Fishing report

The number of Utah chubs in Scofield Reservoir is growing. And so is the number of burbot and walleye that were placed illegally in two other Utah waters.

To address those and other concerns, DWR biologists are recommending several fishing changes for Utah's 2009 season.

All of the DWR's 2009 fishing proposals are posted at wildlife.utah.gov/public_meetings.

Once reviewed, individuals can respond with their ideas in one of two ways:

Attend one of the five Regional Advisory Council meetings that will be held across Utah. Citizens representing the RACs will take the input received at the meetings to the Utah Wildlife Board. Board members will use the input to set rules for Utah's 2009 fishing season.

The meetings will be:

• Sept. 9 — Southern Region, 7 p.m., at Beaver High School, 195 E. Center, Beaver.

• Sept. 10 — Southeastern Region, 6:30 p.m., John Wesley Powell Museum, 1765 E. Main, Green River.

• Sept. 11 — Northeastern Region, 6:30 p.m., Western Park, Room 2, 302 E.. 200 South, Vernal.

• Sept. 16 — Central Region. 6:30 p.m., Springville Junior High School, 165 S. 700 East, Springville.

• Sept. 17 — Northern Region, 6 p.m., Brigham City Community Center, 24 N. 300 West, Brigham City.

Or they can also provide comments by e-mail: wildlife.utah.gov/public_meetings.

Biologists report the Utah chub population in Scofield Reservoir has increased dramatically during the past two years. To try and control the population before it gets too large, biologists are recommending the following:

• Stocking Bear Lake cutthroat trout in the reservoir. Putting Bear Lake cutthroats in the reservoir would give it two "chub eaters" — the Bear Lake cutthroat trout and tiger trout that are in the reservoir now. Bear Lake cutthroat have a proven track record in controlling chubs. DWR biologists report that action must be taken immediately to control the chubs.

• Keeping plenty of large predatory Bear Lake cutthroats and tiger trout in the reservoir by lowering the trout limit to four. In the four-trout limit, anglers could have one cutthroat or tiger trout under 15 inches in length and one cutthroat or tiger trout over 22 inches. All cutthroat and tiger trout between 15 and 22 inches long would have to be released.

"We put Bear Lake cutthroats in Strawberry Reservoir after we treated the reservoir in 1990. The cutthroats in Strawberry have been protected by a limit that's similar to the one we're proposing for Scofield," said Roger Wilson, coldwater sport fisheries coordinator for the DWR.

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