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I went fishing on the Weber just below Taggarts last night and I could no believe how much trash there was in the river and all over the banks. There were beer cans, plastic bottles, rafts, tubes, hats, flip flops, oars, and just about anything you can take with you on a tube down the river. The deep slow holes that run into the banks were the worst. When you look down in the water all you see is cans and crap and tubes and rafts stuck in the shrubbery on the banks. The quantity of tubers/rafters this past summer quadrupled and so did the trash. I have never seen it so bad.
The fishing was good though! The browns are starting to bed.
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That's too bad.
How many bags of garbage did you pack out?
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There needs to be some regulation on that stretch of the river for the Cutthroat Trout Fisherman.
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If I was going on a garbage clean up I would of brought garbage bags not my fly rod. I did however take out one white fish so in a way I cleaned up some trash.
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Not sure what the difference is but some of the worst offenders are the landowners themselves. Been accessing some private areas lately on the Weeb and some landowners use their riverfront property as dumps and landfills. Great stewards...
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Just a few thoughts on the Weber. I have fly fished her for more than 30 years and have alot of fond memories.
First, I agree completely about the trash and condition. I have long said that she should be the most important blue ribbon river in northern Utah. Possibly only second to the Green. She is abused by landowners, fishermen and neglected by the DWR. Sadly, it will probably never change. Too much neglect and abuse by everyone involved. Her water is controlled and coveted by too many with money and power to keep things status quo. Sad.
I agree with you about you are there to fish, not provide garbage detail however, If you were to do just a little bit as well as to encourage others, things could be pushed in a positive direction. For many years I have carried a couple grocery bags in the back of my vest. At the end of the day, if I have time and light, I simply pull one out and fill it and haul it out. Only takes a few minutes and it moves things in a positive, if small, direction.
Last thought, about whitefish. Those little guys are native to the river and deserve a little respect. Please don't destroy them just because you find them distasteful personally. They are actually a good barometer of water condition, needing clean cool water to thrive. If you're not going to smoke them and eat them, just release them and send them on their way. Actually they are a very good way to stay on top of your nymphing game. If you are catching them regularly, you are probably doing something right.
Ed
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[quote slimerslayer]Not sure what the difference is but some of the worst offenders are the landowners themselves. Been accessing some private areas lately on the Weeb and some landowners use their riverfront property as dumps and landfills. Great stewards...[/quote]
Some ideas on what the difference is. First, you guys are right. The landowners sometimes are messy. Back in my undergrad days, I used to frequently fish the middle Weber between Rockport and Echo. I can't tell you how many trout I caught around car bodies. I would like to think though that many landowners aren't slobs with their streams. The middle Provo doesn't have this problem where I was. Next, the middle Provo is heavily utilized by flyfishermen and hikers, but there aren't many tubers. Almost all the garbage I see on the Lower Provo seems to be from tubers. (flip flops etc.) The OP mentions that the tubers seem to be cranking out a lot of this trash on the Weber. However, flyfishermen and hikers seem to be clean for some reason. Finally, where I was on the middle was AFL. I hate to say it, because I like to fish with gear too, but AFL areas seem to be cleaner for some reason.
Why does this matter? Because during the recent legislative battles regarding stream access, the Farm Bureau and landowners constantly complained to our esteemed representatives that the "radical flyfishermen" fighting for stream access were the ones trashing the rivers and our idiot legislators basically bought it. This little thread shows evidence that it is pretty much every one except the flyfishermen trashing the streams.
Food for thought.
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Absolutely agree with the cleanliness along the Middle Provo. I've turned to fishin the Weeb more so nowadays just because there are less people even with the Provo being a more pristine stretch of water. I've caught lots of trout around those old car bodies myself.Landowners really utilized those after the huge water year we had back in 83....great habitiat now. I will continue to hit the good ole Weeb ( with trashbags in my vest ) for years to come. This time of year is the best...water is as clear as the Provo ! Will be out tomorrow. Good luck to whoever's fishin this weekend....beautiful fall weather.
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ie wrapper in the two trips.