06-05-2008, 01:28 PM
[cool][#0000ff]We had a post last week that announced the findings of walleyes in Red Fleet. Brett Prettyman had a writeup in this morning's Outdoor section of the Tribune that provides more info. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][url "http://www.sltrib.com/outdoors/ci_9480825"]LINK TO ARTICLE[/url][/#0000ff]
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Walleye found at Red Fleet; reward offered for culprits
[url "mailto:brettp@sltrib.com?subject=Salt Lake Tribune: Walleye found at Red Fleet; reward offered for culprits"]By Brett Prettyman
The Salt Lake Tribune[/url]
Article Last Updated: 06/04/2008 07:07:57 PM MDT
Whoever illegally introduced walleye in Red Fleet Reservoir probably thought they were increasing the number of species available for anglers. In reality, they may have put an end to all fishing, at least temporarily, at Red Fleet.
Division of Wildlife Resources biologists found walleye, an aggressive predatory fish, in Red Fleet during routine net surveys last week. The fish have never been stocked legally in the reservoir because Red Fleet is not very productive and cannot sustain walleye in addition to the rainbow trout, largemouth bass and bluegill already there.
Twenty-two walleye, representing at least two age classes, were caught in two of the three survey nets placed by fisheries officials.
The threat of a walleye takeover at the reservoir led fisheries biologists to ask DWR director Jim Karpowitz to sign an emergency order requiring anglers to kill all walleye they catch at Red Fleet. That order was signed Wednesday.
To show anglers that this "bucket biology" is not acceptable, two fishing clubs have donated money for a $2,500 reward to catch the people who illegally planted the walleye. Rocky Mountain Anglers, a group that promotes fishing for all species in the state, but focuses on walleye, contributed $500.
"No. 1, it is an illegal introduction. We are also concerned about the fact that people put them in lakes that are not managed for walleye and it just destroys the resource that is there," said Brad Cutler, president of Rocky Mountain Anglers. "We like fishing for walleye, but we understand that we really don't have a lot of waters in the state that are good for them."
The Utah Bass Federation has a standing offer of $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any case involving the illegal introduction of fish in any Utah water. Another $1,000 was obtained from the DWR's Help Stop Poaching Hotline.
DWR officials and Cutler admit that catching people who illegally introduce fish into new waters is tough, but say the effort should still be made.
"It will be difficult, but my guess is someone knows," Cutler said.
Biologists will monitor the lake; if they feel the walleye population has grown beyond a point where angling can control the fish, a chemical treatment will be pursued. That will wipe out all the species in the reservoir.
"Treating a reservoir of this size is expensive and also complicated by the fact that Red Fleet Reservoir provides culinary water to the Vernal area," Roger Schneidervin, northeastern region aquatics manager for the DWR, said in prepared release. "We simply will not accept and manage a fish species that some irresponsible individual has illegally introduced."
Wildlife biologists are concerned about walleye becoming established in the reservoir, which could lead to them eventually ending up in the Green River. The Green is home to Colorado pikeminnow and razorback suckers, both endangered species that could be affected by walleye.
This is not the first time walleye have been found in Red Fleet. One walleye was caught in a net six years ago and another was landed by an angler the same summer. Because no walleye have appeared in gill nets since then, officials had hoped that all the illegally introduced fish had been removed.
"It's difficult to emphasize just how much damage an illegal introduction can cause to a fishery or an entire aquatic ecosystem, for that matter," Schneidervin said. "The monetary cost and lost fishing opportunities are going to be felt by anglers and taxpayers alike."
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[#0000ff][url "http://www.sltrib.com/outdoors/ci_9480825"]LINK TO ARTICLE[/url][/#0000ff]
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Walleye found at Red Fleet; reward offered for culprits
[url "mailto:brettp@sltrib.com?subject=Salt Lake Tribune: Walleye found at Red Fleet; reward offered for culprits"]By Brett Prettyman
The Salt Lake Tribune[/url]
Article Last Updated: 06/04/2008 07:07:57 PM MDT
Whoever illegally introduced walleye in Red Fleet Reservoir probably thought they were increasing the number of species available for anglers. In reality, they may have put an end to all fishing, at least temporarily, at Red Fleet.
Division of Wildlife Resources biologists found walleye, an aggressive predatory fish, in Red Fleet during routine net surveys last week. The fish have never been stocked legally in the reservoir because Red Fleet is not very productive and cannot sustain walleye in addition to the rainbow trout, largemouth bass and bluegill already there.
Twenty-two walleye, representing at least two age classes, were caught in two of the three survey nets placed by fisheries officials.
The threat of a walleye takeover at the reservoir led fisheries biologists to ask DWR director Jim Karpowitz to sign an emergency order requiring anglers to kill all walleye they catch at Red Fleet. That order was signed Wednesday.
To show anglers that this "bucket biology" is not acceptable, two fishing clubs have donated money for a $2,500 reward to catch the people who illegally planted the walleye. Rocky Mountain Anglers, a group that promotes fishing for all species in the state, but focuses on walleye, contributed $500.
"No. 1, it is an illegal introduction. We are also concerned about the fact that people put them in lakes that are not managed for walleye and it just destroys the resource that is there," said Brad Cutler, president of Rocky Mountain Anglers. "We like fishing for walleye, but we understand that we really don't have a lot of waters in the state that are good for them."
The Utah Bass Federation has a standing offer of $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any case involving the illegal introduction of fish in any Utah water. Another $1,000 was obtained from the DWR's Help Stop Poaching Hotline.
DWR officials and Cutler admit that catching people who illegally introduce fish into new waters is tough, but say the effort should still be made.
"It will be difficult, but my guess is someone knows," Cutler said.
Biologists will monitor the lake; if they feel the walleye population has grown beyond a point where angling can control the fish, a chemical treatment will be pursued. That will wipe out all the species in the reservoir.
"Treating a reservoir of this size is expensive and also complicated by the fact that Red Fleet Reservoir provides culinary water to the Vernal area," Roger Schneidervin, northeastern region aquatics manager for the DWR, said in prepared release. "We simply will not accept and manage a fish species that some irresponsible individual has illegally introduced."
Wildlife biologists are concerned about walleye becoming established in the reservoir, which could lead to them eventually ending up in the Green River. The Green is home to Colorado pikeminnow and razorback suckers, both endangered species that could be affected by walleye.
This is not the first time walleye have been found in Red Fleet. One walleye was caught in a net six years ago and another was landed by an angler the same summer. Because no walleye have appeared in gill nets since then, officials had hoped that all the illegally introduced fish had been removed.
"It's difficult to emphasize just how much damage an illegal introduction can cause to a fishery or an entire aquatic ecosystem, for that matter," Schneidervin said. "The monetary cost and lost fishing opportunities are going to be felt by anglers and taxpayers alike."
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