| OCR Text |
Show Wildlife Board Says Don't Hook Unvisables , ) A regulation allowing only the use of lures and flies on all streams and rivers in the state after two trout exceeding 13 inches have been taken was approved by the Wildlife Board for the 1982 fishing year. "This Is an attempt to reduce the mortality from hooking fish which must be released," explains Rod Stone, assistant chief of fisheries for Utah Wildlife Resources, a division of the Depart- ! ment of Natural Re- I sources and Energy. As in 1981, the daily bag and possession limit of eight for trout and salmon on streams and rivers must not include more than two fish exceeding 13 inches in total length. The 1982 general fishing season will be May 29 to Nov. 30. In setting the 1982 fishing proclamation at their meeting Nov. 12 in Ogden, the Board approved a six-trout limit for the first three days of the general fishing season, May 29 31. The normal limit of eight will be in effect at all other times. In 1981, the six-fish limit was in effect only during the first two days of the general season. The Wildlife Board approved a statewide bag limit of 20 bluegill, 24 bullhead catfish, and 50 crappie (except on Lake Powell where there is no bag or possession limit for crappie). Previously, there were no bag or possession limits on these species, except for a limit of 20 on bluegill in Pelican Lake. On Flaming Gorge, a size limit will go into effect Jan. 1. Only one trout or salmon over 20 inches in length may be included in the daily bag and possession limit of eight. "This bag limit is to prevent possible over-exploitation of this fishery," comments Stone. The Flaming Gorge bag limit for juveniles has been reduced to four game fish, only one of which may be a lake trout. The limit for channel catfish on Flaming Gorge has been set at 10. The Wildlife Board approved an ice fishing season of Jan. 1 to March 15 for Panguitch Lake. This season was requested by the citizens of Garfield County. The season was approved for ice fishing only. A $5 stamp must be acquired for ice fishing on Panguitch Lake. Portions of two rivers in Cache County have been opened to year-round fishing. These are the Little Bear River below Hyrum Reservoir and the Blacksmith Fork River below the U-242 bridge at the mouth of Blacksmith Fork Canyon. In other regulations concerning the Blacksmith Fork River, no trout over 13 inches may be taken from the river's source downstream to its confluence with Rock Creek. "There are not many large fish in this part of the river and there could be," says Stone in explaining the 13-inch size limit on the Blacksmith Fork River. The 1982 fishing proclamation will be available to the public the latter part of December, '981. |
