It's great to see the southern quarter of the lake now posted "no trespassing" by the landowners. The lake frontage doesn't amount to much since it's right off the highway, but nevertheless fishermen no longer have access to any of the area near the dam and 4 or 5 hundred yards of bank north of the dam.
The area now has few if any options for anyone to launch a boat as much of the public lands remaining shoreline is extremely shallow, steep drop offs or low lying swampy area.
Does the DWR have any plans to stock Koosherem with any more trout? This would be difficult or next to impossible due to the limited access created by the now posted, off limits, land the same as it is for fishermen and fishermen attempting to launch a boat.
If Koosherem Reservoir has been designated as a lake that has limited usage by the DWR, it is my opinion that the DWR should conclude any further effort of managing the reservoir with any population of any type of fish other than the chubs that already inhabit it.
I guess it is what it is.....similarly to other reservoirs that have private land ownership surrounding it's shores, however with the new posting of Koosharem Reservoir of what used to be the most used and really 75% of the only fishable area on the reservoir as this definitely limits such a small reservoir with already limited access.
Further stocking of the reservoir by the DWR, in my opinion, would be for sole benefit of the new owners and their members who pay them for it's access. Let the new owners pay for stocking and managing the reservoir, not sportsman.
No wonder why more and more people are turning away from this type of sport and recreation, however it is too bad, more isn't being done to protect what is left.
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This is why I bought a portabote.
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Really
to read that. As a kid growing up, we used to catch some nice rainbows in the area that is apparently now closed.
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It' is indeed
to see it go this way after such a long time of it being available to the public, as it should be still. People looking to corner things and make a buck at the same time.
Again, I hope the DWR finds it counterproductive to put any further effort in this reservoir for the access that's left.
Regarding the trailers, I'm surprised that leaving them that long that they've not become burglarized or vandalized...and I was told that this is actually where the state land begins so it's likely that they will be there holding those same spots all spring, summer and fall next year as well. No one seems to care though...same as the land being posted....it must be OK with the state folks.
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Ok...I am trying to follow you here. What you are saying is that since the private landowners have restricted access to the 400-500 yards of area near the dam and along the dam, that the DWR should eliminate managing it? That doesn't make sense to me....I fish Koosharem from my pontoon and have absolutely no problem accessing the reservoir from the public land. I never fish it from shore and I never fish it from a motorized boat or watercraft that couldn't be easily launched from the public access area...and, personally, I think that most motorized watercraft that do use the reservoir could easily be launched from the public access areas too even if it is a little more difficult. So, I think you are making much ado about really nothing.
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I don't believe anything has changed, other than some new signs have been posted. The land has always been private, and off limits to the public. There are just new signs up now.
I also don't understand why the DWR is being made out to be the bad guy in this instance. What have they done wrong?
I hope they continue to stock cutthroat in Koosharem.
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Correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't the Koosharem dam always been posted, at least the 35 years or so I've fished and hunted down there and was old enough to notice. That area directly to the North has usually been accessible, but I don't think it locks up the lake.
[quote PBH]
I hope they continue to stock cutthroat in Koosharem.[/quote]
To me, that is the bigger question. Is there actually something worth fishing for in there? The answer seems to change every year.
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[quote PBH]I don't believe anything has changed, other than some new signs have been posted. The land has always been private, and off limits to the public. There are just new signs up now.
I also don't understand why the DWR is being made out to be the bad guy in this instance. What have they done wrong?
I hope they continue to stock cutthroat in Koosharem.[/quote]
No, until this last Sunday you could fish the shoreline from the dam north on the west side of the lake without issue. Now the lake is posted from the dam north quite a ways, (like up to where people put their trailers by the juniper trees). It is now posted no trespassing and that is now a wildlife refuge.
The deepest part of the lake is obviously the dam and the west side of the lake. Now no one other than paying customers can fish the west side of the lake other than the area previously described. The lake is small and the area that was used most frequently (the area down by the dam, not the dam) is now posted and off limits to the general public.
Because there is such a small percentage of what is now fishable left, why should the DWR plant fish in the lake? For paying customers of the new club?
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[quote wormandbobber]Ok...I am trying to follow you here. What you are saying is that since the private landowners have restricted access to the 400-500 yards of area near the dam and along the dam, that the DWR should eliminate managing it? That doesn't make sense to me....I fish Koosharem from my pontoon and have absolutely no problem accessing the reservoir from the public land. I never fish it from shore and I never fish it from a motorized boat or watercraft that couldn't be easily launched from the public access area...and, personally, I think that most motorized watercraft that do use the reservoir could easily be launched from the public access areas too even if it is a little more difficult. So, I think you are making much ado about really nothing.[/quote]
If you say so. If you like to fish the deeper (the lake when full isn't much over 20 foot deep against the dam) part of the lake you will have quite the jaunt over to the dam, especially if the wind is blowing from the south like it is 90% of the time. I assume that rather than falling off the bank and into the rocks where people park their trailers you will be north of there, so some 600+ yards north of the dam in shallow water. You might want to consider purchasing an electric motor for your journey and a machete to cut the growth from your feet for the first 40 or 50 yards..
Anyone launching a boat will be screwed when the water level drops early in the spring as the area near the restrooms is a shallow swampy mess. On the brighter side, I could put up signs near the restrooms offering to winch folks out of the mudbog for a fair fee, but I doubt I'd get too many takers, unless there's a lot more folks that like that type of adventure more than I do.
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[quote doggonefishin]Correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't the Koosharem dam always been posted, at least the 35 years or so I've fished and hunted down there and was old enough to notice. That area directly to the North has usually been accessible, but I don't think it locks up the lake.
[quote PBH]
I hope they continue to stock cutthroat in Koosharem.[/quote]
To me, that is the bigger question. Is there actually something worth fishing for in there? The answer seems to change every year.[/quote]
The dam has been posted for.......probably 35 years. The area north of the dam on the west side hasn't until this last Sunday.
It doesn't lock up the lake, however I've not seen anyone fish much north of the campsite where people park their trailers. They will have no choice now and around July and August, they will likely have to wade out quite a ways to keep their lines out of the undergrowth.......that is if they can wade out through the muck and swamp. They can also fish near the steep drop off where people park their trailers pretty well, but then again, these guys, as mentioned before park their trailers there all summer long, so......take a chance that they won't be there or I guess join in.
As to what's in there, the answer is some fickle fish, but they are in there. Some of them are very nice with the Cutthroats being the largest on average.
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I have always launched from that steep shoreline....so the closure won't affect me. Also, I have rowed my pontoon completely around Johnson Reservoir, Forsyth Reservoir, Mill Meadow Reservoir, and across Fish Lake. Rowing from the restrooms to the dam wouldn't be too difficult. I think you are overstating the closure...the lake is still fishable throughout, just not from shore. I say big deal...in the spring, fishing near the restrooms from shore can be really effective.
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[quote carplips]
The dam has been posted for.......probably 35 years. The area north of the dam on the west side hasn't until this last Sunday. [/quote]
what I'm saying is that the land has always been private. Whether it was posted or not doesn't matter -- it has been private this whole time. So the act of posting it last Sunday doesn't change anything.
This really isn't much different than numerous other lakes and reservoirs in Utah. The DWR continues to manage and stock Yuba -- how much of it's shoreline is private and off limits? Kolob Reservoir also has the majority of it's shoreline that is private. Ever single reservoir along the Wasatch Front requires an entrance fee. Koosharem is not unique in this situation.
I think you're making a bigger deal out of this than what it really is. The only issue I see are those same squatters you mentioned -- but that has little to do with the DWR and the fishing.
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Interesting way to look at it.
I on the other hand, don't believe "public waters" managed by the state should be privately owned. Do you support fishing and hunting being an exclusive for the weathy recreation?
Your Yuba example is a poor one. The access has been limited by the state to manage crowds, not because it's off limits.
Again, I hate to see Koosherem go this way. To me it's a really bad deal for the general sportsman. For the elite sportsman....pay up and play. Since they clearly have the cash, I propose they manage the lake and stock it as well
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I guess I will pipe in on this one, because I have fished the lake my whole life. I have ran my fish finder over the lake many times and the corner they have closed is actually shallow for quite a ways out. Even by the dam. The deepest spot in the lake is just out from the middle of the dam where the outlet pipe is. It is around 24 feet deep when it is clear full with the boards on the overflow. There is a channel that runs up the middle of the reservoir and bends towards where the campers always are that is around 16 to 17 feet at lake capacity. The best spot for people to fish from shore and get to deeper water is actually from about where the boat ramp is North just past where all the campers are. The southwest corner does have a little shelf that drops off but it takes a long long cast from shore to get to it. It stinks that they have posted that portion of the res but I wouldn't let it ruin your fishing. If anybody is still concerned with it just drive past Koosharem and go fish Fish Lake. I much rather fish Koosharem so the more fish for me the better
. Carplips this comment was not directed at you I just happened to click on your comment to reply.
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Carplips, you are overstating the problem. People can still fish Koosharem. WE can still access this reservoir and fish it without paying a dime. WE are NOT being excluded. We have only lost a very small portion of shoreline...shoreline that is privately owned...that's it. We still have the right to fish all of the reservoir from our watercraft and we still have a lengthy portion of shoreline with public access. Again, I think you are making much ado about nothing. As long as we have access to fish it (all of it), why would the DWR not want to stock it and manage it?
Also, Yuba has lots of private land surrounding its shores. This land has been made off-limits by private landowners for years...this is NOT a DWR or State Parks decision.
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Your 100% wrong. IT IS THE STATE PARKS that closed the beaches at Yuba. Where your right is that there is a lot of private property surrounding the lake.
So where do I launch my boat right now at Koosherem when the water is so low.
I'll stop "whining" when you answer.
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From the public access area where the trailers are parked...that is what I would do. I sure as hell wouldn't put my ski boat out on Koosharem, though either. But, a small fishing boat could definitely be launched along that shoreline.
I haven't looked close, so my question is whether or not the boat ramp next to those camp spots is closed too...?
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[quote carplips]
Your Yuba example is a poor one. The access has been limited by the state to manage crowds, not because it's off limits.
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No, the State doesn't limit the access. The private land owners that own the land surrounding the reservoir are the ones who have posted the No Trespassing signs -- just like those at Koosharem! The land surrounding Yuba is about 50% privately owned.
[quote carplips]I on the other hand, don't believe "public waters" managed by the state should be privately owned.[/quote]
Think about what you said here ^^
I REALLY don't think that you don't want privately owned waters managed by the state! Think about the sheer number of waters that would be included in this statement -- every single reservoir on the Sevier River (Yuba, DMAD, Otter Creek, Tropic, Koosharem, etc.), let alone a plethora of other waters would fall into that category. If the State isn't managing those privately owned waters, we wouldn't have much left to fish!
further -- how do you prevent the private ownership of the water body? Do you tell the owners of Yuba that they can't own it any more? Do you discontinue managing Yuba because it is privately owned?
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Let's clear up the Yuba issue. Back in the middle to late 80's it was all open. Large groups of people went to Yuba and parties commenced. Juab county sheriff's deputies did they're best, but due to the constant underage drinking, rape, fights, etc. they pulled the plug as they could no longer manage it with the state park folks, turning the liability back to the state parks guys. In an agreement with private land owners, they closed the beaches.
As far as otter creek goes there's a park with a boat ramp, a HUGE lake that doent compare in size to koosherem (not even close) and minimal posted fishable area. If there are waters like koosherem then yes I don't want the public to have to support privately owned waters, why should we? The investment vs return doesn't make sense. Let the landowners take care of it, it's their investment.
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