12-04-2013, 12:46 PM
[#0000FF]I have long had the philosophy that anytime you ask a question that begins with the word "Why" there is not likely to be a good answer. That holds true for people in general and often for Utah fishing regulations.
About the only answer you can get is "Ain't no good reason fer it. Just a matter of policy."
I have been given a variety of "reasons" for the ruling against using the shad as bait...where they reside naturally in Willard. The main concern is that they do not want them to be removed from the lake and taken elsewhere. Too late. They are already thick in the Bear River marshes from downstream migration through the outlet pipe on Willard.
There is justifiably a great concern in Utah about spreading viruses, diseases and invasive species into waters they do not belong. That is valid. But I personally feel that some of the regulations go just a bit too far in the paranoid direction...at the expense of anglers.
There are some laws...such as the restrictions on the use of live bait, corn...and shad...that almost seem designed merely to protect the fishies from evil anglers. Those things are legal in most other states and the fisheries do not seemingly suffer from it.
Now entering Utah. Set watches back 100 years.
[/#0000FF]
[signature]
About the only answer you can get is "Ain't no good reason fer it. Just a matter of policy."
I have been given a variety of "reasons" for the ruling against using the shad as bait...where they reside naturally in Willard. The main concern is that they do not want them to be removed from the lake and taken elsewhere. Too late. They are already thick in the Bear River marshes from downstream migration through the outlet pipe on Willard.
There is justifiably a great concern in Utah about spreading viruses, diseases and invasive species into waters they do not belong. That is valid. But I personally feel that some of the regulations go just a bit too far in the paranoid direction...at the expense of anglers.
There are some laws...such as the restrictions on the use of live bait, corn...and shad...that almost seem designed merely to protect the fishies from evil anglers. Those things are legal in most other states and the fisheries do not seemingly suffer from it.
Now entering Utah. Set watches back 100 years.
[/#0000FF]
[signature]