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THE GREAT OUTDOORS — In an effort to thin fish populations at two reservoirs, the Division of Wildlife Resources announced two fishing tournaments that allow anglers to catch unlimited fish and win prizes.
Fish Lake Perch Tournament ==========================
The Fish Lake Perch Tournament will be held Jan. 24 at Fish Lake, according to a DWR news release. Registration for the tournament begins at 7 a.m. and the tournament runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Yellow perch are abundant in Fish Lake and during the tournament there will not be a limit on the number of perch caught, according to the news release. DWR biologists hope the tournament will “help thin the population to make room for kokanee salmon they’d like to introduce to the lake."
Participants can register at the Twin Creeks parking area at Fish Lake and are encouraged to bring their own equipment and dress warmly. Anyone 12 years old or older must have a valid Utah fishing or combination license to participate, but a two-pole permit is no longer required to fish with two poles, the news release said.
More than $3,500 in prizes will be awarded during the tournament and participation is free.
The annual Burbot Bash will be held Jan. 23-25 at Flaming Gorge Reservoir, according to the news release. The tournament gives anglers the opportunity to catch as many burbot as they can.
“Burbot are an invasive species that was illegally introduced into the Green River and Flaming Gorge,” the DWR news release said. “Their voracious appetites are a serious concern to managers who are trying to maintain the high quality fishing opportunities that have made Flaming Gorge famous. Taking burbot during the event helps removes these unwanted fish.”
During the tournament, cash prizes of $1,500, $1,000 and $750 will be awarded to the teams with the most burbot. Anglers who catch the largest fish will also be awarded $1,000, $750 and $500. Youth anglers will be awarded $100, $75 and $50 for catching the largest and smallest fish.
Several burbots in the reservoir are tagged to give biologists information about how the burbot grow, move through the reservoir and its’ reproduction rates. Everyone who catches a tagged fish during the tournament will be placed in the “Burbot Bounty” and a cash prize will be split among everyone who caught a tagged fish.
One of the tagged fish is worth $10,000 and two others are worth $2,500 and $1,000 respectively, the news release said. Anglers can take their burbot to the tournament check stations to be scanned to learn if they caught a burbot with an internal tag.
"Tagged fish contests are great, because they level the playing field,” DWR Flaming Gorge project leader Ryan Mosley said in a news release. “One angler can catch a single burbot and potentially take home more money than those who check in hundreds.”
Registration for the Burbot Bash will be Jan. 23 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. All fish must be check in at the Manila Utah Rodeo grounds on Jan. 25 from 8-11 a.m. Fish will not be counted after 11 a.m. The tournament costs $40 per person.
The Burbot Bash will be followed by the Buckboard Classic which will be held Feb 6-8. Anglers who fish both events can qualify for the Double Tournament Pot.
