08-30-2016, 09:41 AM
[#0000FF]I got a later response from Chris Crockett, in which he sheds more light on the Jordanelle issue. Thanks again to our DWR folks for the work they do and the helpful info they provide.
[/#0000FF]
Thanks Chris (Penne), some of this is repeat, here are a few of the reasons we stocked wipers into Jordanelle
As Chris mentioned for the first few years they should have ample forage in a healthy zooplankton community and can fill an underutilized pelagic niche.
We have a lot of smallmouth bass "stacked up" below 300mm. Calling them stunted is likely a misnomer, but most of the biomass is tied up in small size classes of very slow growing fish. A 300mm (11 inch) SMB can be anywhere from 2-6 years old. Our online survey in 2015 found overwhelming support for increase in a larger size structure of SMB (i.e. interest in fewer small SMB if it would increase the number of larger SMB). We are optimistic the wipers can have sufficient early growth relying primarily upon zooplankton and then take advantage of smaller forage (including small (below 6 inch) SMB) in later years. Will they cull out some small SMB, yes, but we hope this will also free up some available resources for remaining SMB, while creating a wiper fishery.
Kokanee will not only create fishing opportunities, but also help improve the forage base, with some overlap in the pelagic zone.
We are stocking a rather conservative number of wipers per acre and will be monitoring wiper response/growth and the rest of the fish community. If we see deleterious impacts due to wipers we are prepared to change stocking #s, increase harvest, etc (same thought with tiger muskie).
Angler interest, our online surveys and Jordanelle Management Plan working group expressed a lot of interest in wipers (and tiger muskie). Angler interest does not trump sound management but it does encourage us to explore management actions that fulfill both criteria.
As with any management action there may be conflicting opinions and no doubt some valid criticism. I would just encourage everyone to remember we are all trying to manage a dynamic system with many challenges (water temp, water level, illegally introduced species) using our best understanding of current conditions and what we have in our toolbox.
Pat, I always welcome your suggestions and thoughts. I'd be happy for you to share this information on Big Fish Tackle but please know I usually avoid from interacting directly on the message boards. It can become very time consuming to try and answer each persons question/response but they are welcome to contact me. Take Care
[font "tahoma, sans-serif"][size 2]Chris Crockett
[/size][/font]
[font "tahoma, sans-serif"][size 2]Central Region Aquatics Manager
[/size][/font]
[font "tahoma, sans-serif"][size 2]Utah Division of Wildlife Resources[/size][/font]
[font "tahoma, sans-serif"][size 2]1115 North Main Street[/size][/font]
[font "tahoma, sans-serif"][size 2]Springville, UT 84663[/size][/font]
[font "tahoma, sans-serif"][size 2](801) 491-5655[/size][/font]
[font "tahoma, sans-serif"][size 2][url "mailto:chriscrockett@utah.gov"]chriscrockett@utah.gov[/url][/size][/font]
[signature]
[/#0000FF]
Thanks Chris (Penne), some of this is repeat, here are a few of the reasons we stocked wipers into Jordanelle
As Chris mentioned for the first few years they should have ample forage in a healthy zooplankton community and can fill an underutilized pelagic niche.
We have a lot of smallmouth bass "stacked up" below 300mm. Calling them stunted is likely a misnomer, but most of the biomass is tied up in small size classes of very slow growing fish. A 300mm (11 inch) SMB can be anywhere from 2-6 years old. Our online survey in 2015 found overwhelming support for increase in a larger size structure of SMB (i.e. interest in fewer small SMB if it would increase the number of larger SMB). We are optimistic the wipers can have sufficient early growth relying primarily upon zooplankton and then take advantage of smaller forage (including small (below 6 inch) SMB) in later years. Will they cull out some small SMB, yes, but we hope this will also free up some available resources for remaining SMB, while creating a wiper fishery.
Kokanee will not only create fishing opportunities, but also help improve the forage base, with some overlap in the pelagic zone.
We are stocking a rather conservative number of wipers per acre and will be monitoring wiper response/growth and the rest of the fish community. If we see deleterious impacts due to wipers we are prepared to change stocking #s, increase harvest, etc (same thought with tiger muskie).
Angler interest, our online surveys and Jordanelle Management Plan working group expressed a lot of interest in wipers (and tiger muskie). Angler interest does not trump sound management but it does encourage us to explore management actions that fulfill both criteria.
As with any management action there may be conflicting opinions and no doubt some valid criticism. I would just encourage everyone to remember we are all trying to manage a dynamic system with many challenges (water temp, water level, illegally introduced species) using our best understanding of current conditions and what we have in our toolbox.
Pat, I always welcome your suggestions and thoughts. I'd be happy for you to share this information on Big Fish Tackle but please know I usually avoid from interacting directly on the message boards. It can become very time consuming to try and answer each persons question/response but they are welcome to contact me. Take Care
[font "tahoma, sans-serif"][size 2]Chris Crockett
[/size][/font]
[font "tahoma, sans-serif"][size 2]Central Region Aquatics Manager
[/size][/font]
[font "tahoma, sans-serif"][size 2]Utah Division of Wildlife Resources[/size][/font]
[font "tahoma, sans-serif"][size 2]1115 North Main Street[/size][/font]
[font "tahoma, sans-serif"][size 2]Springville, UT 84663[/size][/font]
[font "tahoma, sans-serif"][size 2](801) 491-5655[/size][/font]
[font "tahoma, sans-serif"][size 2][url "mailto:chriscrockett@utah.gov"]chriscrockett@utah.gov[/url][/size][/font]
[signature]