02-03-2019, 01:09 PM
[#0000FF]Pike were much more common after 2014. (See the attached DWR report)
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[#0000FF]An occasional pike had been caught in the lake over the years...and it has been claimed by some that they were actually planted by DWR at some time in the past. But they only really began to show up in any numbers around 2012...coinciding with a big explosion of pike in Yuba. It is highly likely that a few of those toothy buggers hitched a ride to Utah Lake in anglers' livewells.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]Through a concentrated effort by DWR to find and eradicate pike...and a mandatory kill regulation for any pike caught...their numbers seem to have dropped a bit. But a few are still caught each year. I suspect that with all of the other predators in the lake, lack of structure and other pike-type habitat and the mandatory keep and kill rules pike have a tough time getting an upper hand in Utah Lake.
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[#0000FF]They may never be completely eradicated but I doubt they will be a significant problem to the June suckers...or other species. Walleye, white bass and catfish are already problem sucker munchers. The relatively low population of pike is not likely to become a major issue with the Junies. At least DWR hopes not and is doing all it can to eradicate them completely. Good luck with that.
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[#0000FF]An occasional pike had been caught in the lake over the years...and it has been claimed by some that they were actually planted by DWR at some time in the past. But they only really began to show up in any numbers around 2012...coinciding with a big explosion of pike in Yuba. It is highly likely that a few of those toothy buggers hitched a ride to Utah Lake in anglers' livewells.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]Through a concentrated effort by DWR to find and eradicate pike...and a mandatory kill regulation for any pike caught...their numbers seem to have dropped a bit. But a few are still caught each year. I suspect that with all of the other predators in the lake, lack of structure and other pike-type habitat and the mandatory keep and kill rules pike have a tough time getting an upper hand in Utah Lake.
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[#0000FF]They may never be completely eradicated but I doubt they will be a significant problem to the June suckers...or other species. Walleye, white bass and catfish are already problem sucker munchers. The relatively low population of pike is not likely to become a major issue with the Junies. At least DWR hopes not and is doing all it can to eradicate them completely. Good luck with that.
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