Gill net on the Bay

[WiperMac]

[font "Calibri"]Had the opportunity to help the DWR yesterday (10/15/2013) with the gill netting of Willard Bay and what an educational experience it turned out to be. First of all I’d like to thanks Chris Penne, DWR Aquatics Biologist for taking me out and allowing me to help and show me the ropes in this very importance role that they play. [/font]
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[font "Calibri"]The day consisted of pulling in 10 nets set the night before by the DWR. And collecting the fish off the net for the following: Mercury testing, scale sampling (Wipers), Otolith testing (Walleye), pectoral spine testing (Cat fish), disease control (Looking to be able to transfer fish if needed), weight, and measurement of ALL fish and then resetting the nets to do it all over again today and tomorrow. [/font]
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[font "Calibri"]As Chris has been predicting for the last year or so the Walleye numbers are starting to go down. I was expecting to see many many more eyes in the nets than we did. The size class of walleyes in the nets ranged from 17”-25”, typical of what we’ve been catching the last couple years with only a very small hand full of the younger fish coming in to fill the ranks. Of all the game fish pulled in, the walleye only beat out the smallies and the perch by way of numbers. Sad .[/font]
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[font "Calibri"]Chris seems very optimistic about the cat fishing for the upcoming years. He mentioned many times that for the last few years there has been little to no young cats coming into the nets. This year there was a lot. TD, that should make you [cool]. I have a puncher hole in the side of my left pointer finger from one of them spinning buggers as proof. OUCH!!!![/font]
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[font "Calibri"]Crappies seemed to be in good numbers and size as well. At the end of the day I was able to take a full limit of 10”-11” slabs that will be promptly made into tacos. I’ve never thought about putting much time into the paper mouths other than for the couple weeks they doing their spawn thing in the reeds but after seeing the numbers I seen yesterday I believe I’ll be taking that species a little more serious.[/font]
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[font "Calibri"]Prior to yesterday I was of the impression that there weren’t very many large wipers left in the reservoir. Boy was I wrong!!!!!! There are a lot more BIG wipers in there than I could have ever imagined. Average wiper in the net was 19”-21” and that’s no fish lie. Hard to tell by the picture but all five wipers in the picture are in that size range, and that was only in 5’ of net. I guess with size comes wisdom and that’s why you don’t get them on every trip.[/font]
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[font "Calibri"]The thing that impressed me the most was that at the end of the day, after all the testing was done, not one single fish was wasted. Either the fish was released back into the water if possible or it was brought back to the lab for more testing and to be processed for human or animal consumption. They hold us to a standard of not wasting game fish and by damned they held them self’s to the same high standard. I filleted fish till 11:30 at night. I know a lot of folks like to flame on the DWR for this and that but I for one am glad to have them working for us. A big thumbs up Chris!!!![/font]
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[fish_or_die]

Great report! thanks for sharing!
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[Therapist]

Didn't say much about the Gizzard Shad numbers and size ?? What were those results ??

[WiperMac]

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Sorry you’re absolutely right. The gizzard shad adults we netted went under the same testing as both the wiper and the walleye. That included testing for age and growth using scale and otolith testing as well as weight and measurements. Most folks don’t realize how big those adults get. I seen one that I bet was pushing 3lbs and 20+ inches. The nets used had hole openings ranging in size from 1 ¼”-4 ½” give or gave, so the baby shad numbers were next to nothing.

No comments were made one way or the other as far as size and qty so I would assume it wasn't an issue.
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[wiperhunter2]

Thanks for the report Trevor, how many hour did you pull nets? How did you get on their list for helping with the Survey?
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[WiperMac]

[font "Calibri"]We pulled nets from 8:30 to 3:30 and then lab work till sometime around 8pm. I was able to assist because I’m a member of a nonprofit org. called Friends of Willard Bay and I try to hit most if not all the RAC meetings in our area. I asked if I could assist and he said yes. I will say though that as a general rule they don’t take out many volunteers. Not sure if it’s a liability issue or what but he did mention that. [/font]
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[font "Calibri"]Who knows, maybe I just lucky[][/font]
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[Tin-Can]

Do they close WB to fishing during this gill netting? If so, will it be open this Saturday 19th? Looks as if the weather may be nice for one more trip.
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[wiperhunter2]

Well thats ok, 7 hours is a bit too much for this retired guy, that sounds like work. We pulled nets at Bear lake for about 4 hours last year and that was enough fun for me. Did any of the wiper go over 3 to 4 lbs? Sounds like a lot of those bigger wipers were the ones we caught last year that were 15 or 16". Compared to last year the eye catching this year never got hot, so it is no surprise to me that the numbers are down. I do think a lot more keeping happened last year than the DNR knew about. I know I saw several people make trips back to the ramp a few times when the catching was hot last year and my guess is that they were dropping off limits so they could go catch another one[unimpressed].
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[WiperMac]

You would have thought it was closed as we were the only ones out there but no w.b. Is still open for business.
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[Old_Coot]

[quote WiperMac][font "Calibri"]As Chris has been predicting for the last year or so the Walleye numbers are starting to go down. ... the walleye only beat out the smallies and the perch by way of numbers. Sad .[/font][/quote]

Since the walleye numbers are so disapointedly low, maybe we should open the inlet again this spring to allow more big harvests of the spawners. [crazy] [mad] [crazy]

On a better note, a big thanks to you WiperMac for assisting in that gill netting project and bringing us such an informative report.

--- Coot ---
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[wiperhunter2]

There have been few folks out there during the week for a while now. The catching is still happening but it is so slow, few folks are having any luck.[frown] This is the time when the eyes put on the feed bag so I'm guessing it is just as TD said, you got to slow it down if you want to catch fish. My next trip out there I'll be bottom bouncing at 1mph or less.
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[WiperMac]

Like I said before the average was 19 to 21 inches not the exception. On that first picture you can see my foot at the bottom of the frame and I wear a size 13 wide toe'd hip boot so.......... yes three pounders were a plenty with a couple fours in the mix.[cool]
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[fishnutts]

Hey Curt was wondering if the south marina is still open. May have to give it one last try.
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[WiperMac]

[quote Old_Coot][quote WiperMac][font "Calibri"]As Chris has been predicting for the last year or so the Walleye numbers are starting to go down. ... the walleye only beat out the smallies and the perch by way of numbers. Sad .[/font][/quote]

Since the walleye numbers are so disapointedly low, maybe we should open the inlet again this spring to allow more big harvests of the spawners. [crazy] [mad] [crazy]


--- Coot ---[/quote]

Kind of crazy Ralph but when the inlet was opened the members of this forum was in an uproar yet when it came time to go to the RAC meetings less than 10 people showed up to voice their opinion for the northern Utah region. If the inlet remains opened, the public at large are solely to blame, but if its closed you'll have the "Friends of Willard Bay" to thank. Here's hoping for the latter.[]
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[wiperhunter2]

Sorry, I haven't launched at the South marina in over a month. My guess it that it is still open but the risk is too high for me to launch there. I'm guessing it is 2' maybe 2.5' max depth and no docks.
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[rutnbuckhunting]

Thanks buddy for the report Nice. No wonder I can't catch Wipers at the bay. I have no gill net.
Rutnbuck
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[Old_Coot]

[#0060bf]"If the inlet remains opened, the public at large are solely to blame."[/#0060bf]

I see what you mean. I agree, but only to a small degree. I would have thought that good fish biology and comon sense would have been more important than popular vote. I "feel" that there was neither. But who am I? I neither attended to voice my un-schooled opinion, nor did I study fish biology enough to know that opening the inlet was the right thing to do. [crazy] And lastly, I have no comon sense! I only do my part by paying for a fishing licence that will hopefully help fund the learned to make those important and good decissions.

(Note: WiperMac, my thoughts here are not aimed at you. I'm just voicing my frustrated opinion.)

--- Coot ---
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[FishWisconsin]

How does one join the "Friends of Willard Bay"...
Willard Bay is in my back yard, and we have been friends for many years...
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[icesore]

What about all those pretty carp? I surely hope they are doing well. I need a new crop to stick with arrows.
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[tomH]

I have only caught catfish there, but I would like to catch a wiper. so do know how deep they were netted? also do you have any tips on catching them?
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