06-14-2011, 02:42 PM
[cool][#0000ff]For me, school is still out on the "improvements". I need to fish it a few times during the course of the year to form a real opinion. My gut feeling is that they did it more for "esoteric" reasons...for basic appearance...rather than to enhance the wildlife habitat or improve fishing.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There are still miles of shoreline with plenty of brush and reeds. But there were some special pockets and holes in that area...at the right depths...that almost always held fish. You and I shared a couple of those last year. There will still be some offshore reed beds, but without the shoreline vegetation it will not be the same.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I watched the progress of the "eradication program" and wondered how far they were going to take it. Also wondered what impact it might have on the resident critters and fishes. The first clue came when I caught a big ol' kitty back in March, right after iceout. It was full of small frogs. (see attached picture) I have NEVER caught another cat from Utah Lake that had even ONE of these small frogs in it. My best guess is that they were burrowed in the mud before the shoreline cover was burned and removed late last fall. When they came out of hibernation their homes were gone and they were exposed...to catfish predators.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I fished Utah Lake in the days before all of the invasive plant species began to ring the lake and take over the shoreline. In those days (the 70's) that stretch of shoreline was rocky rubble and clean sand. It was a highway for all species and was especially good for bank tanglin'. I used to paddle my tube along the shoreline tossing plastic jigs and about this time of year I caught lots of walleyes.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I am sure some folks are happy with the new look. I noticed several bank tanglers fishing along there Monday. First spring in many years it has been open enough to fish. I didn't see them catching anything but the fish will come in.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I'm sure it is all part of the Utah County Park system of upgrading. The put in that new free access park to the south of Lindon and the nice bike trail around the shoreline. But the heavy growths of reeds and other vegetation kept it an area where "certain elements" of society would use the growth as cover for their misdeeds. It was not a good place for family oriented folks to go. It was hoped that by removing the screens it would deter those unwanted activities...as well as duck hunting.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Hey, you still got a lot of cover to hide in.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]DEAL WITH IT.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There are still miles of shoreline with plenty of brush and reeds. But there were some special pockets and holes in that area...at the right depths...that almost always held fish. You and I shared a couple of those last year. There will still be some offshore reed beds, but without the shoreline vegetation it will not be the same.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I watched the progress of the "eradication program" and wondered how far they were going to take it. Also wondered what impact it might have on the resident critters and fishes. The first clue came when I caught a big ol' kitty back in March, right after iceout. It was full of small frogs. (see attached picture) I have NEVER caught another cat from Utah Lake that had even ONE of these small frogs in it. My best guess is that they were burrowed in the mud before the shoreline cover was burned and removed late last fall. When they came out of hibernation their homes were gone and they were exposed...to catfish predators.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I fished Utah Lake in the days before all of the invasive plant species began to ring the lake and take over the shoreline. In those days (the 70's) that stretch of shoreline was rocky rubble and clean sand. It was a highway for all species and was especially good for bank tanglin'. I used to paddle my tube along the shoreline tossing plastic jigs and about this time of year I caught lots of walleyes.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I am sure some folks are happy with the new look. I noticed several bank tanglers fishing along there Monday. First spring in many years it has been open enough to fish. I didn't see them catching anything but the fish will come in.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I'm sure it is all part of the Utah County Park system of upgrading. The put in that new free access park to the south of Lindon and the nice bike trail around the shoreline. But the heavy growths of reeds and other vegetation kept it an area where "certain elements" of society would use the growth as cover for their misdeeds. It was not a good place for family oriented folks to go. It was hoped that by removing the screens it would deter those unwanted activities...as well as duck hunting.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Hey, you still got a lot of cover to hide in.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]DEAL WITH IT.[/#0000ff]
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