Posts: 3,517
Threads: 27
Joined: Apr 2006
Reputation:
3
I have a question concerning this little body of water, while some discussion concerning Red Fleet and Starvation concerning the stocking of perch and kokanee has been brought up I haven't seen anything addressing Pelican. I think it was last year there was a survey posted on what the fisherman preferred to have stocked in the lake (Bass, Bluegill, or both) if it was decided they were going to poison the lake to get rid of the carp. I haven't heard or seen anything addressing this lately. I would sure like to see it return to the way it was in the late 70's with the magnum bluegill as well as some nice LMB. [fishon]
[signature]
Posts: 36,163
Threads: 307
Joined: Sep 2002
Reputation:
62
[#0000FF]Haven't heard anything recently. But there is no way that lovely little pond can ever return to its former wonderfulness until the carp are eradicated and they are blocked from entering in the future...from the Ouray Canal.
Poisoning costs money...and as I understand it there are no Rotenone supplies available. That may have changed.
[/#0000FF]
[signature]
Posts: 943
Threads: 1
Joined: Sep 2002
Reputation:
2
The plan is currently being formulated for Pelican. We will be having another meeting in April. The committee is in complete agreement that Pelican needs to be restored to as close as possible to its former greatness. Water practices have changed through the years which is affecting the fish populations and is being studied. Years ago the lake under went a substantial winterkill each year which helped to produce the massive bluegills it's famous for. With different water use practices, those winterkills aren't happening as regularly so average size has dropped. Additionally the carp have reduced water quality further impacting gamefish. The current plan calls for a screen upstream at Cottonwood Res. and another at Pelican's inlet. Rotenone is the probable method to eradicate the carp since no other method is practical or effective.
One other fly in the ointment that must be considered is that Steinaker Dam has been determined as unsafe and will undergo repairs in 2018 (likely). Steinaker was likely going to be the source of bluegill and bass for restocking Pelican. Depending on what happens with Steinaker's fishery, that may have to be rethought. Whatever happens, the plan is to eradicate the carp and prevent them from re-establishing, then get the fishery back up and running ASAP. This is super important to Utah agnlers and to the Basin's economy. Hope that answers some of your questions.
[signature]
Posts: 943
Threads: 1
Joined: Sep 2002
Reputation:
2
One other thing -- We don't want to have Red Fleet, Pelican and Steinaker either down or rebuilding all at once.
Red Fleet is being restarted and is in progress with some rainbows, cutthroat, wiper and now perch currently in the reservoir and crappie, walleye (sterile) and mountain whitefish going in this year. BTW there is an emergency rule change that there is no perch harvest allowed until July of this year to allow them to spawn first. With only 1,050 in there I don't think there will be much threat of finding enough to harvest, but oh well.
With the prospects of Steinaker being greatly affected if not totally killed due to draining it for dam repairs in 2018, that would affect two major fisheries in the area so plans may be altered for the treatment of Pelican so it won't be out of commission too in 2018. We just have to wait and see if the BOR will be able to repair the dam with enough water left in it to sustain the fishery. Hopefully Red Fleet will be flourishing by then.
[signature]
Posts: 3,517
Threads: 27
Joined: Apr 2006
Reputation:
3
Thanks for your reply on this lake, It's been a favorite spot for the wife and I to ice fish since 1977. We haven't fished it for several years now do to the decline in bluegill numbers and size. I was thinking that Mantua near Brigham City received bluegill stocked from Pelican back in the late 80's or early 90's maybe that lake could return the favor. Thanks again.
[signature]
