DWR biologists coming up with solutions to bass size

Many of Utah's anglers aren't happy about the size of the bass they've been catching.

And Division of Wildlife Resources biologists have an idea to help fix the problem: Get more anglers who are willing to keep fish involved in bass fishing.

All of the DWR's proposed fishing changes for the state's 2011 fishing season are now available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/public_meetings. After anglers have reviewed the ideas, they can let their Regional Advisory Council members know their thoughts by attending the upcoming RAC meeting or by sending an e-mail to them.

RAC chairmen will share the input they receive with members of the Utah Wildlife Board. The board will meet in Salt Lake City on Sept. 23 to approve rules for Utah's 2011 fishing season.

Dates, times and locations for the RAC meetings are as follows:

Southern Region — Sept. 7, 7 p.m., at Richfield High School, 510 W. 100 South.

Richfield Southeastern Region — Sept. 8, 6:30 p.m., at John Wesley Powell Museum, 1765 E. Main Street.

Green River Northeastern Region — Sept. 9, 6:30 p.m., at Uintah Basin Applied Technology College, 450 N. 2000 West.

Vernal Central Region — Sept. 14, 6:30 p.m., at Springville Junior High School, 165 S. 700 East.

Springville Northern Region — Sept. 15, 6 p.m., at Brigham City Community Center, 24 N. 300 West, Brigham City.

Anglers can also provide their comments to their RAC via e-mail. E-mail addresses for respective RAC members are available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/public_meetings.

The group each RAC member represents (sportsman, nonconsumptive, etc.) is listed under each person's e-mail address. Interested persons should direct their e-mail to the people on the RAC who represent their interest.

Reducing the number of bass limits in Utah — from eight major limits to two — is the idea biologists have to get more anglers involved in bass fishing.

Specifically, biologists are recommending a limit of six bass — with no size restrictions — at most of Utah's bass waters, and five reservoirs — Jordanelle, Quail Creek, Sand Hollow, Gunlock and Huntington North — would also have a six-bass limit. But only one bass in that six-bass limit can be longer than 12 inches.

Biologists would also like to simplify the bass limits at Lake Powell and Flaming Gorge. But they need to do additional work with biologists in Arizona and Wyoming to make that happen.

"Right now, many of Utah's bass waters are filled with bass in the nine- to 12-inch range," said Drew Cushing, warm-water sport fisheries coordinator for the DWR. "Anglers need to remove more of the smaller bass to make room for bigger fish. The smaller fish are eating most of the food and utilizing most of the cover."