Utah lake Northerns?

[pezvela]

I keep hearing about northerns showing up in Utah Lake from Goshen bay to Saratoga springs. One of the reports I heard was someone catching a 37" at Lincoln beach. I have seen photos of two fish that were caught at Provo Boat harbor at a bass tournament.

A friend of mine claims that Bill Loy, the carp seiner on the lake, has had northerns in his nets for years.

Another friend claims he has seen them caught through the ice off Lincoln beach.

I talked to someone else that claims he has seen and caught them where hobble creek enters the lake on that ribbon water the state and feds put in for June suckers to spawn.

While this might be good news to those of us that target northern pike, it does not bode well for the June sucker recovery program.

I am wondering if any of you can shed some light about what is going on at the lake? If in fact they have been in there for years why are they showing up in numbers now?
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[Fishrmn]

[quote pezvela]If in fact they have been in there for years why are they showing up in numbers now?[/quote]

Good question.

I guess you gotta believe they've been there for years.
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[wormandbobber]

IF they are showing up in numbers why, you could speculate that maybe the carp elimination program is working...maybe the removal of carp is not only opening up some biomass for other sport fishes, but also helping improve the lake's habitat.

But, as hinted at by Fishrmn, the question is whether or not they are showing up in numbers now....
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]Northerns are on the list of (many) species that have been "tried" in Utah Lake...by authorized plantings by DWR. Many of the experiments did not prove out but there have been a few northerns in the lake for years.

Two potential reasons for the increased numbers taken by anglers...besides more bassers fishing in the right places. One is that since the end of the last drought, back in 2005, Utah Lake has remained fairly full and there has been more reeds and structure covered by the water. Since northerns are ambush predators that favor structure...both for spawning and for feeding...the higher water years have favored their recruitment and growth.

The second potential reason is because Yuba has had an explosion of pike. It is logical to assume that a few have made the trip north in live wells...by bozos who want to do their part to add to Utah Lake's predator population.

The carp reduction program has not been successful to the extent that carp are hard to find, but any reduction in their numbers can only benefit the northerns at spawn time. Those two species spawn about the same time and in similar habitat...shallow weedy shorelines.

There were probably more northerns caught in Utah Lake during the last two years than during the previous 20. And since there were several year classes observed it is likely that they are in an expansion mode.
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[Therapist]

Northerns were one of the species, including Lake Trout, that have been introduced to Utah Lake over the years. They have always been there, but have never been able to make much progress due to poor habitat and poor spawning recruitment. As the number of Carp are reduced and the habitat comes back, recruitment will improve and numbers will increase. Now, will they become a major force in Utah Lake, unknown. Overall, it has most of what they want, so they could take off, which would endanger the endangered June Sucker, as Northern's really love sucker meat. So we will just have to wait and see how things play out. The list of different species stocked in Utah Lake is very interesting reading. BYU published a "Utah Lake Monograph" which has a listing of all the introductions and when they occurred. It used to be available at the Bean Museum.

So, Northern's have been there for years, just not in very big numbers. They are increasing, but .... who knows how well they will do !!

[pezvela]

Thanks for the thoughtful replies. I truly enjoy catching northerns almost to the exclusion of all other species. However, I hope their increasing presence does not impair the June Sucker Recovery program, not because I care about suckers one way or another, but because I believe with the carp eradication Utah lake will become a much better fishery for all of the other species. That is a great plus in any anglers book.

I am getting to be an old man and perhaps will never get to see the results of the DNR's and the USFW efforts on Utah Lake but I hope for all concerned, it turns out well.

As far as Yuba's northern fishery and new management plan, now that I have read it and discussed it with several individuals involved, I believe it has the potential to turn the reservoir into a great fishery, but once again even though northerns are in the mix, I believe that due to the huge limits this management plan imposes it will be detrimental to the Pike fishery, but for the time being Yuba is producing extraordinary northern pike trophies that keep an old man like myself excited and invigorated.

Through the efforts of the DWR and the input from concerned anglers we are seeing Utah's waters change and improve for that I am thankful. There was a time when a trip to Canada or Alaska was necessary to catch a 20 lb northern or a giant muskie from the East coast, now that is possible right here in my back yard. Wonderful!

[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]If ya get lucky ya might could even catch some of them hunnerd pound blue cats or flathead cats that the Loys are reputed to have netted over the years. Just ask any of the old goobers fishing around the shoreline. They'll tell ya all about it.
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[PBH]

[quote TubeDude][#0000ff]

There were probably more northerns caught in Utah Lake during the last two years than during the previous 20.
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How would we know this? Has there been any kind of creel surveye at Utah Lake to confirm this?



More likely, we hear more about catches today than what we heard 20 years ago. 20 years ago, we didn't have fishing forums to help spread the word about the northern than my friend who knows a guy that used to date a horse that belonged to a farmer that stole water from a ranch who's owner hunted on some private land that bordered a CWMU that a turkey hunter that bought some shotgun shells from a walmart gun-counter salesman who's step-mom (now divorced again) took a taxi ride with driver from Mexico that once lived next to a guy that caught a northern fishing off Lincoln beach.
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[bassrods]

You forgot about the dish washer at the White house who knew the cigar sales man at the White house who fished at the bubble up..[crazy][]
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[pezvela]

Although there were not forums to spread the word, information flow regarding fish has been substantial for more time than I would like to recount. In the early 70's I started to fish for walleyes on Utah lake and there was tremendous information available from anglers on the water and gossip in every sporting goods stores, pictures included as well as fishing reports in newspapers and on TV.

I can state with certain confidence that if anglers were catching northerns like they are now, whether intentional or as by catch a lot of fishermen would have known about it. I, for one, believe the numbers of northerns showing up recently is a new page in Utah lakes book. That's my humble opinion and not my cousins barbers wifes father with polio.
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]Yeah. What you said.

Anybody who fishes Utah Lake with any regularity is "tapped in" to the happenings hotline. Much better than the chalk board at Sportsmans...or online fishing reports. Some of the "regulars" keep things pretty close to the vest and don't post reports. But there are still quite a few caring and sharing anglers who are good about passing along helpful info to fellow Utah Lake fans.

Only "creel survey" I have ever been a part of was when some lady biologist waited over two hours for me to come back to shore in my float tube...so she could fill out a survey sheet and ask my opinions on the newly initiated June Sucker program. It was during the week and she admitted she had not talked to anybody else all day. And she was not overjoyed at some of my comments about sacrificing my walleyes, white bass and catfish for the benefit of the Junies. At least that sounded like what she was proposing.

Since then I have spent MANY hours in, on and around Utah Lake and have never even had my license checked...much less been surveyed by a biologist.
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[Fishrmn]

Probably haven't seen or caught many Northerns either.
[crazy]

I think you've gotta be close to a boat with a live well for that to happen.
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[Fowl-Hook]

Question to Anyone that might Know the Answer.

How many June Suckers are we shooting for with this program? Is there actually a number, or is this a moving target that will never be satisfied.
Maybe the limit will be available Federal Funding used to throw at the project.

Don't get me wrong I love the Carp Killing!!
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[Therapist]

the goal for the June Sucker program is to produce a 'viable, self sustaining population" . Now, what that entails is not well defined. However, if we can reduce the carp, increase the numbers of game fish, and have plenty of June Suckers for them to eat, I am all for it. I am not holding my breath however !! I am not as diplomatic as TD is, my guess is that all the efforts are going to fail and the feds are going to go nuclear on us to re-establish the Junies. The next phase of the project is being planned already, which is to dewater the last 2miles of the Provo River, divert it to the Northwest and establish a new "Delta" so the Suckers can have new spawning/nesting habitat. All that is public money and most likely emanate domain !!!

[Fishrmn]

Well… They planted 70,000 Junies this year alone.
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[TubeDude]

[quote Fishrmn]Well… They planted 70,000 Junies this year alone.[/quote]

[#0000FF]The annual walleye feeding program.[/#0000FF]
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[Fishrmn]

[size 6]BIG[/size] Walleyes. The Junies were about 8 inches on average.

UTAH L UTAH SUCKER JUNE 50 16.69 05/22/2013
UTAH L UTAH SUCKER JUNE 1552 7.64 05/28/2013
UTAH L UTAH SUCKER JUNE 233 11.86 05/28/2013
UTAH L UTAH SUCKER JUNE 4838 7.43 06/11/2013
UTAH L UTAH SUCKER JUNE 4057 7.43 07/05/2013
UTAH L UTAH SUCKER JUNE 3488 7.92 07/08/2013
UTAH L UTAH SUCKER JUNE 3230 7.97 07/09/2013
UTAH L UTAH SUCKER JUNE 4575 7.43 07/18/2013
UTAH L UTAH SUCKER JUNE 4575 7.43 07/29/2013
UTAH L UTAH SUCKER JUNE 3753 8.21 08/01/2013
UTAH L UTAH SUCKER JUNE 4248 7.91 08/07/2013
UTAH L UTAH SUCKER JUNE 3904 8.07 08/19/2013
UTAH L UTAH SUCKER JUNE 3297 8.31 08/20/2013
UTAH L UTAH SUCKER JUNE 3865 8 08/21/2013
UTAH L UTAH SUCKER JUNE 3510 8.23 09/03/2013
UTAH L UTAH SUCKER JUNE 3464 8.1 09/11/2013
UTAH L UTAH SUCKER JUNE 3108 8.64 09/16/2013
UTAH L UTAH SUCKER JUNE 3757 8.26 09/19/2013
UTAH L UTAH SUCKER JUNE 3482 8.53 10/01/2013
UTAH L UTAH SUCKER JUNE 3798 8.28 10/09/2013
UTAH L UTAH SUCKER JUNE 3666 8.28 10/23/2013

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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]That is a light snack for the big mama walleyes in Utah Lake. Even the smaller males can handle a pretty big sucker planter.

But in years past they were planting them at about 4 to 5 inches and every walleye within a mile of the Provo River inlet had several Junettes in it's tummy. Even the larger white bass were eating them.
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[Fishrmn]

"You're gonna need a bigger boat"
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]Then I could look for northerns...the original topic of this thread.
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