I apparently was mined by a person looking at my profile on BFT to join a Utah Yahoo fishing group. I have joined several of these over the years and have contributed where I could, but I have never seen one that was successful beyond a few months. I read a post on there that one MUST KEEP all perch caught at Mantua. I responded to the post that this was in error, because the current Regulations provided for a 50 perch limit, but nowhere did it state that one must keep perch. I was told (in all caps of course) that I was totally wrong and that rules can be changed and that the rangers (not sure exactly what this term means) were informing people at Mantua that they must keep all perch. I know several members on BFT have fished Mantua this year. Have any of you been told by officers that you must keep all perch that you catch? Also, has anyone seen any signs posted around the reservoir stating that one must keep all perch that are caught? I have an email in to Tom Pettengill to get an official answer, but my personal view is that some officers are simply expressing their wishes, rather than stating the law.
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I would have to agree with you on this Kent that its an option. I've always felt its written is stone if its in the proclamation. However, thats not saying that perhaps regs cant be changed mid season but I would expect to see the changes clearly posted at the waters in question, if that be the case.
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I'd have to agree with you also Kent. If they wanted people to catch and keep the perch so badly, why did they wait till Jan 1st to change the reg on limits and remove the bait restriction?
Sounds to me like someone just really wants the perch out of there, and they're trying to spread the rumor that you're required to keep them.
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The 2005 regulations do not state you must keep all yellow perch at Mantua. Perhaps there is an emergency rule in effect, but I couldn't find it. On the other hand, why not keep the larger ones if they're big enough to fillet?
Some waters have restrictions, like Deer Creek, where you must keep all yellow perch caught between January 1-April 30. This is prevent ice fisherman from culling their catch, because perch caught from deeper water can die if released. They float just under the ice, as their swim bladders bloat up and prevent them from getting back to the bottom. This is the only time you must keep all the perch you catch.
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I received an official answer:
"We don't have any catch and keep regulations at Mantua and haven't made any emergency changes there. Some one might be encouraging anglers to keep perch but we don't have any regulations requiring it. We aren't proposing any for next year either.
I hope this helps. Let me know if you hear any more. Thanks.
Thomas D. Pettengill
Sport Fisheries and Aquatic Education Coordinator
State of Utah
Department of Natural Resources
Division of Wildlife Resources
1594 W. North Temple, Suite 2110
P.O. Box 146301
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-6301
801-538-4814
801-538-4745 (Fax)
[url "http://mailcenter.comcast.net/wmc/v/wm/42FB6F0800030C6400002CEE220642441302019C9D0A9F9C0E0605?cmd=ComposeTo&adr=tompettengill%40utah%2Egov&sid=c0"]tompettengill@utah.gov[/url]"
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Thanks for clearing that up Kent. Also, if there are emergency rules made midseason, they are always posted on the DWR website, so if it's not there, it doesn't exist.
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There was an article I read a while ago about the Idaho regulations being changed at some point in the future. They were thinking about changeing the rules for waters with illegally planted fish. The proposed new reg. would be that you had to keep all illegal fish caught and kill them immediatly. Maybe the person(s) insisting that it was a UTAH law got
.
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Not to get too far off subject, but I was curious about who invited me to that same Yahoo fishing thing?
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Undoubtedly it was the owner of the forum. One can fairly safely assume that when the first several posts are all made by the same person that that person is the owner of the site.
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[:/]maybe a dumb question but what is the Utah Yahoo fishing group???? maybe i don't know because i'm BLOND.[
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I sent you a PM.
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As was confirmed to you, theres no regs like that.
I bump into officer shultz who is the conservation officer up there regularly.
In fact, twice in the last two weeks.
Hes a good guy, and one of the states best fish cops in my opinion.
He always asks me what I am catching, but has never even mentioned keeping perch as a must, or even as a recomendation.
Anywho, the real question is, SHOULD a guy keep his limit of perch up there?
I really dont know. Of course the DWR didnt put them there and have some concerns about them being there, but I keep throwing them back until I see they are having a detrimental factor on the bass fishing, then those little buggers will be dead in my well. But as long as the DWR doesnt see them as a problem, they are just baitfish for the big girls and I like that.
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