New fishing regulations begin at certain sites

Anglers at Scofield Reservoir now can catch and keep eight trout a day. The new limit took effect on Jan. 1.

They also can fish with two poles if they purchase a second pole permit at any fishing spot within Utah. Currently, only select waters allow use of a second pole. Anglers who fish with two poles may not take two limits.

Fishermen also can:

• Keep 10 walleye at all of the waters in Utah that have walleye except Willard Bay, where the limit will remain at six walleye. Only one of the walleyes caught at any of the waters can be longer than 24 inches.

• Keep four trout of any species at Panguitch Lake and its tributaries, but the trout must be under 15 inches or over 22 inches in length. Anglers must release all trout 15 to 22 inches long.

• Use artificial flies and lures only at Calder Reservoir and may keep only one fish. The fish they keep must be over 22 inches long.

A drop in the number of people fishing at Scofield prompted the Division of Wildlife Resources to recommend raising the trout limit from four to eight.

"Scofield is one of the best trout fishing waters in Utah, but the number of anglers who fish it has dropped off dramatically during the past 20 years," said Roger Wilson, sport fisheries coordinator for the DWR.

Wilson said in 1986, anglers spent almost 347,000 hours fishing at Scofield. The number dropped to just under 115,000 hours in 2005, a drop of 67 percent.

The drop in angler hours has also led to a drop in the number of fish caught at the reservoir. In 1986, anglers caught more than 252,000 trout. By 2005, that number had fallen to less than 36,000.

"Scofield is a fantastic trout fishing water, and anglers are missing out on some great fishing," Wilson said. "We hope raising the trout limit will bring the anglers back."

Wilson said biologists will try the eight trout limit as an experiment.

"Our biologists will continue to watch the trout population closely to make sure the eight-trout limit is not having a negative effect on the population," he said. "We'll also survey anglers to learn if the eight-trout limit is one of the reasons they decided to fish at the reservoir."

Currently, many of the state's walleye populations are going through a boom-and-bust cycle, meaning there are a good numbers of nice-sized walleye at a particular water for a few years, but then the population declines in both size and numbers as the walleye population grows bigger than the population of prey fish.

Wilson said the key is creating a better balance between the walleye and forage fish.

Fishermen will also be able to fish with two fishing poles at any public waters after Jan. 1 with a two pole permit.

"Other states have allowed anglers to use two fishing poles statewide, and there hasn't been a negative effect on their fish populations," Wilson said. "Allowing Utah's anglers to use two poles will provide them with more opportunity and more fun at waters across the state."

The second pole permit will go along with the fishing license and will cost $15.

Anglers who use a second pole are reminded that they may not catch two limits of fish.

For more information call the nearest DWR office or 801-538-4700.