New Flaming George Regulations
Allow
More Lake Trout Harvest, Protect Kokanee
The Utah Wildlife Board has
approved two changes that should improve kokanne salmon fishing at Flaming
Gorge Reservoir. Beginning Jan. 1, 2004, anglers will be allowed to keep
up to six lake trout a day and harvest of kokanee salmon in the reservoir
will not be allowed from Oct. 1 to Nov. 7, 2004.
"Kokanee salmon usually go
through a 2-year cycle. Numbers are good for two years, then they decline
for two years and then they come back up," said Tom Pettengill, DWR sport
fisheries coordinator. "Kokanee salmon numbers haven't increased from
the last down cycle and our biologists believe predation by lake trout
is the reason. There are lots and lots of young lake trout in the reservoir
and we need help from anglers to reduce the population."
Beginning Jan. 1, the combined
trout and kokanee salmon limit will remain at six fish, but all of those
fish can be lake trout. The kokanee salmon limit will remain at three
fish, and anglers will be allowed only one lake trout over 28 inches.
"This regulation will keep plenty of big lake trout in the reservoir while
helping reduce the number of smaller fish," Pettengill said.
The Wyoming Game & Fish Department
is proposing a similar lake trout limit in 2004 for the Wyoming side of
Flaming Gorge.
"Wyoming has closed kokanne
salmon fishing on their side of the reservoir during the spawning season
and more anglers are coming to the Utah side to fish for kokanees," he
said. "That increased pressure is impacting the population. We believe
this [Oct. 1 to Nov. 7] closure will protect the population and improve
kokanee fishing."
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