A big thank you to Mr. Chris Crockett providing the formal plan and also attending our MI, Chapter Meeting last week and briefing the plan along with other DWR officials Mr. Chris Penne, Mr. Craig Walker, and Mr. Kent Sorenson. They answered a whole lot of questions on tiger muskies and other Utah fish.
It was confirmed through Mr. Crockett at the meeting they will be stocking 25K two-three inch wipers the later part of August into Jordanelle.
I've been given permission by Mr. Crockett to attach this plan for you folks to read.
Again a big thank you to the DWR folks for attending our chapter meeting it was a very informative two hour discussion and exchange of ideas.
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Thanks for posting, that is some interesting reading.
I noticed some mention of June Suckers in the drainage. There were only 2 references I could find, but I wonder if they anticipate there being some June Suckers in Jordanelle, or if they merely have to consider the potential impact of top tier predators washing downstream.
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Good information, but I found this part kind of funny:
Encourage anglers to fish shoulder seasons
o
Outreach efforts through social
media, park signage, and brochure
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Media coverage to highlight shoulder seasons and reduced crowds
If reduced crowds is a valued trait, then doesn't it seem contradictory to publicize that in the media?? I"m just trying to wrap my head around this, because I see it all the time in the fishing world. If you're going to publicize and promote something, don't claim "no crowds" because the very act of promoting something is designed to make places more crowded, not less crowded.
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I'm hoping Chris qualifies but at the meeting he indicated that angling has tapered off at Jordanelle and is hoping that the information from the team and what the DWR has done at variety of species stocking will show an increase in angling folks. That was my take-away per his briefing and I have in my notes showing the number of anglers on Jordanelle has decreased. If I correctly understand your comment you are thinking they don't want anglers (not the case)...did I miss read your comment. But again my take-away is that they want to see more anglers fishing Jordanelle. Oh and tiger muskies are being primarily stocked as another potential Utah tiger muskie trophy waterway...not necessarily to help control stunted SMB, Perch, or Chubs...I'm sure they will help with a 50% survival estimate on stocking the 9K 6" tigers. They stocked larger to ensure a better survival rate.
Again it was a very informative meeting and we've had DWR representation of at least two and this meeting 4 DWR officials attended. We've had 3 chapter meetings and only one meeting the DWR couldn't attend as meeting was very short notice.
We as a Chapter do sincerely appreciate them taking the time to attend our meeting always a great positive interaction of folks.
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No, I did not interpret it as the DWR wanting less anglers.
They want to increase angler usage, that is obvious from reading the report.
My point was, they are using "reduced crowds" as a luring point to bring in more anglers.
Promote something or don't promote something, it makes no difference to me, but don't promote something and say there are "no crowds" or "reduced crowds". It's contradictory.
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Thanks for posting and interesting to read. Sure wish that they would have opted to also plant some sterile lake trout in there.
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Very exciting read, thank you for posting!
What steps do you think need to take place to enforce the wakeless speed only area for the entire Rock Cliff Arm, similiar to the Horshoe bend area south of Lucerne at the Gorge?
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Here's a bold new idea they could try: make a lake "Angling Only" and "No Angling" on alternate weeks.
That would allow the power squadron full access without all those pesky little fishing craft getting in their way. And in the other weeks, it would allow the fish to recover from the high-decibel shock and awe of the power guys.
It might even encourage more angling.
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Sometimes I feel like I need to recover from the high-decibel shock and awe of the power guys.
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That wasn't discussed but my recommendation is contact the State Parks and go from there. For us where we fish when we are getting buzzed including seeing boats at power in wakeless clearly marked areas my cell phone is on speed dial to marine patrol dispatch. If I can get hull number I provide that color and make/model of offending boat. Patrol has responded in under 5 minutes makes contact with us then goes and stops clueless boater for an education lesson. Plus all othe rec boaters in area stop and most head somewhere else...
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Thanks for posting this, K2.
[quote gaardvark]
I noticed some mention of June Suckers in the drainage. There were only 2 references I could find, but I wonder if they anticipate there being some June Suckers in Jordanelle, or if they merely have to consider the potential impact of top tier predators washing downstream.[/quote]
In reading through it, I'm pretty sure it is the latter.
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Thanks for the info
Also Did I read that correctly that they'll be stocking Kokanee Salmon ???
Strategies
Ensure forage species are established and available prior to predator introductions
Introduce Kokanee Salmon
Also curious how many of the kokes and wipers will end up in the Provo ... That should make for a interesting day on the river [cool]
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They already stocked the Kokes
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Nice !!! And I almost gave up fishing Jordanelle maybe its worth revisiting.
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It's funny that fishing pressure and size of fish dropped of after the bag and size limit was changed a few years ago..[crazy]
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You just love beating that dead horse. As a member of that board that sat through hours and hours of hard data I can tell you (just like everyone else has) that is almost a none factor, same with spearing.
I'd also be happy to answer any questions people might have about the plan and maybe why we came to the decision we did.
I for one think that it will bloom quickly into a diverse fishery with trophy opportunities for many anglers. Over the next few years I'm very confident that the bass size will steadily increase.
As for the rec boating and angling pressure here was the goal/thought process... Try to get anglers to fish at non peak rec boater times or hump seasons when rec boating is slowest. IE Tiger Muskie and Wiper fishing early am or late pm, people fishing for Kokes and Splake in deep water and away from bank anglers and other boaters.
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Thank you for responding. I hope being on the team you can answer the questions via this thread... I've learned with others well it is what it is...you can hand them a million dollars and they say no thanks its tainted...some folks it is as I said what it is...I hope you can share a whole lot of positive info on this Management Plan for Jordanelle.
...and again I sincerely thank all of you folks who worked tirelessly on this and the DWR for evaluating and again working to return this body of water to it's Blue Ribbon status...thank you NICH for your time and effort on this along with all the others...means a whole lot to positive thinking willing to work behind the scenes folks and the upcoming future for Jordanelle.
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Time will tell??
But as of this time and date the facts shows other..
As far as other types of fish that could be great if they have food to grow on..
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[#0000FF]Thanks for posting the plan. And thanks to Chris for his ongoing assistance to Utah anglers...and to our forum...with all of the info he freely provides.
Lots of ambitious and interesting goals outlined in the management plan. I suspect there will be some speed bumps, head scratching and "aha moments" during the implementation process.
I was impressed with the recognition that it will be vital to have the table set (food resources) before bringing in the new dinner guests. That has always been the story with Jordanelle. There has really not been much of a proactive management plan up to this point. More a matter of recognizing existing conditions...but no lessons learned from the rise and fall of species...or steps taken to turn anything around with something more than a change in regulations.
I have fished Jordanelle since about 2004. At that time there was an overabundance of chubs...of all sizes. And perch swarmed everywhere...of all sizes. The smallmouth were plentiful and there were lots of them of ample inches and poundage. Bassrods was a happy boy in those days.
Within a couple of years the numbers of small chubs began to decline. Still plenty of larger ones, but the predators were snarfing up the young as fast as they could be hatched. A few years later that would spiral down to being able to catch quite a few LARGE chubs...up to 14 inches...but virtually nothing smaller. Now the smallmouths had to shift their primary forage base to perch.
AND THEN...during the winter of 2009 there was a disease or something that wiped out the major part of the perch population under the ice. For the next few years it was difficult to find even a single perch. No married ones either.
This was when the big smallmouths just disappeared...likely starved to death. It was tough to find any smallies over a foot long. And Bassrods began to rant about the smaller bass being the result of DWR changing regulations and allowing anglers to keep all the big bass. Yeah, right.
Over the past three years there has been a steady and noticeable increase in both perch and bass. And there are larger specimens of both showing up again. Good news. It's all about the food chain.
I remain neutral on the introduction of tiger muskies. It will not help increase the population of either perch or bass...but might result in fewer but larger ones available to anglers. Not sure the "average" angler or family anglers will be satisfied with that. The tigers will also probably enjoy a few meals of trout Jordanelle. Members of the esox clan just LOOOOVE those tender troutski morsels.
It will be nice for some if the Kokes establish a fishable population. Water is deep enough and hopefully cold enough. There are plenty of zooplankton for their food supply. The final question is whether or not the lake is big enough and has good enough aeration at depth to keep the kokes happy.
Wipers? Overkill methinks. What leftovers will there be for them after the perch, smallies and tigers get through? The linesides do much better when there is a massive food base of edible sized finny morsels...like chubs, shiners, shad and such. Otherwise they have to scramble just to stay alive on meager leftovers...and they are not likely to reach any hefty sizes.
Splake? Possibly another case of overkill. Adding another meat eater to the food chain. But if DWR is able to load up the grocery store with enough edibles for all the shoppers then why not?
I applaud the current mindset of DWR and their willingness to remain open minded about new introductions...where they are both suitable and where there is good potential for survival and filling an angling want/need. We all can only hope that the introductions are done carefully and methodically and that the proper groundwork (food resources) is completed before simply dumping in a couple of truckloads of a new species...just to see if it works.
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[quote NICH]
As for the rec boating and angling pressure here was the goal/thought process... people fishing for Kokes and Splake in deep water and away from bank anglers and other boaters.
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Good luck with that one. The anglers and rec boaters will be at the same location. Several years ago, when I was into trolling on a regular basis, I lost 4 Rapalas, in the same day on Jordanelle, to recreation boaters who came too close behind my boat.
Please explain the thought process of not planting sterile mackinaw.
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