Flaming Gorge

[oldguy]

I don't think UDWR has given up on FG at all.  However, there are some questionable decisions being made by UDWR.  The biggest one is the asking anglers to harvest pup lakers like WYGF instituted.  UDWR has chosen to wait until the new regulation cycle on Jan 1st, but they are then missing an entire year of spawning fish.  They could have easily did an emergency regulation change like they do, and have done, on MANY waters in Utah so both state's regulations would line up.  These are decisions not being made by the field biologists, this is made by management in the Salt Lake office.  It would have been nice to know why they chose to wait.  Seems like the overpopulation of lakers is an emergency, but then they chose to not go that route.  Interesting.  Anyway, after being a biologist and working with my counterparts in Idaho for my entire career, I understand there are some differences of opinion, but there NEEDS to be compromise from both states (UT and WY) so regulations are easier on everyone and universal across the state lines.  WYGF will not do away with the reciprocal stamp since Utah anglers spend WAY, WAY more on WY stamps than Wyoming anglers spend on UT stamps.  Its is a total money maker for WYGF.  Sad but true that that the all mighty dollar seems to be more important than easier regulations.

I think I should clarify what I meant to say.  It's not that Utah doesn't care about FG itself.  I think they don't care to deal with WYGF anymore to make things happen.  WYGF is the screaming toddler that always gets what it wants and Utah just won't stand up to them.  WYGF has been that way for years and years.  They do what they want to do and Utah just follows suit, for reasons I don't understand at all.  I don't think Utah cares to push back on WYGF at all anymore.  They won't compromise and DWR won't stick up for us.

I would also say that their boat checks at the colonoscopy stations are ridiculous.  I have been known to push the boundaries with them a little.  Last time I went through, I had a giant dirt clod in my anchor (from my yard).  The checker only looked at my anchor rope and didn't look at the anchor itself at all.  He sent the dirt clod right through.  I tossed it in the garbage can when I launched.  What's the point of an inspection like that?


When it comes to Utah.s mussel inspection program it reeks of stupid  To check ports of entry and every ramp at every pond when only a handful of ramps (exit points) even exist at the infected water is just Government bloat at its finest. They  (the state) successfully went after funding with the biggest footprint of a plan anyone could imagine with no regard to the success rate!

To many chiefs and no indians.