01-20-2011, 09:13 PM
Interesting reading, so I am going to add my 2cents !!
I moved here from Missouri in 1972 to attend school. I became involved in several projects associated with fishing, specifically helping DWR collect walleye eggs for restocking in Utah Lake. I did some electro shocking with DWR as a volunteer and eventually became involved with starting the Utah State BASS Federation. With the federation, I worked on projects all over the state, catching bass at Powell and helping DWR to stock them in various lakes around the state, Smallmouth catching at the Gorge for restocking around the state, etc, etc.
In 1978 or 79, I sat in the regs meeting in SLC and listened to Don Andriano, then head of fisheries, give a song and dance about stripers at Powell. His bluff was called by members of the Board, he retired, and the bigwigs started to listen to the boys in the field. Charlie Thompson, Wayne Gustaveson, and many others have been some of the best people to work with over the last 30 years. They take a lot of heat from the public, but are consummate professionals.
The politics that go on are insane, as evidenced by the actions of the Wildlife Board on deer regs and other things. Overall, things are much better today than they were 30+ years ago. Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose, sometimes it's a wash. We have today more fishing opportunities than before. 30 years ago it was put and take, with the bulk of the budget being spent on Strawberry, Schofield, and other cold water fisheries. Today we have a Warm Water Biologist, a warm water hatchery, a diverse population of sports fish, and the two of the best fisheries in the Country in Powell and Flaming Gorge.
Do I agree with everything that has happened, no, but I don't agree with everything that my wife does, that my boss does, that I do !! But overall, I feel that people like Dale, Chris, Drew, Wayne, and all the others at DWR are doing the very best job they can and the more we get involved, quit bitching about everything, and dig in and help, the better things will be for everyone.
Currently the biggest issues that I see before the state deal with bucket biology and invasive species. Quagga mussels pose a huge threat to all the waters in the state and DWR, Parks, etc need to be applauded for the effort they have put forth. Finding a new species in a water because some clown knew better than DWR is frustrating. Carp, not the same problem here as in the Mid West, different species, different problems. Again, the politics of wildlife management has to be dealt with, politics of water rights, politics of public access vs private land owners rights , the list goes on and on. Our wildlife managers have to be better politicians than biologists.
So I have rambled long enough. Complain, but get involved !! Get to know the people that you are vilifying, walk in their waders for a time, be part of the solution rather than part of the problem.
Hats off to all of you a DWR, keep doing the great job that you do !!!
I moved here from Missouri in 1972 to attend school. I became involved in several projects associated with fishing, specifically helping DWR collect walleye eggs for restocking in Utah Lake. I did some electro shocking with DWR as a volunteer and eventually became involved with starting the Utah State BASS Federation. With the federation, I worked on projects all over the state, catching bass at Powell and helping DWR to stock them in various lakes around the state, Smallmouth catching at the Gorge for restocking around the state, etc, etc.
In 1978 or 79, I sat in the regs meeting in SLC and listened to Don Andriano, then head of fisheries, give a song and dance about stripers at Powell. His bluff was called by members of the Board, he retired, and the bigwigs started to listen to the boys in the field. Charlie Thompson, Wayne Gustaveson, and many others have been some of the best people to work with over the last 30 years. They take a lot of heat from the public, but are consummate professionals.
The politics that go on are insane, as evidenced by the actions of the Wildlife Board on deer regs and other things. Overall, things are much better today than they were 30+ years ago. Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose, sometimes it's a wash. We have today more fishing opportunities than before. 30 years ago it was put and take, with the bulk of the budget being spent on Strawberry, Schofield, and other cold water fisheries. Today we have a Warm Water Biologist, a warm water hatchery, a diverse population of sports fish, and the two of the best fisheries in the Country in Powell and Flaming Gorge.
Do I agree with everything that has happened, no, but I don't agree with everything that my wife does, that my boss does, that I do !! But overall, I feel that people like Dale, Chris, Drew, Wayne, and all the others at DWR are doing the very best job they can and the more we get involved, quit bitching about everything, and dig in and help, the better things will be for everyone.
Currently the biggest issues that I see before the state deal with bucket biology and invasive species. Quagga mussels pose a huge threat to all the waters in the state and DWR, Parks, etc need to be applauded for the effort they have put forth. Finding a new species in a water because some clown knew better than DWR is frustrating. Carp, not the same problem here as in the Mid West, different species, different problems. Again, the politics of wildlife management has to be dealt with, politics of water rights, politics of public access vs private land owners rights , the list goes on and on. Our wildlife managers have to be better politicians than biologists.
So I have rambled long enough. Complain, but get involved !! Get to know the people that you are vilifying, walk in their waders for a time, be part of the solution rather than part of the problem.
Hats off to all of you a DWR, keep doing the great job that you do !!!