07-18-2011, 08:39 PM
[cool][#0000ff]I got the same notification.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][url "http://1320kfan.com/index.php/audio/listen/dwr_aquatics_manager_mike_slater_part_1"]LINK #1[/url][/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][url "http://1320kfan.com/index.php/audio/listen/dwr_aquatics_manager_mike_slater_part_2"]PART 2[/url][/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Not time to jump off our tackle boxes yet. Makes a good radio show topic but it is "old news". I have seen a couple of other northerns come out of Utah Lake over the years and have heard of others. And they were in fact planted by DWR quite a few years ago. But few enough have showed up that the indicators (to me) are that Utah Lake is not a lake in which pike are likely to become a top predator and take over the lake. They have had a long time to make that happen...and it hasn't happened yet.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In listening to the taped interview I found it interesting that they only found one pike...and it was only a small one...barely over a foot long. But, it does indicate that there is a spawning population somewhere in the lake and that there is recruitment. The big question is how much? Are northerns enjoying the same positive benefits of the higher water years and increased food supply like the other species in the lake?[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In years past the capture of a northern pike would arouse some interest but would not cause blind panic amongst the biologists. But since the June Sucker Recovery Program was instituted they have a screaming kneejerk reaction whenever anything happens that could remotely be interpreted as a potential threat to the Junies.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Utah Lake is chock full of suitable groceries for the predators...including pike. They do not have to scour the lakebed looking for June suckers. All they have to do is wait for carplets, white bass, perch, small bluegills and crappies and all the other fishies small enough to go down their big gullet. Sure, they won't turn down a Junie pizza, but it is silly to expect them to ignore all of the other food items...just to warp humans who love suckers.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Still, it will be interesting to see if DWR nettings, or the carp removal nettings, turn up any more pike. It has been a LONG time since I heard of any being caught by an angler...at least a verifiable or reputable report. Not one from some old goober who also claimed to have caught a bunch of blue cats and flatheads.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][url "http://1320kfan.com/index.php/audio/listen/dwr_aquatics_manager_mike_slater_part_1"]LINK #1[/url][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][url "http://1320kfan.com/index.php/audio/listen/dwr_aquatics_manager_mike_slater_part_2"]PART 2[/url][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Not time to jump off our tackle boxes yet. Makes a good radio show topic but it is "old news". I have seen a couple of other northerns come out of Utah Lake over the years and have heard of others. And they were in fact planted by DWR quite a few years ago. But few enough have showed up that the indicators (to me) are that Utah Lake is not a lake in which pike are likely to become a top predator and take over the lake. They have had a long time to make that happen...and it hasn't happened yet.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]In listening to the taped interview I found it interesting that they only found one pike...and it was only a small one...barely over a foot long. But, it does indicate that there is a spawning population somewhere in the lake and that there is recruitment. The big question is how much? Are northerns enjoying the same positive benefits of the higher water years and increased food supply like the other species in the lake?[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]In years past the capture of a northern pike would arouse some interest but would not cause blind panic amongst the biologists. But since the June Sucker Recovery Program was instituted they have a screaming kneejerk reaction whenever anything happens that could remotely be interpreted as a potential threat to the Junies.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Utah Lake is chock full of suitable groceries for the predators...including pike. They do not have to scour the lakebed looking for June suckers. All they have to do is wait for carplets, white bass, perch, small bluegills and crappies and all the other fishies small enough to go down their big gullet. Sure, they won't turn down a Junie pizza, but it is silly to expect them to ignore all of the other food items...just to warp humans who love suckers.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Still, it will be interesting to see if DWR nettings, or the carp removal nettings, turn up any more pike. It has been a LONG time since I heard of any being caught by an angler...at least a verifiable or reputable report. Not one from some old goober who also claimed to have caught a bunch of blue cats and flatheads.[/#0000ff]
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