Minersville

[Big Sky]

BigSky -- so, I'm still trying to understand:  what is it that you want done?


You are upset that Minersville is seeing an increase in popularity because the fishing has been exceptional for a prolonged period.  So, what should happen?  Do we close it down because it's too good?  Do we limit the number of people per day?  per week?  Do we limit it to only "locals" that reside in Adamsville?  Do we further restrict harvest, and require cormorants and pelicans to also practice catch-and-release?  Do we shut down the river?  Do we increase the water flows to the river?

What is it that you want?  You've complained, but i haven't heard any recommendations.  I'd like to hear what you want done.
Or, maybe what you want is what you've already done?  Just to complain?

I would like to see Minersville not be exploited so much on TV and by the media whether its social media or news media. The experience of enjoying fishing is highly diminished by shoulder to shoulder fishing. Every time one form of media or the other starts promoting the lake, the already crowded conditions get worse. Granted one can never shut down the media, but people can use a little common sense and self govern a little, rather than blasting all over social media about how great the fishing was at X lake or Y river. I guess if a person is a social butterfly and likes large crowds every where they recreate, then there isn't much can be done about that. That does ruin the experience for those of us that fish or hunt to be in a less social situation. After working all day and dealing with nearly 200 different people all day at work, the last thing I want is to deal with 200 more at the lake, or any lake in Utah for that matter. 

Do we close it down because it's too good? No
Do we limit the number of people per day? Other states have had to resort to this to maintain quality.
Do we limit the number of people per day? Again, other states have and do. 
...per week? I don't know of anywhere that does that, nor would it be feasible. 
Do we limit it to only "locals" that reside in Adamsville? No, but some states do limit guides and non-residents to every other day.
Do we further restrict harvest, and require cormorants and pelicans to also practice catch-and-release? Dumbazz question
Do we shut down the river? Yes, just keep it open for summer/fall and give it a rest the during the winter/spring. Make it artificial only like the lake so people quit feeling so tempted to run up to the lake, and use what they were using on the river. Remove their excuse that the reason they have Powerbait bottles or nightcrawlers on them, is because they forgot it was in their pocket while they were fishing below the dam. Make it catch and release as well, so people can't catch fish out of the lake and say they caught it in the river. (This does happen quite frequently btw.) 
Do we increase the water flows to the river? The flow below the dam is fine and not the problem.

Last but not least. Manage some of the other 10 lakes more carefully so they can produce bigger fish, rather than just being a put and take fishery for that year's planters. Little Res, Middle and Upper Kents have trophy potential, but will likely never reach it until they are specifically managed for size over quantity. If there was more than one choice in the area it would help alleviate some of the pressure all going to one lake. Speaking of which, focus on having New Castle and Red Creek produce fish over 18" like they both used to consistently do back in the late 80's early 90's. That way Iron county can share some of this so called success of having shoulder to shoulder people at the lake.