Show Fishing Program on Reservation Developed Over Year 12 Period By Don K Bartschi Fishery Biologist Bureau of Sport Fisheries d. d Wildlife Warmer and longer days at this season season sea son encourage such springtime inclinations inclinations as the urge to go fishing They also encourage reflections on fishing seasons seasons sea sea- sons past Readers suffering from the aforementioned aforementioned are warned that they will not be cured of these maladies by reading a little of the history and future of the present fishery program on the Uintah and Ouray Indian The Reservation The only cure Is to venture forth with rod and reel THE HISTORY of the present program pro pro- gram dates back only to 1958 when members of the Tribal Council Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife and Bureau Bureau Bur Bur- eau of Indian Affairs met to discuss the future development of the fisheries resource on the reservation During that same year trout weighing pounds were stocked less than fishing fishing fish fish- ing permits were sold and 1800 angler angler- trips were estimated to have occurred An trip angler-trip is the time a man woman woman WOoman wo WOo wo- wo man or child spends fishing in any d day y In contrast during 1969 trout weighing over pounds were stocked stock stock- ed over fishing permits were sold and trips angler were estimated estl esti mated on the reservation SHORT AS ASS the history has been the tribe in cooperation with other agencies agencies agencies ag ag- has taken take many strides strIdes in de de- fishery resource tb Its 1969 high as well 8 as ass assuring ring its Us perpetuation and growth In the future Back in fn 1958 there were miles of streams and acres of lakes lIkes on the reservation In the the- intervening years pO 90 O more acres ot of lakes have been constructed constructed con con- and acres ired While most of these are used for other purposes pur purr poses they also provide fish habitat and fishing Popular waters which have been provided pro pro- vided through construction include ude To To- wave reservoir Weaver reservoir Big Springs Ponds andi and Clay Basin Pond reservoir which Is popular with ice fishermen was acquired In 19 1968 8 THE FUTURE for fishing on the reservation re Fe reservation re- re looks even pore more promising Important new waters will be acre i sr his 1 at 4 UTE TRIBE Fish Game Director Tom Chapoose is shown holding a catfish and a walleye taken from reservoir at the time of drainage and reclamation Bottle BoUle Hollow to Me ae Ie completed ed in 1970 and acre Lower Stillwater Still- Still water water Reservoir Reservoir which is scheduled for construction In 1974 These reservoirs are being built as mitigation for fishery fish fish- cry cry ery losses lasses on Rock Creek by construction construe construe- lion tion Of the Central Utah Project 1958 In the Tribal Fish and Game Department Department De De- employed two wardens and a clerk Today the department employs a Fish and Game director five time full-time w wardens arid a I clerk Th These se personnel spend much of their time in the summer summer summer sum sum- mer assisting with the fishery program Wardens interviewed fishermen during 1969 while collecting the Information information mation matlon necessary to determine angler angler- trips and I fish harvest on the reser reser- FISH DISTRIBUTION on on the reservation reser reser- reservation va ion during the six month stocking season Is done by the tribal stocking unit and d provides employment for two tribal members During 1969 they traveled travel travel- ed miles while stocking trout weighing over pounds These fish were hauled to the tribal holding pond In jn Uintah canyon by trucks from Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife Wildlife Wildlife Wild Wild- life hatcheries in III Jackson Wyoming Springville Utah and Hotchkiss C Color Colo- lo rado Included in the 1969 total plant were small trout which were a bonus when they had to the regular plants to be stocked because of the unexpected ed cd closing and of the he Springville Spring Spring- ville hatchery After the fish are un un- laded at th thI holding pond they are later reloaded on the tribal truck for distribution throughout the reservation HIGHLIGHTS of the fishing season Included included In in- drainage and ch renovation of Reservoir Salvaging of the few remaining game fish was participated participated participated in by many of tire tile basin residents residents several who were rewarded with trophy size walleye pike and channel catfish Unfortunately there were few takers for the thousands of pounds of carp and other rough fish Restocking was with rainbow and cutthroat trout which have shown excellent growth and are providing pro viding good fishing TRIBAL AND Bureau of Indian Affairs Affairs Af f fairs irs personnel constructed a new road which opener opened an additional five miles of Hill Creek below the confluence of the East and West Forks An electro electro- shocker survey of this section showed a good brook trout population as did the East Fork below Weaver Reservoir Improved campground facilities at Cedarview including campsites campsites camp camp- sites picnic tables and restrooms were partially completed and when finished finish finish- ed cd in 1970 should provide an even more pleasant stay for fishermen and camp camp- ers BIG SPRINGS Ponds were again very popular for family groups camping and fishing A substantial increase in the num number ber of persons enjoying this area has occurred every year since construction construction con con- and in 1969 was the most popular pop pop- ular slam fishing spot on the reservation with an estimated angler The foregoing highlights bode well for forthe forthe forthe the future growth of the program In Inthe Inthe Inthe the meantime a little oil on that fishing fishing fishing fish fish- ing reel might help in putting one of those lunker hunker cutthroats on a astringer stringer come April 18 For those who cant can't wait most of the reservation caters waters wat cat ers are open year round A tribal fishing fishing fish fish- ing permit is required for fishing on the reservation in addition to the state lic lic- ense |