Fishing Forum

[cool][#0000ff]I ventured down to the RAC meeting in Springville last night. Supposed to be some pending changes for Utah Lake. Covered a few.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]1. Pretty much a done deal that there will be night bow fishing allowed for carp. Also proposed that crossbows be allowed for carp too. Approved by RAC committee but still subject to okay by the board in November.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]2. No changes in largemouth bass regs. Under review.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]3. Drew Cushing presented a list of some of the illegal introductions found so far in Utah. Not surprising were the piranhas and pacus from Utah Lake...and some of the exotic turtles. More surprising were CROCODILES. Evidently they have been dumped from aquariums in the Jordan and at a community pond in southern Utah. No bag and possession limits set...and no slots.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]4. Spearfishing for tilapia at Blue Lakes is going to be approved. Some reps from the spearfishing contingent lobbied for year-round spearfishing season...to correspond with regular angling. Will be considered.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]5. There will also be some changes in wording on the regulations regarding "disposal" of carp or other unwanted species that are under "mandatory keep and kill" rules. They are trying to work the regs to allow puncturing the air bladder and dropping the fish back in the water. The main idea is to keep from polluting the shorelines with discarded fish or floaters. Previously even carp have fallen under the "no waste" of resources statutes.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]6. Removing of the closure on the inlet at Willard Bay and making all regulations the same as for the main lake.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]There will be some other regs put in place...such as protection for cutts on the Weber River...mandatory release. Also some realignment of areas and regulations in the Boulder Mountains. Look at the new regs for clarification. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Drew reviewed the numbers for the input emails and survey responses on this last year's effort by DWR to communicate with the public. Lots of good input, compared to last year. One of the interesting outcomes was that the responses were split almost down the middle on whether anglers wanted higher limits or lower limits and more regulation. Welcome to Utah.[/#0000ff]
[signature]

[quote TubeDude][#0000ff]There will be some other regs put in place...such as protection for cutts on the Weber River...mandatory release. Also some realignment of areas and regulations in the Boulder Mountains. Look at the new regs for clarification. [/#0000ff][/quote]

happen to have a link? thanks
[signature]

[cool][#0000ff]Sorry. Not yet. Much of what was presented was on a screen from Drew's computer. The idea was to expose the RAC staff and attending public to the ideas and to get comments or suggestions. The parts that have been essentially approved will be put into DWR language and will be made available after the DWR board meeting...which happens on November 1. That will be an advance notice of the impending changes on the 2013 Fishing Guide. I should have either a copy or a link shortly after the board meeting.[/#0000ff]
[signature]

Thanks for the info Pat, I wish I could have made it but sounds like some interesting ideas as far as our friendly carp and willard bat inlet.
[signature]

Here is a link to the meeting agenda. All proposed changes passed the Central RAC unanimously and I expect all to be ultimately approved by the Wildlife board.

http://wildlife.utah.gov/public_meetings...packet.pdf



It was good to see ya again TD. Hope all is well.
[signature]

[cool][#0000ff]Thanks and likewise.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I had previously posted the PDF files, but there were some other things that needed to be clarified before adding to the final output. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Overall a good meeting.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Surprising that about half the attendees were members of the bowfishing clubs...or spear fishermen. At least we weren't overwhelmed by the pocket lint set. Probably woulda got lynched when I proposed allowing the use of corn on Utah Lake.[/#0000ff]
[signature]

can you copy/paste? link does not work over here in the arm pit of hell
[signature]

[cool][#0000ff]It is a 25 page PDF file...with a lot of stuff you probably aren't interested in. I converted it to Word and copied just the first few pages. Hope that is enough. Otherwise, the PDF file is attached if you have Adobe Reader.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
In order to be timely in the response to the biological needs of Utah’s fisheries as well as maintaining high angler satisfaction and providing the best fishing opportunities for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) angling constituents, the UDWR updates the rules associated with fishing annually. The following updates are recommended for 2013.

Statewide

Amend Rule R657-13-11 Legalize bow fishing for common carp at night statewide

Amend Utah Code 23-20-8 Allow the disposal of common carp Allow the disposal of other species of fish that have been designated “Catch and Kill” in specific waters as approved by the Wildlife Board.

Amend Rule R657-13-13 Currently gizzard shad are on the prohibited fish list and they are currently allowed as dead bait at Lake Powell. So we would like to add the statement “except at Lake Powell” in the prohibited fish section (gizzard shad) where dead shad may be used as bait.

Amend Rule R657-13-6 Allowance of three hooks per line statewide

Regional Specific Water Regulation Recommendations

Northern Region Blacksmith Fork River, Cache County From the first highway Bridge (at the mouth of the canyon) of state road 101 (Blacksmith Fork Canyon Road) to the head waters.

• Only one fish may be over 15 inches.
• Bonus limit of 4 brown trout (total limit of no more than 8 trout if at least 4 are brown trout)


1594 West North Temple, Suite 2110, PO Box 146301, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6301 telephone (801) 538-4700 • facsimile (801) 538-4709 • TTY (801) 538-7458 • www.wildlife.utah.gov



Page 2 August 30, 2012 Subject:

Weber River, Weber and Summit Counties From The Great Salt Lake to Echo Dam

• All cutthroat trout must be immediately released.

Holmes Creek Reservoir, Davis County

• Six largemouth bass only 1 largemouth bass may be over 12 inches.

Willard Bay Inlet Channel

• Remove closure
• Limits the same as Willard Bay


Central Region Deer Valley Lakes, Wasatch County

• Two fish limit

Utah Lake, Utah County

• Tributaries are closed to bow angling from legal sunset on May 1 to legal sunrise the second Saturday in July

Blue Lake

• Legalize underwater spearfishing for tilapia only

Northeastern Region Green River, Carbon, Daggett, Emery, Grand, San Juan, Uintah and Wayne counties

• No limit on northern pike. Anglers must not release any northern pike they catch. All northern pike must be immediately killed.
• No limit on walleye. Anglers must not release any walleye they catch. All walleye must be immediately killed.
• No limit on channel catfish


Vernal Game Farm Pond (Uintah County)

• Limit 2 fish regardless of species (Community Fishery)

Southern Region

Boulder Mountain lakes and reservoirs, Garfield and Wayne counties Includes all lakes and reservoirs found within the boundary beginning at the junction of SR-24 and SR­62; then south on SR-62 to SR-22, then south on SR-22 to the Antimony-Widtsoe Road; then south on this road to SR-12; then east and north on SR-12 to SR-24; and then west on SR-24 to the beginning point at the junction of SR-24 and SR-62; EXCEPT Otter Creek Reservoir, Pine Lake and Wide Hollow Reservoir (where statewide rules apply) and Dougherty Basin Lake (where separate specific rules apply).

• Limit 4 trout.

Page 3 August 30, 2012 Subject:

• Only 2 trout over 14 inches.
• Bonus limit of 4 brook trout (total limit of no more than 8 trout if at least 4 are brook trout) at the following waters: Donkey Reservoir, Oak Creek Reservoir, and Moosman Lake.
• CLOSED Jan. 1 through 6 a.m. on the third Saturday of April and Nov. 1 through Dec. 31. This closure excludes the following waters, which are OPEN year round: Blind Lake, Coleman Reservoir, Cooks, Miller, Oak Creek Reservoir, Upper and Lower Barker reservoirs, Donkey Reservoir, Posey Lake and the Garkane main impoundment.


East Fork Boulder Creek, Garfield County From the confluence with West Fork Boulder Creek upstream to the headwaters.

• Limit 4 trout.
• Bonus limit of 4 brook trout (total limit of no more than 8 trout if at least 4 are brook trout).


Fish Lake, Sevier County

• Limit 4 trout
• Only one trout may be over 28 inches, regardless of species


Salina City Pond (Sevier County)

• Limit 2 fish regardless of species (Community Fishery)
[signature]

what the duece! the GSL to echo only? with them draining echo i really wish that would have extended up until rockport. i know its arty only between echo and rockport already but an extension all of the way up would have been nice, oh well. thanks for that
[signature]

Quote:1. Pretty much a done deal that there will be night bow fishing allowed for carp. Also proposed that crossbows be allowed for carp too. Approved by RAC committee but still subject to okay by the board in November.

Is this just for Utah Lake, or throughout Utah? I talked to one of the wildlife officers up here in Cache Valley about night time bowfishing for carp. He said you can do it now as long as you don't use any artificial lighting. He said the way the law is written, we cannot use lights at night to bowfish. I assume they will lift that restriction?
[signature]

The part by the spear-fisherman about the limits and year round spear fishing, would that mean they could again hit Fish lake and others in the spawn for the lakers???
[signature]

A couple points of clarification.

1. RE "Is this just for Utah Lake, or throughout Utah?"

Statewide.

2. Re"Also proposed that crossbows be allowed for carp too."

Actually, what was proposed was to allow disabled bowfishers the opportunity to use crossbows, similar to what is allowed for them in certain hunts. They would need to get a special permit to do so. The general public won't be allowed to use crossbows for carp at this time.

3. Cliff, the only changes affecting spearfishermen that was passed was allowing them to harvest tilapia by spear from Blue lake. Some guy from the public got up and suggested liberalizing season dates for spear anglers, but no action was taken on it.
[signature]

[cool][#0000ff]The main idea of the proposal was to allow hard core bow fishermen to go out at night with their bow buggies rigged up with the bright lights. That is a big thing in some parts of the country. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The question was raised about why it has been illegal and nobody seemed to know. Back in the olden days I was a bow fisherman and was told that no lights were allowed to reduce the number of bow twangers who "accidentally" shot walleyes...when their eyes glowed in the lights.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The proposed use of crossbows was made originally to aid physically challenged folks who could not operate a regular bow while confined to a wheel chair. But as the discussion progressed it was further suggested that crossbows be opened to all carp killers. Right now you can get a crossbow permit that allows you to use it for any hunting you would otherwise do with a bow. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]It was pretty much approved by the RAC committee that crossbows be allowed for disabled shooters but nothing was decided on opening it up for all carp hunters. We'll have to see how the language comes out at the end of the year.[/#0000ff]
[signature]

Just for clarification on the use of crossbows for carp fishing. It is our understanding that the discussion was just about allowing them for disabled anglers just like they are available to disabled hunters. It is likely that the requirements for use will be exactly the same.

We will be discussing this item with our legal counsel as well as the Wildlife Board over the next month or so to see if it will be possible for the 2013 fishing season.

Paul