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Show Employees of Panguitch State Flsb Hatchery trapping cat-enable fish which will be planted In nearby lakes and streams. i Panguitch Fish Hatchery Preparing May 14 Opener The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources officially set the 1977 state fishing opener for May 14 after checking with officers from around the state to see if the early date could be met. The Utah Wildlife Board gave the DWR permission to change the opener, which was originally scheduled for June 4, at a meeting Saturday in Vernal, after hearing reports from fisheries biologists that drought conditions could make fishing extremely difficult later in the summer and fall. "We've checked with everyone of our regional offices around the state," said DWR director Don Smith, "and they've analyzed their situation, While they see some minor problems, they haven't seen a thing that would prevent a good opener in terms of their The change from June 4 to May 14 general fishing season opener has placed pressure on Division of Wildlife Resources ability to get the fish out. "With the water situation the way it is, this is simply a matter of taking advantage of an opportunity. If we were having just an early spring, we wouldn't be so concerned. But stocking fish out of Springville for 10 days already, so we're ahead of the game. The water flow at the White Rocks hatchery is about half of normal, and the flow at the Kamas Hatchery is about a third of usual. I'm sure some of the other hatcheries are having similar problems. The limited water supply is making it important to get fish out of the hatcheries," Smith continued. Because of the fishing season opening May 14 and because of the drought conditions in Garfield County, Howard Prince, supervisor of the Panguitch Fish Hatchery and assistant. Brad Bradley are planting half the amount of fish in the various w aters now and half sometime in July. Usually one third of the total number of catchable fish planted during the summer are planted three different times, one third in May, one third in July and the last third in September At the time of planting the second half of the fish there are any bodies of water that are too low to plant, fish will be planted in a different lake or creek than originally planned, Mr. Bradley said. The different areas the catchable rainbows will be planted and total number of fish planted in each area follows, half of the amount listed is being planted now. Kolob Reservoir, 5,000; Long Valley Creek, 300; Main Valley Creek, 600; Duck Creek, 1,500; Duck Creek Springs, 8,000; Aspen Mirror Lake, 6,000; Navajo Lake, 30,000; Pine creek 600; Garkane Impoundment East, 2,000; Garkane Impoundment Mountain, 1,500; Possy Lake, 6,000 and Wide Hollow Reservoir, 8,000. Fish are also being planted in the Antimony Creek, 1,000; South Foik Sevier River, 8,000; Mammoth Creek, 6,000; Asay Creek, 5,000; Panguitch Creek, 10,000; North Creek, 600; and possibly Scout Lake, 1,000. Fingerling will be planted at Pine Lake, 10,000 and Panguitch Lake, 200,000. Reed Olsen, an information specialist for the Bureau of Reclamation which handles many of the state's largest dams, says all waters in the state are lower than expected this year, except Starvation Resefvoir- which is full from water left from last year. There isn't any water to put into Soldier Creek Reservoir, for example. Olsen says facilities at this new area are temporary and inadequate for large boats. "We don't have enough water to even get close to where the permanent recreational facilities will be," he stated. "Most of the reservoirs have minimum pools for fisheries," continued Olsen, "but as far as usable drinking and irrigation water goes, it's quite possible that a good portion will be used this year." Iodge owners, can expect good-sized crowds on the Memorial Day weekend, which wasn't originally expected to be open for fishing. Kay Boulter, information chief for the Utah Division of Parks and Recreation, said that agency would have most of its lakeside facilities ready by May 14 although, in some cases, officials would be pushed. "The division will do everything in its power to have things ready for the opener, but it will push us," said Boulter. Parks and Recreation officials urged anglers who have boats and resort owners who rent boats to get their 1977 registrations in as soon as possible. "People shouldn't (May on this," said Boulter. "The sudden rush may cause some complications, and some boaters who delay might not reeatve completed registrations in the mall before the season opens." |