Northern in the Jordan River Yesterday

[Sotally_Tober]

Since I saw the Tiger in Willard. I thought I might as well post a Pic of my buddies buddy that caught this in the Jordan River Yesterday. And I went slimer fishing on Saturday in the boat, what was I thinking.
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[albinotrout]

It is amazing what you can pull out of the Jordan.
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[happybob91]

Since we're talking about vicious toothy critters, I was wondering if there is any truth to a piranha being found in the Jordan River, or if it's an urban legend
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[Envenomation09]

It is true.
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[pezvela]

Northerns appear to be showing up more frequently in Utah lake so it was just a matter of time until they were in the Jordon. Until last year I hadn't heard much about the northerns. Does anyone know where they came from or how long they have been in the lake? Someone told me that Bill Loy, the carp seiner, has been catching them for a long time, but I'm unsure if that is correct. I personally enjoy fishing for them above almost every other specie, but I'm unsure if I am glad they are in Utah lake to feed on the walleye.
Also all of the pictures of the fish I have seen in recent years appear to be of the same age class. Any thoughts about that?

Captain Steve Henline Hand in Hand Outdoors

[Fishrmn]

[quote pezvela]Also all of the pictures of the fish I have seen in recent years appear to be of the same age class. Any thoughts about that?[/quote]

Just about the right size to fit in a live well. Never heard much about Northerns for the last 30 years. Now they're showing up? All about the same size. If they have been there for thirty years, where were they? Where are the big old spawners?
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[TyeDyeTwins]

Oh man it looks like I need to spend more time on the Jordan!!!!!
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000FF]Northern pike are one of the many "trial" species introduced into Utah Lake by DWR...before the June Sucker Recovery Program. No official date when they were first put in but probably sometime after the big drought in the early 30's that left the lake full of carp and not much else.

Northerns survived but did not really prosper. There have been a few taken by anglers over the years but the last recorded catch on rod and reel was in the '80's...until the past couple of years. Now they are showing up in several year classes...indicating a spawning population.

Some say that the past few years of higher water, with more reedy habitat, has allowed the pike to have better living conditions. It has certainly helped largemouths, crappies and bluegills.

Others speculate that the expanding population of pike in recent years is the result of the explosion of pike in Yuba...bucket biology transplants. Not much of a problem to bring a few up the road in the live well and "download" into Utah Lake.

My money is on the latter scenario. Heard tell of some guys bragging about doing just that thing. Dipwads. The same guys or their kin that put white bass in Deer Creek...and bullheads.

There is definitely a building population of pike. There is a mandatory keep and kill regulation in place.
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[Gemcityslayer]

If they really take hold, do you think it will help or hurt the lake?
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[Flyfishinglover]

Looks like someone is going to start trolling up and down the river in his pontoon with all his pike gear [laugh]
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF][cool]Which answer do you want...the ecologist or the angler? If I were a Junie-hugger I would be aghast at the horrific proliferation of sucker-munchers. But as an angler...with an appreciation for pikekind...I kinda like the idea of them adding to the diversity in the lake. Getting to be more like a box o' chocklits.

There is plenty of habitat and pike fodder in Utah Lake. They won't actually seek out suckers...to the exclusion of all other species. Neither do walleyes, catfish, white bass or largemouths. But anything that negatively impacts the sucker recovery program is on the public enemies list.

In Yuba they have proven to enjoy an occasional snack of carp so they ain't all bad.

I say thumbs up.
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