Posts: 35,909
Threads: 278
Joined: Sep 2002
Reputation:
56
10-21-2022, 06:53 PM
(This post was last modified: 10-21-2022, 08:18 PM by TubeDude.)
I have not observed many small cats for several years. In past years there were areas in which most of the action was on cats from 12 to 18". Under normal circumstances...and with average success in spawning...there should always be good numbers of cats in all size ranges...SHOULD BE.
Not sure what the reason might be for an apparent lack of juvenile cats. Poor spawning and recruitment? Lack of food during their first months of life? Heavy predation on the young by bigger fish? I will address an inquiry to Chris Crockett of the Springville office of DWR and hope he can provide some insight.
Edit: Got a return email from Chris...out of town for a few days but will reply when he returns.
Posts: 3,126
Threads: 172
Joined: Apr 2018
Reputation:
11
I've been fishing UL for four years. I kept track three years ago (caught over 400 cats) and they averaged 23.5". This year I haven't caught many under 24" especially this fall. I just assumed that the techniques we use for the big fish just don't work for the smaller ones.
The older I get the more I would rather be considered a good man than a good fisherman.