Fish for Free on June 9

A free day of fishing and fun awaits June 9, as Utah hosts its annual Free Fishing Day.

You won’t need a fishing license to fish in the state that day.

“Fishing is an activity that everyone in your family can enjoy,”
says Roger Wilson, coldwater fisheries coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources. “We offer Free Fishing Day every year to attract people to an activity that can make the time they spend in the outdoors even more rewarding.”

Before Free Fishing Day, DWR personnel will stock extra fish into waters across the state. Wilson says most of the fish will be placed in lakes and reservoirs.

Wilson reminds anglers that while they don’t need a license to fish on June 9, all of the other regulations in the 2007 Utah Fishing Guide will still be in effect. Anglers, especially those who might be fishing for the first time, are encouraged to obtain a copy of the guide and learn the rules.

Guides are available at the DWR’s Web site
(www.wildlife.utah.gov/proclamations) and from fishing license agents and DWR offices.

Several free fishing events for kids will be held on Free Fishing Day.
Among those the DWR will be involved with are the following:

NORTHERN UTAH

LOGAN

Free Fishing Day & Bear River Celebration. The event will be held at Willow Park, 419 W. 700 S. in Logan.

This event is free. The fishing portion of the event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., is for children 14 years of age and younger.
Activities include fly tying, fish printing and casting lessons.
Fishing equipment will be provided, but those who have their own equipment are encouraged to bring it. Free t shirts and prize bags will be given to the first 200 participants. The Division of Wildlife Resources’ Hardware Ranch Wildlife Management Area is among several organizations and groups that are sponsoring the event. For more information, call Marni Lee at (435) 753-6206.


NORTH-CENTRAL UTAH

MIDWAY

“Kid’s Fishing Event,” Wasatch Mountain State Park pond, about 2 miles west of Midway.

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Space is limited, and children who want to participate must register in advance by calling Wendy Wilson at (435) 654-1791.

The park’s pond will be stocked with rainbow trout before the event.
A presentation that teaches kids about fish and fishing will be given to participants beginning at 9 a.m. After completing the presentation, kids can fish at the pond. Volunteers from the Division of Wildlife Resource’s Dedicated Hunter program will be available to help kids fish and to clean their fish.

Fishing poles, equipment and bait will be available for kids who don’t have their own.


PROVO

The Second Annual Utah Lake Festival will be held at Utah Lake State Park.

Fishing equipment will be available for use at no charge, and a fishing workshop will be held at 10 a.m. in the state park’s visitor center.
At the workshop, expert anglers will share their fishing tips and great locations in Utah to fish, demonstrate their favorite lures and fishing techniques, and swap fishing stories with those who attend!

The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., but fishing equipment will be available beginning at 7 a.m. Festival activities include free boat rides; a water ski show; a canoeing workshop and excursions; a fishing simulator; vendor booths and arts activities for the kids; storytelling by Robert Carter; scrumptious food by Los Hermanos; live music from great local artists, and many other activities.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., there is no fee to visit Utah Lake State Park and the festival. The festival offers a chance to get outside and enjoy Utah Lake, experience its many recreational opportunities and offerings, and learn about the lake’s ecosystem, native species and the importance of stewardship of the lake.

For more information about the festival, please visit www.junesuckerrecovery.org or contact Bethany at (801) 364-0088, ext.
109.


NORTHEASTERN UTAH

Three Free Fishing Day events for kids of all ages will be held in northeastern Utah.

Events:

Pelican Lake, Uintah County, 8 a.m. to noon. Sponsored by the Bureau of Land Management, the Uintah Basin Bass Club, XRQ 94 Radio and the DWR.

Moose Ponds, Daggett County, 9 a.m. to noon. Sponsored by the U.S.
Forest Service and the DWR.

Lower Stillwater Ponds on Rock Creek, Duchesne County. Should run from
9 a.m. to noon. Sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service and the DWR.

Boats will be available at Pelican Lake to take kids out on the water and give them a chance to fish from a boat. Participants should bring their own fishing poles if they have them, but a limited number of poles will be available at the Pelican Lake and Moose Pond sites for those who don’t have a pole but would like to try fishing. Fishing demonstrations will also be provided at the Pelican Lake and Moose Pond events.

All three events are “fun” events, and the organizers have arraigned for prizes and other give-aways for the younger children that drop by.

For more information, contact any of the sponsors or the DWR’s Vernal office at (435) 781-9453.


SOUTHWESTERN UTAH

CEDAR CITY

The Division of Wildlife Resources will sponsor a fishing event at Kid’s Pond on the Wood’s Ranch from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Kids 12 years of age and younger are invited to come to the pond and fish for free. A fishing license is not required, and fishing equipment will be available for kids who don’t have their own equipment. DWR personnel and volunteers will also be available to help kids fish.

Kids Pond is 12 miles outside of Cedar City, up Cedar Canyon (SR-14) above the Wood’s Ranch pavilion.

For more information, call the DWR’s Cedar City office at (435) 865-6100.


TROPIC

Free Fishing Day at Tropic Reservoir near Bryce Canyon National Park.

This free event, which runs from 7:30 a.m. to noon, is for children of all ages. Activities include a casting contest where prizes will be awarded. Bait will be provided, and a limited number of fishing rods will be available. Those who have their own equipment are encouraged to bring it. Instructors also will be available to help beginning anglers.

To reach the reservoir, travel on SR-12 and turn south at the road to the King Creek Campground. The road to the campground is about three miles west of the junction to Bryce Canyon National Park off SR-12.

The event is sponsored by the Dixie National Forest, the Division of Wildlife Resources, Wal-Mart, and Coke and Pepsi distributors.

For more information, call Jake Schoppe at (435) 676-9300.

Share Your Fishing Ideas with the DWR

Please share your ideas no later than June 1

Even though Utah’s 2008 fishing regulations won’t be decided until
this fall, Division of Wildlife Resources biologists already have some
ideas they’d like to the share with the public.

And the biologists are also anxious to hear ideas from anglers and
others across the state.

“If you have an idea for a fishing regulation change in 2008, please
share it with us,” says Roger Wilson, cold water fisheries coordinator
for the DWR.

“We need to hear from you no later than June 1. Summer is the time
when we put our fishing recommendations together. We need your ideas by
June 1 so we can consider them as we’re putting the recommendations
together.”

All of the changes the biologists are considering for 2008 are
available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/public_meetings/next.php.

“These potential changes are only proposals at this time,” Wilson
says. “We’re very open to what anglers think about our ideas.
We’re hoping they’ll let us know.”

How to Share Your Ideas

In addition to the DWR’s Web site, you can learn more about the
biologists’ ideas, and share your ideas with them, at any of the
following Regional Advisory Council meetings:

Southern Region
May 15
7 p.m.
Beaver High School
195 E. Center St.
Beaver

Southeastern Region
May 16
6:30 p.m.
John Wesley Powell Museum
885 E. Main St.
Green River

Northeastern Region
May 17
6:30 p.m.
Western Park, Rm. #2
302 E. 200 S.
Vernal

Central Region
May 22
6:30 p.m.
Springville Junior High School
165 S. 700 E.
Springville

Northern Region
May 23
6 p.m.
Brigham City Community Center
24 N. 300 W.
Brigham City


If you can’t attend one of the meetings, please send your ideas to
one of the following addresses no later than June 1:

- e-mail your ideas to DWRComment@utah.gov

- mail your ideas to:

Sport Fisheries Coordinator
Division of Wildlife Resources
Box 146301
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6301


Bass Fishing

DWR biologists aren’t proposing any major bass fishing changes for
2008, but they’d like to start a discussion with the public about
smallmouth and largemouth bass regulations in Utah.

“Right now there are six or seven different bass regulations across
the state,” Wilson says. “We’d like to reduce the number of
regulations. That would make it easier for anglers to know what the
regulations are.”

Wilson stressed that the DWR is not proposing any statewide bass
regulation changes for 2008. “We just want to get a discussion going
so we can learn more about how people feel about the bass
regulations,” he says.


Among the changes DWR biologists are considering for 2008 are the
following:

- allowing anglers to keep yellow perch at Yuba Reservoir in
north-central Utah. The DWR is proposing a daily bag and possession
limit of 10 perch. Between Jan. 1 and April 30, anglers would be
required to keep all the perch they caught, up to their 10-perch limit.
They would also be allowed to use dead yellow perch for bait at Yuba.

- lowering the trout limit at Woodruff Reservoir in northern Utah
to two trout, and allowing anglers to use artificial flies and lures
only. “This change would create a trophy fishing water in northern
Utah and would also protect the cutthroat trout in the reservoir. We
don’t stock cutthroats in the reservoir, and we want to make sure we
keep plenty of cutthroats in the reservoir for anglers to catch,”
Wilson says.

- increasing the bass limit at Sand Hollow Reservoir in
southwestern Utah to six bass. Only one of those bass could be over 12
inches. “The bass in the reservoir are doing really well. In fact,
there are so many bass in the reservoir that they’re starting to
compete with each other for food,” Wilson says. “We’ve noticed
that the bass aren’t growing as fast as they used to. This change
would allow anglers to take more of the smaller bass home. That would
help the fishery by removing some of the smaller bass. The new limit
would also protect the larger bass.”

Save Money - Fish on a Weekday

Fees reduced for anglers at Utah state parks

You can save money -- and fish during one of the quietest times of the week -- by fishing at a Utah state park on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.

From now until the end of the year, anglers who have a valid 365-day Utah fishing or combination license can save up to 50 percent off the regular day-use fee when they visit a Utah state boating park on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.

Utah residents who are 62 years of age and older will receive up to half off the senior day-use fee.

The state park day-use fee covers up to eight people traveling in the same private vehicle. This discount offer continues through the year, but it’s not valid on holidays.

To receive the discount, all you have to do is show your valid fishing or combination license as you enter the park. Your group needs only one valid fishing license to receive the discount, but everyone in the group who wants to fish must have a valid Utah fishing or combination license.

Fishing and combination licenses are available at www.wildlife.utah.gov and from fishing and hunting license agents and Division of Wildlife Resources offices across the state.

Fees Reduced for Anglers at Utah State Parks

Salt Lake -- Beginning April 1, it will cost less to fish at Utah*s state boating parks with a valid 365-day Utah fishing or combination license. License holders save up to half off the regular day-use fee Tuesday through Thursday. Utah residents 62 years and older receive up to half off the senior day-use fee. Day-use fee covers up to eight people in the same private vehicle. Offer continues throughout the year, but is not valid on holidays.

Present the valid license when entering the park to receive the discount. Only one valid fishing license is required to receive the discount, however anyone planning to fish must have a valid Utah fishing license. Fishing and combination licenses are available at wildlife.utah.gov and from license agents and Division offices.

UTAH STATE PARKS RESERVOIR AND LAKE REPORT, MARCH 5

Ice is melting at many lakes and reservoirs, please use extreme caution. Utah State Parks encourages all boaters to wear their life jackets.

Bear Lake State Park Marina: Frozen, ice 12
Deer Creek State Park: Frozen
East Canyon State Park: Melting at shoreline, 10-12 in some places
Wide Hollow at Escalante State Park: Launch ramp open, 45 degrees
Great Salt Lake State Marina: Launch ramp open, 33 degrees
Gunlock State Park: Launch ramp open, 48 degrees
Huntington State Park: Frozen, ice 3-6
Hyrum Lake State Park: Melted at shoreline, 36 degrees
Jordanelle State Park: Mostly frozen, melting
Millsite State Park: Frozen, ice 4-6
Otter Creek State Park: Frozen
Palisade State Park: Frozen
Piute State Park: Frozen
Quail Creek State Park: Launch ramp open, 45 degrees
Red Fleet State Park: Frozen, ice 12+
Rockport State Park: Melting at shoreline - access difficult, ice 8-12
Sand Hollow State Park: Launch ramp open, 41 degrees
Scofield State Park: Frozen, ice 12+
Starvation State Park: Frozen, ice 12+
Steinaker State Park: Frozen, ice 12+
Utah Lake State Park: Melting, some open water
Willard Bay State Park: Melting, some ice
Yuba State Park: Melting at shoreline, some ice
Strawberry: Frozen
Flaming Gorge: Mostly frozen

PUBLIC ACCESS CONTINUES ON TRUST LANDS

Salt Lake City, Utah -- The Trust Lands Administration and the Department of Natural Resources have entered into a new agreement to continue to allow public hunting, trapping, fishing, and viewing of public wildlife on approximately 3.2 million acres of Utah trust lands while providing fair compensation to Utah's schoolchildren and other trust beneficiaries.

The agreement is for a 10-year term beginning September 1, 2007, continuing through September 1, 2016.

In addition to providing public access on trust lands, the Trust Lands Administration has agreed to not:
• join in any Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit for the life of the agreement
• enter into any agreement, lease, or contract that would preclude hunting, trapping, fishing, and viewing of public wildlife

The Trust Lands Administration:
• will continue to have jurisdiction and regulatory authority over trust lands
• can continue to pursue revenue generating activities on trust lands
• can continue to lease or sell trust lands

If the Trust Lands Administration sells or leases certain large blocks of trust land, the payment made by the Department of Natural Resources to Trust Lands will be reduced by specified amounts.

"I believe we have an accord that serves two worthy purposes * public access to premium hunting and recreational lands and fair compensation to the beneficial owners of those lands," says Kevin Carter, Director of the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration. "I am pleased with the outstanding effort the Department of Natural Resources and the Division of Wildlife Resources have devoted to this arrangement."

"We are pleased with this new agreement. It represents a fair balance between the interests of the Trusts Lands Administration and DNR," says Mike Styler, DNR Executive Director. "The agreement preserves these critical wildlife habitats and keeps them open to hunters, fishers and other wildlife enthusiasts."

Lake Powell Fishing Report! - 30+ LBS Stripers.

By: Wayne Gustaveson February 14, 2007
Lake Elevation: 3598 Water Temperature: 48-50 F

The Lake Powell fishing season was opened very early this year with the capture of a huge striped bass from Knowles Canyon. The big fish weighed 32.5 pounds, with a length of 43.75 inches and a 26 inch girth. The lucky angler was Sherm Mcdonnell who lives at Bullfrog and gets to go fishing often.



Sherm is a good angler but admits the catch may have involved some luck. He was in Knowles canyon for the first time and just fished the whole length of the canyon to get to know it. He tried anchovy bait in the deep water and caught a walleye but no stripers. That was only the first strange event. The best bait for 1-2 pound stripers was the chartreuse plastic bass grub on a lead head jig. Bass weren’t interested at all in the plastic offering in the 47 degree water.

Small stripers hit best in the afternoon from 1-3 PM. As the deep water gave way to shallow near the end of the canyon, Sherm picked up his chartreuse bass grub on the light 6' Ugly Stick rod with 6 pound test to try a cast to the shoreline. As the grub descended in the clear water he saw the flash of a nice fish and set the hook. It was a solid hook up and Sherm was sure he had a 10-pounder. The first run was strong but the trolling motor in high gear was enough to keep up as the fish passed under the boat and headed for deep water.

The first run played out in about 40 yards but Sherm couldn't gain much of his 6-pound line back without using the trolling motor to take up the slack. He got just enough back before the second run started. The next run was longer but fairly steady so he was able to keep up with the fish by using the trolling motor. He felt lucky to still have the fish hooked up with some line left on the reel. On a warmer day the runs would have been quicker and longer and the first run may have been the last. Sherm was braced for the next run but the huge fish came to the top and rolled on its side where it was apparent that it was much larger than 10 pounds. The boat and fish finally got close enough together for the net to be slipped under the trophy after an adrenaline filled 15 minute battle




Stripers in the 30 pound class have been caught during the past 3 years during May. Hopefully, this is a sign of more good things to come. Trophy fish are spread through the entire lake. The last three big fish have come from Padre Bay, Rock Creek and the San Juan. Now a 32-pound striper from the northern lake proves that a trophy can be caught anywhere in Lake Powell.

Good luck I hope you catch the next big one.

High Mountain Fishing

Great Ice Fishing: It's Waiting for You at Utah's High Mountain Lakes

If you're looking for a fun late-winter ice fishing trip, consider heading into Utah's "high country."

Right now is the perfect time to fish for brook trout, cutthroat trout and even some grayling at Utah's high mountain lakes.

"We have literally hundreds of small lakes and reservoirs in the Uinta Mountains - and other mountains across the state - that have great trout fisheries," says Ed Johnson, a fisheries biologist for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. "These lakes have a variety of fish, including brook trout, Colorado River and Bonneville cutthroat trout, and even grayling. Many of these lakes are accessible by snowmobiles or skis, and they can make an excellent ice fishing outing during the winter."

Johnson not only talks about fishing the high lakes: he gets out and does it himself.

"A group of us fished one of the high lakes on the northeastern corner of the Uintas in late January," Johnson says.

"First, we had great fun just getting there by snowmobile. The last few miles, we broke our own trail.

"Once on the lake, we rigged up and were catching fish within a few minutes. On this trip, our group caught three species of fish: a few rainbows, a Colorado River cutthroat and a bunch of brook trout. Some of these fish were up to two pounds."

"We mostly used small, light-colored jigs tipped with a meal worm or a piece of night crawler," Johnson says. "I think the bait was probably more important than the size or the color of the jig. The placement of the hole made a difference too. Some of us had fish right off, while others had to drill a few holes before finding a good spot."

Johnson has a few tips for the adventurous anglers heading to these high mountain lakes.

"Take the time to get everything ready, so you go prepared." Johnson says. "This includes your equipment, as well as food, proper clothing and emergency supplies for yourself.

"Also, don't forget to make sure that your transportation is in good working order, and let someone at home know where you are going and when you should be back. On our last trip, we had two snowmobiles break down. Fortunately we had a good mechanic [with us] who was able to quickly replace the belts and get the snowmobiles back on the trail.

"Ice fishing should also be fun," Johnson says. "That means staying warm, so bring good boots and layers of warm clothing. Having a warm drink or food can also add to your enjoyment. Our group brought thermos bottles of warm drinks and a couple of small, portable butane stoves to heat up cans of soup."

Finally, remember that when the first person in your party starts to get cold, it's time to leave.

"It's better to leave early than risk being cold in the mountains," Johnson says. "I've taken my kids on trips like this, and it's better to leave while they are still having fun rather than stretching it out just to catch a few more fish.

"If they remember the fun rather than the agony, they will be much more willing to go out again."

For more information about fishing Utah's high mountain lakes, contact the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWR's Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700.

Utah State Parks Launch and Ice Report

UTAH STATE PARKS LAUNCH AND ICE REPORT * JANUARY 30

Bear Lake State Park Marina: Closed 35 degrees, 6 inches of ice
Deer Creek State Park: Closed 32 degrees, frozen
East Canyon State Park: Closed 30 degrees, 12-18 inches of ice
Wide Hollow at Escalante State Park: Closed 32 degrees, frozen
Great Salt Lake State Park Marina: OPEN 26 degrees
Gunlock State Park: OPEN 48 degrees
Huntington State Park: Closed 30 degrees, 6-10 inches of ice
Hyrum Lake State Park: Closed 39 degrees, 4 inches of ice on west half of lake Jordanelle State Park: Closed 33 degrees, mostly ice
Millsite State Park: Closed 30 degrees, 6-10 inches of ice
Otter Creek State Park: Closed 30 degrees, 8-10 inches of ice
Palisade State Park: Closed 35 degrees, 4 inches of ice
Piute State Park: Closed 30 degrees, frozen
Quail Creek State Park: OPEN 36 degrees
Red Fleet State Park: Closed 32 degrees, 13 inches of ice
Rockport State Park: Closed 32 degrees, 5-8 inches of ice
Sand Hollow State Park: OPEN 36 degrees
Scofield State Park: Closed 32 degrees, 12 inches of ice
Starvation State Park: Closed 32 degrees, 6 inches of ice
Steinaker State Park: Closed 32 degrees, 13 inches of ice
Utah Lake State Park: Closed 32 degrees, frozen
Willard Bay State Park: Closed 32 degrees, some ice
Yuba State Park: Closed 32 degrees, 5-8 inches of ice
Strawberry: OPEN 32 degrees, 20 inches of ice
Flaming Gorge: OPEN 32 degrees, 8 inches of ice

Northern Region Weekly Fishing Report

The following report is courtesy of Victor Nelson of RoundRocks Fly Fishing www.roundrocks.com

The continuing very cold weather recently has kept most fly fishers off rivers.

Logan River

A few hardy souls have ventured onto the Logan with moderate success. There were some browns and rainbows and a few whitefish taken on the typical nymphs: prince nymphs and Copper Johns. A double rig with an egg patterns above a bead head nymph has been moderately successful, as has a brassie or red brassie with a bead head dropper.

The best fishing has been at and above 2nd dam and at 3rd dam. Many large fish can be seen, but it has been primarily the smaller fish that take Copper Johns and prince nymphs.

The upper Logan has significant ice forming, making fishing very difficult. Remember that the Logan is now closed above the highway bridge at Red Banks campground until July 14.

Blacksmith Fork River
The Blacksmith has been surprisingly good given the cold temperatures. prince nymphs, pheasant tails, and Copper Johns were taking the brown trout. Leech patterns are still a good bet in the deeper holes. There is some ice, especially in shady sections.

Mantua Reservoir

The ice is good at Mantua, but the fishing has been slow. Some bluegills, bass, and trout have been taken, mostly toward the SE side of the reservoir.

Family Ice Fishing Festival And Bald Eagle Day Slated For February 10.

Volunteers from the Wasatch Audubon Chapter will be at Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area on Saturday February 10 to help families enjoy and celebrate the presence of bald eagles in Utah.

Anglers at Lost Creek Reservoir are treated to seeing good numbers of bald eagles and turkeys along Lost Creek.

Saturday February 10 could be a wild day for families in Box Elder County!

The Brigham City Recreation department is hosting a “Family Fishing Fest” on the ice at Mantua Reservoir. The free event will run from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Parking is limited, however, so only a limited number of people can attend. The Brigham City Recreation has asked for interested persons to pre-register by calling their office at 435-734-6610 or email them at klaw@brighamcity.utah.gov.

Fun, Games and Fishing

Kristy Law from the Brigham City Parks and recreation Department says the event will offer a long and exciting list of activities. “If learning how to rig a fishing line, fillet or cook a fish are on your ‘need-to-know’ list, we can help,” said Law.

These “need-to-know” clinics will focus on ice safety and fishing techniques and will be held every hour.

Reese Stein and Adam Eakle, hosts of “Roughing It Outdoors” show on KUTV Channel 2 will also be on hand. “Mark your calendar for this exciting event. You can stay for an hour or stay all day. Get registered and come up. It’s going to be a lot of fun” Law added.

In addition to learning more about ice fishing, the event is going to offer an interesting variety of fun family activities that will be held on the ice. Ice bowling and four-person ice drilling relays are just some of the activities that families can participate in. The Family Ice Fishing Festival is hosted by the Brigham City Recreation Department, the Utah Division of Wildlife and Sportsman’s Warehouse.

Bald Eagle Diversion

To make it truly a wild day, take a detour and stop by Salt Creek Wildlife Management Area to see wintering bald eagles and other wintering wildlife. Salt Creek WMA is a hidden gem for wildlife viewing. For more details on eagle day events, visit the DWR website at wildlife.utah.gov.

Invaders Threaten Lake - Quagga Mussels Threaten Lake Powell

Tips provided to keep these "mussels on steroids" out of the lake

Page, Ariz. -- An aggressive shell fish has invaded several lakes near Lake Powell. And Utah Division of Wildlife Resources biologists are concerned about the effect quagga mussels could have on the fantastic fishing at the lake.

Aggressive Invaders

An aquatic nuisance species task force determined in 1999 that zebra mussels would eventually cross the Continental Divide and infest waters in the West. The task force determined that Lake Powell would be the likely place the mussels would be introduced because of the many boats that visit the lake.

Since 1999 an active program has been in place to prevent zebra mussels from invading Lake Powell. Any boater entering the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area from east of the Continental Divide has been stopped at the entry stations to see if mussels might be hitchhiking on their boat or trailer.

Any boat with questionable credentials was given the option of a free hot water wash to kill any lingering mussels.

The program seems to have worked and mussels have not been found in Lake Powell.

Mussels did finally arrive in the nearby area, however. They've now been detected in lakes Mead, Mohave and Havasu.

The mussel that's invaded these waters is a close cousin to the zebra mussel. It's called a quagga mussel.

What the Heck Is a Quagga Mussel?

Quagga's have been characterized as a "zebra mussel on steroids." They prefer deeper, cooler water and can attach to soft and hard substrate. And they can live in more places than a zebra mussel can.

The problem with both species of mussel is how prolific they are. They can cover the bottom of a lake and its structures with layer after layer of shell fish. They can even attach to slow moving animals, such as crayfish. Nothing is safe. They have been known to form a shell reef more than a foot thick and deposit enough shells to close off water pipes less than 12 inches in diameter.

These shell fish, which can number in the millions, eat by siphoning water through their shell. Lake productivity is soon impacted as nutrients and plankton is siphoned off by these shell fish before other fish can eat them. This restructures fish populations. If mussels entered Lake Powell, the lake's smallmouth and striped bass fisheries would decline dramatically.

Mussels also discard waste in such a high volume that the bottom of a lake becomes fouled and its water chemistry changes.

Lake Powell is threatened by all of these drastic end results.

The mussel threat to Lake Powell has now increased beyond description. While mussels cannot climb over Glen Canyon Dam to enter the lake, the chance of boaters bringing larval mussels from the lower Colorado River basin to Powell is "almost" a certainty.

The only way Lake Powell can avoid this fate is if everyone who visits the lake knows about the problem and takes steps to prevent these invaders from making it to the lake.

Please do everything in your power to prevent mussels from altering the beauty and bounty that everyone currently enjoys at Lake Powell.

What You Can Do

* Drain the water from your motor, live well and bilge on land before leaving the immediate area of a mussel-infested lake.

* Flush the motor and bilges with hot, soapy water or a 5 percent solution of household bleach.

* Completely inspect your vessel and trailer, removing any visible mussels, but also feel for any rough or gritty spots on the hull. These may be young mussels that can be hard to see.

* Wash the hull, equipment, bilge and any other exposed surface with hot, soapy water, or use a 5 percent solution of household bleach.

* Clean and wash your trailer, truck and any other equipment that comes in contact with lake water. Mussels can live in small pockets anywhere where water collects.

* Air-dry your boat and other equipment for at least five days before launching in any other waterway.

For more information, please visit www.protectyourwaters.net and www.100thMeridian.org.

New Feature on the web site and New Products at Trail Master Outdoors

I have just added some new features in the Product Review area of the web site. Audio Product Reviews will feature recorded itnerviews with manufactures or suppliers of some fo the best gear on the market. You will hear us ask the experts questions about the products and gear first hand! This should be a fun new feature and allow you to make informed purchases when you buy your outdoor gear and help you find some of the best products and services available on the web!

This week's Audio Product Reviews Feature:

Grabber Warmers
Hunting the Woods Trading Company Spices
Teva Footwear

Stop past and check them out!

Also I have added some great new products at Trail Master Outdoors!

The New Bob Henley's Tie-A-Fly Kits will help you tie better and more flies for your next trip out fishing! Everything you need to learn and tie some of the most popular patterns used today. Kits inlcude instructions, sample fly and all supplies. The easiest, fastest, least expensive way to learn to tie great fly patterns. Learn to tie flies in your home, at your convenience, and at your learning speed! 19 different patterns to choose from.

Each kit contains all the materials necessary to tie 12 flies and a pre-tied fly to use as a model. Makes a great gift.
See all 19 patterns here!

The New Coyote Jakes Rain Gauges are a hit! These make a great gift for the outdoor lover! Constructed of sturdy, powder-coated, 16 ga. Steel, our new rain gauges come in a variety of styles. Choose from the Whitetail Deer Head, Posing Girl, Harley Davidson Symbol, Hunting Dog, Coyote or Flag.

And Hunters, don't forget to grab your copy of the long awaited 2006-07 edition of “The Odds Book”. This years edition still contains an odds breakdown (resident & non-resident) for each unit and weapon in the state and includes herd makeup & statistics, application trending, hunter successes and photos. Get your copy here!

Thanks for stopping past and let me know if you have any updates, information or products you would like to see us post here!

Cris Draper
The Trail Master

New Two-Pole Fishing Permit Now Available For Statewide Use

Beginning January 1, 2007, a change in the Utah Fishing Guide allows anglers the opportunity to use two fishing poles throughout the state with a new $15 permit.

Prior to January of 2007, fishing opportunities for those who purchased a “two-pole” permit were limited to a few fishing waters that held mostly warm water species of fish. With the purchase of the new permit, anglers can now legally use two fishing poles throughout the state.

Craig Schaugaard, Northern Region Aquatics Manager explains the change in the two-poling rule. “This year, the Division of Wildlife Resources extended their two-pole fishing license to cover all state waters so anywhere in the state, with this permit, you can fish with two poles and this provides lots of different opportunity,” he said

Schaugaard is particularly excited about the opportunity this permit provides to pursue fish that might be found at various water depths. “What I like to do here at Pineview is fish with one pole right on the bottom for perch…the crappie are suspended about ten feet off the bottom, then I can fish with one pole at the perch level and one at the crappie level,” he said

Schaugaard added that the new permit would also work well at East Canyon where anglers can sample two parts of the water at the same time. He said this two-poling method is especially useful if anglers have electronic fish finders to locate different water levels of fish activity.

Another benefit of the permit is that it provides more opportunity to catch fish, especially when fishing is a little on the slow side. “When fishing is a little bit slow, it gives you twice the chance to catch a fish and it’s easy to watch (your poles),” Schaugaard said. He also added this caution. “When fishing is fast, if you’ve got two poles going you could end up hooking fish deeply and not be able to release them. Then there’s also a problem if you’ve got two fish hooked deeply and you’re just one fish away from your limit, then you’ve got an over-limit…you need to be a little careful when you’re doing it, but it will be well worth it if you try,” said Schaugaard.

Contact: Phil Douglass,
Northern Region Conservation Outreach Manager
Phone: 801-510-1406
Email: phildouglass@utah.gov

Volunteers needed to teach kids how to fish

You can help a group of kids have one of the best experiences they'll have all summer by helping out in one of Utah's youth fishing clubs.

The Division of Wildlife Resources is looking for adult volunteers to teach six to 13 year olds about fishing and the places where fish live. Volunteers are needed in communities stretching from Logan to Salem.

Youth fishing clubs have been established in the following communities, and each club needs volunteers to help:

Logan (two clubs)
Brigham City(one club)
Ogden(one club)
Roy(one club)
Clinton(two clubs)
Syracuse(one club)
Clearfield(one club)
Farmington(one club)
Bountiful(two clubs)
Murray(two clubs)
Riverton(one club)
South Jordan(one club)
Herriman(one club)
Orem(one club)
Spanish Fork(two clubs)
Salem(one club)
Saratoga Springs(one club)
"In Syracuse, Riverton and Herriman, we're starting from scratch," says Drew Cushing, community fisheries biologist for the DWR. "These clubs are brand new, and we need lots of volunteers to help."

Volunteer training will be held in each of the communities in February. The training takes one evening to complete. The clubs of about 40 to 80 children each will be formed by April.

To volunteer, or for more information, call Cushing at (801) 538-4774 before Feb. 1. You can also send an e-mail to him at AndrewCushing@utah.gov.

Anyone can help

While volunteers need to be patient and have good communication and teaching skills, they don't need a lot of fishing experience to help. "After they've completed the training, I'm sure they'll feel completely comfortable getting together with their youth fishing club, even if they don't have a lot of fishing experience," Cushing says.

After the training, groups of volunteers spend about two hours once a week, from April through June or July, teaching children about fish and fishing by fishing with them at a local water.

Cushing says a number of rewards await those who volunteer. "When they see the look on a kid's face, the first time they catch a fish, it'll probably make their whole summer," he says.

Youth fishing clubs growing in popularity

"2006 was our most successful year yet," Cushing says. "About 2,500 kids and 250 volunteers participated in the six-week program. Many of the volunteers were folks who had volunteered the year before. They saw the positive influence they had had on these kids, and they wanted to help in the program again."

Cushing says city recreation departments have started offering fishing as a sport, and that's one of biggest reasons for the program's success. "For the first time, fishing has found its way into mainstream sports, right along with soccer, baseball and football," he says.

As the number of children and communities involved in the program continues to grow, so does the need for volunteers. "The number of kids who can participate is largely determined by the number of adults who volunteer to help," Cushing says.

Fish hatchery is getting a makeover

Looks like the White Rocks Fish Hatchery is going to get a facelift. The Deseret Morning News posted a story on the 11th of January with the full details. You can read the story here. Built in 1923, the $6 million dollar project is a much needed improvement and one way overdue.

Strawberry nets esteemed award

Brett Prettyman wrote a great article on Strawberry Reservoir receiving on of the nations most prestigious awards.

"The American Fisheries Society (AFS), a highly regarded group of more than 9,000 professional fisheries from around the world, recently announced Strawberry was named the Sport Fishery Development and Management Outstanding Sport Fish Restoration Project of the Year for 2006." Read the full article here...

Having had the opportunity on several occasions to view first hand the hard work the Utah DWR Biologists and Staff have put into this great resources over the past few decades, I would encourage you all to write a letter to the Utah Division of Wildlife and tell them THANK YOU!

This lake receives more fishing hours per acre foot of water than any other fishery in our State and from the pictures and stories we see each week on our radio show and e-mails, the efforts are worth the wait.

Also a great thanks to all you fishermen and women for maintaining some good ethics and obeying the slot limits to allow these great changes as well!

Northern Region Wildlife News Update - Winter Ice Fishing Tips

Winter Fishing Tips
“Not the sun or the summer alone, but every hour and season yields its tribute of delight”--Emerson

Winter fishing is not boring!!! Rain, sleet and ice--all three in one day! But anglers hardly notice when they are comfortable and prepared for changing conditions.

Roy Angler Tod Omer uses an old ski pole fashioned with a piece of rubber hose on the tip to help him safely and quietly navigate stream bottoms.

Ice fishing gives anglers a chance to reach fish—something not possible for summer fishing for those who do not own a boat.

Water on the ice can eventually deteriorate it. Water also creates sloppy fishing conditions and makes it necessary for anyone who ventures out onto the ice to wear robber boots.

Fishing opportunities continue to grow in Utah. Within the past 10 years, the DWR has worked closely with cities to develop community fisheries. Most of these fishing holes are in or near residential areas. They have opened up fishing for people who might have not experienced this thrill without these areas. They also provide easy fishing for people visiting Utah on business.

More and more people are discovering and enjoying fishing at these urban fishing spots. As they do, DWR encourages them to try other kinds of fishing to more fully enjoy the great variety of fishing that is available in Utah. Winter fishing is a great part of that variety.

Many people think only of ice fishing when they think of winter fishing. But Utah has many rivers that flow in or near cities that provide great winter fishing.

Tod Omer from Roy loves to fish Northern Utah’s Rivers. At eighty years of age, this avid angler doesn’t let cold weather keep him from fishing. To help him keep his footing sure on slippery rocks, he has transformed a ski pole to help him navigate the obstacles that trip up many anglers—old AND young! Mr. Omer has placed a piece of red rubber hose at the end so he can see it and to not scare the fish. “Fish are pretty sensitive to sound,” said the easy-going angler with a smile.

Mr. Omer’s safety tip is one that fishermen of all ages can benefit from. River anglers need to remember that slipping and falling in icy river waters can be deadly.

Anglers who try fishing Utah’s rivers in winter, especially those who have never fished in the winter time need to know that no ice that forms at a river bank is safe. It may look solid on the top but running water under the surface usually erodes and weakens ice.

Ice fishing presents a completely different set of safety conditions—but once anglers know and follow safety rules for fishing on the ice, it is a sport that families can safely enjoy. The DWR’s website has a great page that is dedicated to detailed tips for ice fishing safety. The link for ice safety is: http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/cf/ice_fishing.php).

Contact: Phil Douglass,
Northern Region Conservation Outreach Manager
Phone: 801-510-1406
Email: phildouglass@utah.gov

Utah State Parks Launch and Water Conditions

Please find below, Utah State Parks current conditions as of December 26:

Bear Lake State Park Marina - OPEN 39 degrees
Deer Creek State Park - OPEN 40 degrees
East Canyon State Park - OPEN 33 degrees
Wide Hollow at Escalante State Park - OPEN 40 degrees
Great Salt Lake State Park Marina - OPEN 46 degrees
Gunlock State Park - OPEN 48 degrees
Huntington State Park - CLOSED 30 degrees
Hyrum Lake State Park - OPEN 48 degrees
Jordanelle State Park - OPEN 35 degrees
Millsite State Park - OPEN 30 degrees
Otter Creek State Park - OPEN 32 degrees
Palisade State Park - CLOSED 35 degrees
Piute State Park - OPEN 32 degrees
Quail Creek State Park - OPEN 45 degrees
Red Fleet State Park - OPEN 40 degrees
Rockport State Park - OPEN 40 degrees
Sand Hollow State Park - OPEN 52 degrees
Scofield State Park - CLOSED 32 degrees
Starvation State Park - OPEN 35 degrees
Steinaker State Park - OPEN 40 degrees
Utah Lake State Park - OPEN 40 degrees
Willard Bay State Park - CLOSED 45 degrees
Yuba State Park - OPEN 38 degrees
Strawberry - OPEN 32 degrees
Flaming Gorge - OPEN 32 degrees