Included in fishing regulations at Strawberry Reservoir this year are a reduction in the bag limit, from eight fish to four, and an allowance for anglers to keep cutthroat trout.
Last year, anglers were allowed to keep only one cutthroat. Since 1993, more than two million cutthroat trout have been stocked in the reservoir annually. Many of these fish are now 12 to 17 inches in length. Due to the increased numbers of 1- and 2-year-old cutthroats, biologists decided to give anglers the option to keep cutthroats that are mortally hooked, rather than have to release them back into the water to a sure death.The simplified regulations also were implemented because of trout identification problems. Because of similarity in appearance, many anglers have had difficulty distinguishing Bear Lake cutthroat from sterile rainbow trout.
Also, many anglers have said the Bear Lake cutthroat trout is easier to catch.
To help solve the hooking mortality and trout identification problems, the 1996 regulations allow the harvest of four trout and kokanee salmon in any combination. Only one rainbow or cutthroat trout, or rainbow/cutthroat hybrid, over 18 inches in length, may be kept. The 18-inch rule does not apply to kokanee salmon. All trout and kokanee salmon less than eight inches in length must be immediately released.
"We've done some modeling of our population at Strawberry and we feel we have an abundance of smaller cutthroats," said Roger Wilson, Strawberry project leader for the Division of Wildlife Resources. "We feel we can take some of those fish and provide harvest, as long as we protect the older spawning age fish. The older, spawning age fish consume the nongame fish and that's what we're after. We want a big fish in there to spawn and prey on nongame fish."
To increase fish survival rates, anglers are encouraged to use flies or lures. Bait hooks often are swallowed too deeply for removal, without mortal injury. Anglers also are reminded that due to the size restriction at Strawberry, they cannot fillet their fish until they get home, or are ready to cook the fish in camp.
Officers have no method for determining size of fish, once they've been filleted. Division and USDA Forest Service biologists also have determined that some catch and release/artificial fly and lure fishing should be allowed on certain tributaries, on a trial basis, during 1996.
If impact along the tributaries is significant, the tributaries may be closed again.