Pike at UL????

[lov2fish]

[shocked][shocked] was just reading the new 2012 fishing book and on pg34 they have that u must kill all N. Pike at UL??? Did i miss something.
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[Jazzperch1]

i heard that too from a friend, and if its in the proc then it must be true. i wouldnt see the problem with a few in there, they could put some population control on the WB{like any fish could put a dent in those buggers} but that is strange to me. i bet tubedude would know. he the UL expert here.

"Tight lines"
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[Fishrmn]

The UDWR planted some back in the 70s. They didn't take. They don't want them in there now. They would eat June Suckers. If you catch one, you are required by law to kill it.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Northern pike are one of the "listed" species for Utah Lake. But they were introduced a long time ago and they have never been a major player in the lake fishery. I have heard of a few being caught over the years but nothing for a long time. Even the carp seiners do not report them.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I think the sudden and unexpected "recognition" by DWR is for two reasons. First, pike are an apex predator and with the June Sucker Recovery Program going full tilt they are trying to shut down every possible threat to the Junies. Pike are notorious suckers for suckers.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Second, DWR is working harder to make every "unapproved" species...in any water...a mandatory keep and kill thing. The burbot in Flaming Gorge is a good example.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Given the almost complete lack of recent captures of northern pike from Utah Lake, this new regulation reminds me of the old joke about "elephant repellent". When asked why he was scattering a box of powder around his property a man replied "Elephant repellent". His neighbor scoffed..."Ain't no elephants around here." The guy with the box nodded and said "See...this stuff really works."[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I look for snakeheads, alligator gars and African tiger fish to join northern pike on the list soon.[/#0000ff]
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[Jazzperch1]

so are you sayin that there are gar, snakeheads and tiger fish here?
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[doggonefishin]

Remember that this regulation was made in response to the capture of at least 1 Northern pike out of Utah Lake this year.

http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gfo...85;#679285


Whether that fish represents a new case of bucket biology or is a member of a small relict population from previous plantings is unknown and a bit controversial.
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[TubeDude]

[quote Jazzperch1]so are you sayin that there are gar, snakeheads and tiger fish here?[/quote]

[cool][#0000ff]Nope. Just a feeble attempt at humor.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]However, if you spend any time around the Utah Lake GOBS (good ol' boys) you are liable to hear claims of just about anything and everything. Most common are straight-faced assertions that they have caught flathead cats, blue cats or other species not to be found in the lake. Mostly a case of mistaken identity. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There have been some "exotics" caught from Utah Lake and the Jordan River. Most notable have been a couple of "pacu"...vegetarian relatives of the piranha that look like big grey piranhas. Lots of goldfish (koi), exotic turtles and frogs and a few other aquarium pets that got the "Free Willy" sendoff.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]It's kinda funny to remember back in the early sixties when the walleyes were just starting to show up in numbers in the lake...and in the lower Provo River at spawning time. The local goobers all descended on the gravel beds of the river with snagging gear to get some "PIKE"...their shortened version of "walleyed pike"...still a misnomer. But if you corrected any of them by calling the fish a walleye you risked tar, feathers and pitchforks. Them locals gets dead set in their ways. You just cain't be confusin' 'em with facts.[/#0000ff]
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[Jazzperch1]

oh got ya! ive actually seen koi at one of the hot springs several times and they were huge about 3 footers, tried to catch em or snag em but nothin doing there. thanks for the info TD, your always good for that and a good laugh.


"tight lines"
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]One small pike does not constitute evidence of a major population. Since it did not have a return postage address on it there is no way to be sure that it was either a naturally spawned youngun or a bucket bozo delivery.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]My gut feeling is that if they were unsuccessful in establishing a notable population...even with help from DWR...there is little likelihood of them suddenly exploding all over the lake.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]However, as long as lake levels remain higher, the water clearer and the shoreline reeds and structure full and healthy...well, pike like that stuff.[/#0000ff]
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[lavaman]

Who knows, maybe a bucket biologist will plant some Tiger Muskie in there one day.

There's a toothy 'small population' that is guaranteed not to expand.
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[bassrods]

Maybe with all the suckers they are growing in UL the pike could make a come back..[] Come on Pike..
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[TubeDude]

[quote bassrods]Maybe with all the suckers they are growing in UL the pike could make a come back..[] Come on Pike..[/quote]

[cool][#0000ff]A lot of us have laughingly referred to the Junie program as the "walleye feeding program". Quite a few guys catch walleyes around the mouth of the Provo after the Junie fingerlings are stocked each year...and those walleyes are "well fed" with the new suckerettes.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I guess that pike have a right to join the buffet line too. Equal opportinity and all that. [/#0000ff]
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[Fowl-Hook]

Careful what you bring to light or next we will be funding a Walleye eradication Program . []
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[bassrods]

They have already been talking that way...[mad]
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[bassrods]

You know, if the suckers was meant to survive they would..
But I think the real suckers are in Washington or the ones that keep trying to bring them back..

But I guess we need a food source for all the other fish..[]
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]I've been doing my part to reduce the numbers of walleyes for many years. Unfortunately, I don't think I have dented the population much.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Actually the white bass are probably a greater factor in Junie decimation than walleyes. Even a 10" whitie can slurp up a fingerling Junie. And there are a whole lot more white bass than walleyes. A good reason why there will never be a limit on whities.[/#0000ff]
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[joshomaru]

[quote bassrods]You know, if the suckers was meant to survive they would..
But I think the real suckers are in Washington or the ones that keep trying to bring them back..

But I guess we need a food source for all the other fish..[][/quote]

I think the real sucker here is the one that can't see the benefits to the fishery as a whole that result in helping the suckers.
Not EVERYTHING that happens in Washington DC is a bad thing.
Just, a lot of it.
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[doggonefishin]

Re "They have already been talking that way...[img]../../../images/gforum/mad.gif[/img]"

Have they Cliff? I don't recall seeing you there at any Utah Lake fishery forum meetings.

Actually, the studies have shown that they aren't all that concerned about the walleyes at the present time so you all can rest easy. There is more concern about the white bass as was stated by Pat, but they realize that trying to do anything about them renders little net benefit for the cost. Its all about carp removal and habitat enhancement.

I'm sure you'd hate that. Improvements there will help the largemouth bass. And you know the DWR hates that species. [:/]
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[Jmaze]

I hate largemouth... Stupid bass.... [laugh]
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[bassrods]

Well what about the Chub?? They was here along with the Suckers but the dwr keeps trying to kill them off...

The dwr wants to kill off all the other fish but the Suckers or the Cuts...Why???
They even want to kill off the Rainbows as well as others...

But look at all the money spent on Suckers..So who is the real sucker???
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