DWR Reg Changes for next year

[Ryno]

I'm liking the 6 pole rules. Might have to hit causey and the pig a little more now

I am against the 6 pole rule.  Why?  
1)  How did they come up with 6?  Why not 5?  Why not 10?  Why not 12?  The limit on Porcupine is 12 kokes?   Seems very random.  UDWR was tasked with simplifying regs on all waters for many years.  Now we are adding special regs once again.
2)  Trying to keep track of 2 poles is sometimes all one can do.  I can speak from experience that I would miss more fish trying to pay attention to more than 2 poles.  Jawjackers might help some but it just seems unnecessary. 
3)  Why not open all waters to 6 poles for ice fishing instead of a few?  Idaho does that, even on Bear Lake (unless they recently changed that?)  
4)  It is very strange that this summer Adam Eakle and the sport's segment on the news were encouraging "harvest" of perch on Pelican Reservoir.  Yet beginning in 2025, the limit on perch will be 15 with only 5 over 8".  I rarely see anyone keeping perch less than 8" in length.  So, in effect, the perch limit on Pelican will be 5 perch.  Yet, they will allow 6 rods through the ice? 
Maybe it is just me, but these particular proposed reg changes and the message we were being fed by television/social media on some of these waters just don't make sense.  
Maybe if I were fishing for catfish or carp would I ever consider using 6 poles (....think trot-lines, jug fishing from the midwest, etc.).  When jigging for kokes, lake trout, etc. I find that you need to pay attention to bites and hook them immediately, or you will most likely miss that fish.  If the UDWR wanted more harvest then make the waters where 6 poles are proposed a mandatory harvest of kokes, lakers, etc. 
Ok, I'll step off my soapbox.

I won't speak to all the reg changes, but I might be able to help in regards to the origination of the 6-pole ice regulation.  That's a special icefishing provision that Wyoming Game and Fish offers and after burbot were introduced into Flaming Gorge back in 2006, WGFD and UDWR adopted the 6-pole icefishing regulation to increase harvest on burbot.  It's highly effective for certain species, like burbot, allowing you to put out multiple poles, tip-ups, and hook setting devices and spread those gears across a larger area.  I used to use tip-ups, but now tend to use Jaw Jackers, especially for burbot and trout.  Unlike a tip-up when you miss the flag, fish that hit a Jacker don't have a chance to swallow the bait.  I have also caught kokanee and lake trout on my Jackers, but less frequently.

Hope it helps!  Ryno