Fishing Forum

With all the disease and Aquatic Invasive species issues going on in Utah right now I would caution all tournament sponsors to be extremely aware of who the contestants are and where they are coming from. Colorado has several waters that have zebra/quagga mussels. Utah has found the mussels in Red Fleet and Electric Lake. Then of course there are mussels in all of the lower Colorado Reservoirs from Lake Mead down. Last year the DWR's Contest rule changed to allow our biologists to go out and interact with the contesants in order to make sure they are aware of the dangers and provide a disinfection opportunity at the contest site for contestants who have boated in infested waters. Since that rule went into effect there have been a number of fishing contests that have attracted anglers from other states as well as Utah anglers that have fished or do fish the lower Colorado Reservoirs. This creates a risk to our fisheries. I would ask that if you are planning on hosting or taking part in a tournament, you contact the DWR region that the contest is going to take place in. Those phone numbers are on the DWR website
[url "http://wildlife.utah.gov/index.php"]http://wildlife.utah.gov/index.php[/url] . I would also recommend that you contact the location that will be the contest site. They might have some requirements as well.
I fully support fishing contests and appreciate the support the fishing groups that take part in these contests have provided the DWR in the past. However they need to be conducted in as safe a manner as possible given the threats Utah is facing from Aquatic disease and AIS.

Thanks
Drew
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Thanks for the heads up Drew. I have taken steps to ensure these measures are followed for the upcoming contest. I am waiting for the link from state parks as we speak. I will call the ogden office and talk to them.
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Thanks! The more we work together and spread awareness about the threats to Utah fisheries, the more successful we will be in keeping Utah fisheries the quality we have come to expect.

If you have any questions please fee free to contact me.

801-538-4774
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The two lakes in Utah, does the DWR or state know how the mussels got in the lakes????

And does the state require all boats coming in the state to be checked at our borders???
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Great advise for ALL, not just tournament contestants. Please be careful. Many of our lakes are used for and operated by irrigation companies. As soon as they find their headgates being plugged up with these muscles, the irrigation companies will empty their lakes to clean the plumbing. The result will be nothing to fish for exept the rainbow planters that will be put in each spring. It will be the end of the large trout and warmwater species that we all enjoy.[pirate]
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It is impossible to know how the mussels got where they are. It is not even appropriate to assume or blame one group or another. All we can do is recognize the threat and be as responsible and careful as possible.

On another note Colorado has some positive waters as well and one of them has flow capabilities into the Colorado River drainage. So be aware and be careful.

As far the stopping of boats at the border it was and still is being discussed but it isn't happening yet.

Thanks
Drew
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The last thing I read said that the Utah lakes were a false alarm. The larve they found was tested via DNA, and found NOT to be invasive muscles. That was the latest about a month ago.
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Thanks for the heads up . My boat only hits 3 local waters and I sure hope they stay clean of these .
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I attached a link that the discusses where mussels have been detected and where testing has been completed. I believe from now on many waters will be tested on an annual basis. The problem is the test is only good on the day it was done. These mussels can show up at any time so it is best to be careful and disinfect or dry any time you are going from one water to another.

[url "http://wildlife.utah.gov/mussels/"]http://wildlife.utah.gov/mussels/[/url]
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Not true, there are two lakes in Utah that have them at last count...
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Pigeons
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