Walleye fishing at Red Fleet Reservoir great — for now

VERNAL — Anglers who are hankering to catch big walleye at Red Fleet Reservoir had better do so soon, because the walleye fishery isn't going to last all that long.

"Someone illegally introduced walleye into Red Fleet," said Ed Johnson, aquatics biologist with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. "Our surveys show we now have several strong age classes."

Biologists caught an equal number of walleye and rainbow trout in their nets during surveys this past spring. Several of the walleye weighed more than 6 pounds.

Johnson said walleye fishing should be good for the next few years.

"Then the fishing for all species, including bass and rainbows, will crash," Johnson said.

The reason? "Too many predators will (deplete) the prey base," Johnson said.

Located 13 miles north of Vernal, Red Fleet is not a large reservoir. Johnson said that adding another top predator to the reservoir has overloaded its fishery with predators.

As the walleye population increases, these aggressive predators will consume greater numbers of rainbows and bluegill. The Division of Wildlife Resources can't afford to raise rainbows just to feed the walleye. As the number of rainbow trout declines, the walleye will place even more pressure on the bluegill.

"As the bluegill decline, the walleye will switch to feeding on bass and on smaller versions of themselves," Johnson said. "In the end, all that will be left are a few small, skinny walleye swimming around."

Because the walleye were illegally introduced, the division has placed a "no tolerance regulation" on walleye in Red Fleet. That means:

There's no limit on walleye.

Anglers must keep all of the walleye they catch.

All walleye must be immediately killed.

Johnson said anglers will likely see a few years of good fishing before the fishery collapses.

"We saw fewer bluegill in the nets and around the reservoir this spring," he said. "It's likely we're starting to see the effects of walleye predation (on other fish in the reservoir).

"Few anglers are targeting walleye in Red Fleet, and even fewer are catching them."

Division of Wildlife Resources biologists are discussing ways to treat the reservoir to remove the walleye. Walleye are capable of breeding inside the reservoir, so there's no easy way to control their numbers.

For more information about fishing at Red Fleet Reservoir, call the Division of Wildlife Resources at 435-781-9453.