Willard Bay S. Inlet Poll

[WiperMac]

[font "Calibri"]So what does everyone think??? Inlet channel closed or open during march and april.[/font]
[font "Calibri"]This post will be included in my letter to the DWR so let’s all keep it clean!!!!!![/font]
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[fish_fear_me2]

so are you talking about the inlet channel or the south marina park facility. I assume the channel.
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[WiperMac]

[font "Calibri"]Yes, the channel. Thanks!![/font]
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[Ahi1953]

if its the inlet I vote close. went there yesterday seen far to many illegal fish being taken. the old March - April closure was a good thing.
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[toadly]

OOPS! guess I should have read lower on the thread. This poll is for weather the inlet channel should close in the spring... So I change my vote to YES.
Its is a no brainer for conservation on Willard. Cant believe the DWR has opened it during the Walleye spawn.
Just a note for the DWR enforcement...GO TO WORK!
Protect out resorurces at Willard!
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[HYDROFISH]

Yes close it......Or open every inlet in Utah for all fish species. And take all the pressure of Willard
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[AllFish]

Emergency closure now...

Spawning walleye x snagging/excessive harvest = poor future walleye populations...

Close it now..
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[Javelin18]

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[size 3]So, I also went to Willard yesterday and seen 9 total catches of walleye all were hooked in the mouth and taken legally. I myself had to release two fish and did not go home with any keepers. The DNR was down there checking Lic and such I did not see any tickets handed out.[/size]
[size 3] I also went to the Walleye seminar last night andat the end they opened it up to Q&A. (there was about 100 people there) the Biologist talked for a couple minutes on what was going on and why they opened it. He also mentioned about the testing they are doing and have done and how many walleye are harvested compared to how many eggs they lay. I myself was very pleased with his answers and am happy they opened it. [/size]
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[size 3]I am from the mid-west and fishing early for walleyes has always been fun way to start the season and put some fish on the table. We fished the res outlets and inlets as well and never put a damper on the population or has it ever been an issue. [/size]
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[size 3]Just think about all the net fishing that the Indian reservations get to do during the spawn in MN and Wis. Now is opening the inlet that bad…my two cents worth [/size]
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[size 3]Chad[/size]
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[raghorn4]

[#ff0000]Close it[/#ff0000]. Now! I think you need to change the wording on your post though. I never had a problem with the S. marina being open or part of the canal that meets the bay. It is when the Walleye get to the 1st baffle they stack up like cordwood.
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[fishing4thehog]

Closed !!!!!!!!
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[kochanut]

great news everyone, now that the snaggers are out in full force, there are folks "reminding" them of the current laws. to help with this effort i started taking my camera, and will post pics of fish being snagged and kept along with vehicle plates and a friendly phone call to the DNR. i saw them out there last night and we chatted briefly about the WMA and whats going on at the inlet. he stated that he has recieved more phone calls about the inlet than anywhere else. good job!
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[lowdown]

I hope to see it close. I was shocked to hear that it was opened. I love fishing but refuse to be a part of this "hot spot" on principle.
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[WiperMac]

[font "Calibri"]I’m pretty sure that all the snaggers were introduced to the changes made to the Utah proclamation from the Willard and Utah Lake post put up by Gumbyk, not this one. I was told by the DWR that if they receive enough letters asking that the inlet be closed they would make the changes for next year. They can be contacted at: [/font][url "http://wildlife.utah.gov/dwr/about-us/contact-us.html"

Not all members of the fishing community are able to make RAC meetings but most visit websites like BFT. I’m looking for a long term fix not just out snapping pictures, like the paparazzi.[]
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[MasterDaad]

Having listen to the DNR professionals discuss this, my vote is to leave it open.

They don't think the impact on population is going to be nearly what the armchair biologists on this board do.

And they have several actual studies to back them up.

Leave it open with enforcement -- and it sounds like the enforcement presence is there.
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[lowdown]

The above link did not work for me. I would like to be heard, is there another link?
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[kochanut]

dont hate on my paparazzi skills, i can see into next week with the new lens i got for my nice camera [:p] im with you about the closure. what was wrong with the way the inlet was before, no fishing behinde the buoy? i dont fish willard for wall eye there are better places in my opinion but since its so close to a large population group its going to get hammered, thanks for the link. ill write something up and have my wife edit out all of my terrible grammatical errors and "colorful" words before we send it up


edit, your link does not work and i could not find anythign when i navigated around.
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[lowdown]

Having not attended the discussion on spawn impact, would someone with the information please fill me in. There may be others that would like to hear all of the pros and cons as well. The way I currently see it, the cons would have to be pretty insignificant to offset the pro (relatively easier catches of walleye).
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[MasterDaad]

The main points I recall:

1) Due to the prolific spawning capability of individual walleye, actual reproductive success is far more dependent upon environmental factors than numbers of spawning adults.

2) Walleye and Wiper populations are complimentary, as one spikes the other declines and vice-versa. Even if there is some walleye impact, the general health of the Willard Bay sport fishery will be intact as Wipers fill the gap (my assumption is now they believe the balance is tipped too far in the Walleye's favor)

3) Studies done in similar locations with open spawn fishing do not show negative impact to the Walleye population

4) DNR wanted to ensure they could encourage legal harvest and stop illegal harvest with enforcement. They believe they can and are making a serious enforcement effort. I think the number of reports from that location confirm the enforcement is present. DNR is not in the business of closing fishing opportunities for no solid reason.

5) This is a trial of both the biological science which seems solid and the law enforcement / education of proper angling. If either of those elements fail, it will close again.

After hearing all of that, I am perfectly fine with the decision to open
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[Fishrmn]

http://wildlife.utah.gov/dwr/about-us/contact-us.html
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[like.2.fly]

I voted "closed", which I hope means to keep it closed in the spring, like it has been in the past. I can't stand seeing those spawning females being harvested, snagged or not.

I also wrote the DWR requesting they reinstate the closure policy.
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