Net results: Biologists study fish population at Strawberry

STRAWBERRY RESERVOIR — The first net pulled held a couple of large cutthroat, no chubs and a hundred or so crayfish. Not much to speak of, certainly not what you'd expect to find in Utah's No. 1 fishing water. The second net was much better. There were several dozen fish held fast by the tight netting, mostly cutthroats with a few rainbow and fewer chubs.

The third net was about like the second in the number of fish, species and size. The fourth and final net held the most fish ... some large cutts, a few rainbow and a couple of chubs.

After two days of spring gillnet sampling, there were three very obvious conclusions:

• The reservoir holds some large cutthroats.

• There are fewer chubs.

• There are too few smaller cutthroats and rainbow.

"I guess the most striking thing was the reduction in chubs," responded Alan Ward, lake project leader for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

"Between our fall and spring surveys, there was a 65 percent reduction in the number of adult chubs and, roughly, a 95 percent reduction in the number of smaller chubs. That's very encouraging.

"We also saw some nice cutthroats, several going over 22 inches."

Surveys are conducted twice a year — in the spring and fall. Nets are set in the same 16 locations each year. On this day, said Justin Robinson, Strawberry project biologist, four locations were visited. Assisting Robinson were Evan Freeman and Paula Friskel, DWR technicians.

The first net was set on the bottom, the remaining three hung about six feet down from the surface.

Sampling different depths, said Robinson, gives biologists a better overall look at the fish population, since "fish swim in different zones, but most of the fish are closer to the surface."

Several years ago lake biologists became concerned over the number of chubs showing up in gillnet surveys. If left uncontrolled, chubs can overtake a reservoir.

The lake, in fact, was treated in 1990 for an overpopulation of Utah chubs. Roughly 95 percent of the fish being caught in gillnets were chubs.

After treatment, Bear Lake cutthroats, an aggressive fish-eating fish, were introduced in hopes they would dine on chubs and thereby control the population. Sterile rainbow trout, a popular game fish, were also planted.

In the beginning, Bear Lake cutthroat measuring up to 18 inches were protected. All fish between 15 and 18 inches had to be released. The chub population, however, continued to grow. Believing larger fish would eat more and bigger chubs, cutts up to 22 inches now fall under the protective umbrella.