fish to do!!
again i have to question the DWR on why they think it's ok for them to do it?? but not the pepole that are paying there pay check???

and as far as that go's here is a bit of info the DWR realy dont want you to know about..

if the pepole of utah want to use corn as bait we can!!!if we want to use live bait we can!! all we have to do is get enough of us together and tell the DWR that we want it and they will have to let us have it!!!

we are still WE THE PEOPLE!!! if we tell them as WE THE PEOPLE there is nothing they can do but bend to our will!!!

think about it fishermen of utah!!! if you want it baddley enough you can have it!!

they work for us NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND!!
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I sure hope the San Juan shuffle isn't illegal. [blush]
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Ok, I want live bait to be usable @ Utah Lake. With this being said live bait of choice would have to be bluegill.

Now lets get a petition signed and get to it!
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Cost of the corn is not the determining factor for them outlawing corn, it was the determining factor for those that would abuse it and chum it. The abuse of chumming was the determining factor for outlawing chum and corn.
Unfortunately, although there are many responsible fishermen out there, there are still too many people that would abuse it if the door was opened. For this reason I am still against allowing the use of corn. While I'm sure most of the people on this board would not abuse it, there are plenty that would look around, see if the DWR could be seen anywhere, then dump a couple of cans over the side of the boat. (I know, it probably still happens, but not as much)
Yes, they do feed the fish pellets in the hatchery. That is the quickest and least expensive way of getting the fish to planter size. Once the fish are planted they want them to adapt to the environment, which they quickly do as long as we aren't feeding them the same way they are fed in the hatchery.

There are plenty of baits that work just great and you can still catch more than enough fish without using corn. I have a tacklebox that weighs about 40 pounds proving that there are plenty of other options. [laugh]

I'll climb down off my soapbox now.
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Hey CBR I'm not sure if it's illegal for sure or not, but in my opinion it is a bit unethical. Sort of a violation of "leave no trace". It disturbs the insects on the bottom, destroying some of their homes, and in or near spawning season it destroys nests, eggs and fry of trout.
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So,Kent what are you going to do with all that corn you bought to fish with[]
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Eat it of course.[]
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I heard years ago that corn acts on trout a lot like green apples will on us humans. Dunno how true that it but it sounds reasonable.

Around the same time, I took a fella I worked with to Strawberry in my little boat & when we anchored he took out a slingshot & one of those restaurant sized gallon cans of corn & started shooting it out all around the boat. I asked him to go a little easy on that on account of what I'd heard & he really got mad. Didn't fish with him again.
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[size 1]"he took out a slingshot & one of those restaurant sized gallon cans of corn"[/size]
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[size 1]Wow, seems like one of those regular meal-size cans would have been adequate![/size]
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Yup, he had a tacklebox he'd made himself out of plywood with a place to hold one of those cans. The slingshot had a conical pocket on it & believe me, he could launch that corn.
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That's exactly why it was a problem, and exactly why it's now illegal.

Fishrmn