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Shelley Osterloh ReportingStrawberry Reservoir is Utah's most popular fishing spot. The season is just getting underway, and today lake managers took a good look at the health of the fish population there.
It was 16 years ago that Strawberry Reservoir was overrun with little trash fish called Chubs. The Utah Wildlife Division actually poisoned the lake, killing off nearly all the fish. Since then, better management and new rules on what anglers can take home have steadily improved the sport fishing at Strawberry.
First thing this morning, Utah Wildlife workers were out on Strawberry pulling in gill nets. The nets catch and kill large and small fish that swim into them. Every year at this time, the nets are dropped and drawn in about the same places, capturing a yearly comparable sample of Strawberry's fish population. Back on land the nets are laid out, the fish removed, sorted, counted and sized.
Utah chubs are a trash fish. The cutthroat, a popular sport fish, is a predator helping to control the population of chubs in Strawberry.
Alan Ward, Strawberry project leader, Div. of Wildlife Resources: "I think it's been a very good management tool in using these cutthroat as a predator to prey on these chubs. And so far it's been pretty effective and we are very encouraged by the signs that we are seeing."
State Officials also changed the fishing regulations at Strawberry in 2003 to help the Cutthroat thrive. Fishermen can only harvest Cutthroat smaller than 15 inches and larger than 22 inches. Any fish in between those sizes must be released back to the lake to eat more Chubs.
Kayla Willey, Strawberry Anglers Association: "There was some opposition at first, but I think now that they see the quality of fish that they have in the reservoir, these are trophy fish and people are getting used to the idea that they are going to get a better fishing experience."
Lt. Governor Gary Herbert was invited to check out the fishery and one of the 29 inch beauties that will soon be returned to the reservoir. He calls Strawberry, on the state's great treasures.
Lt. Governor Herbert: "It's good to see that they are to protect the habitat, improve the fishery and protect or water quality. And just a lot of good things happening here."
Fishing at Strawberry, we're told, is the best it's been in many years with people catching 30 fish in a day, although most are the size that need to be tossed back for another day. If you want to try your luck, this Saturday is Free Fishing day, meaning you won't need to buy a license.
