Should
The Smallmouth Limit Be Increased At Lake Powell?
Should the smallmouth bass limit be increased at Lake Powell but cut the
crappie limit there in half?
Should the largemouth bass limit at Tempe Town Lake be reduced?
Those are two of the questions being asked the public during a series of
public meetings throughout the state on proposed fishing regulation changes.
“At Lake Powell, we are working closely with our counterparts in Utah
for both states to increase the bag limit on smallmouth bass to 20 to increase
the harvest. Powell is top heavy with small smallmouth and the population needs
trimming to increase the grow outs for the remaining fish,” explained Arizona
Fisheries Chief Larry Riley.
At Tempe Town Lake, the concerns are the exact opposite. “Tempe Town
Lake can become a tremendous fishery. It has a slowly developing population of
largemouth bass that could be over harvested. We want to reduce the bass bag
limit from six to four, and require a 13-inch length minimum for harvest,”
Riley said.
The following public meetings are scheduled
·
Sept. 20, Tucson 7 to 9 p.m., Arizona
Game and Fish Department Tucson Regional Office, 555 North Greasewood Road;
·
Sept. 21, Yuma 7 to 9 p.m., Arizona
Game and Fish Department Yuma Regional Office, 9140 E. 28th St.;
·
Sept. 24, Mesa 7 to 9 p.m., Arizona
Game and Fish Department Mesa Regional Office, 7200 East University;
·
Sept. 26, Kingman 7 to 9 p.m., Arizona
Game and Fish Department Kingman Regional Office, 5325 North Stockton Hill Road;
·
Sept. 27, Flagstaff,
7-9 p.m., Flagstaff Regional Office, 3500 S. Lake Mary Rd.;
·
Sept. 28, Pinetop,
7-9 p.m., Pinetop-Lakeside Town Council Chambers, 1360 Niels Hansen Lane.
The proposals will be brought before the Arizona Game and Fish Commission
for final consideration at its public meeting in Phoenix Oct. 19-20 at the
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 2 on 19th Avenue just south of
Thunderbird Road. The following regulations changes are proposed for 2002;
1.
Reduce the limit of largemouth
bass from 6 to 4 in Tempe Town Lake and require a 13-inch length minimum for
harvest.
Rationale:
Recent surveys of Tempe Town Lake have shown limited reproduction of largemouth bass in the lake. As this lake is located within the city of Tempe, this water will continue to have ever-increasing angling pressure. The proposed regulation change will protect recruiting age classes of bass and will establish regulations similar to urban lakes within the area (i.e. Papago Park and Kiwanis Park).
2.
Reduce the unlimited trout harvest
season by one month. The current unlimited season
runs from Sept. 1 to May 1. The proposed unlimited season will run from Sept. 1
to April 1, a one month reduction, on Nutrioso Creek including Nelson Reservoir
located in Apache County.
Rationale:
The
current unlimited bag/possession limits prevent us from stocking in April. This
is especially critical for Nelson Reservoir that normally has a 4-6 week
stocking window due to rapid plant growth and resulting pH spikes. Reducing the
liberalized bag limit season by one month will allow us to extend angler
opportunity and maximize use of the narrow stocking window at Nelson Reservoir.
Creel use data for Nelson Reservoir demonstrates that this reduction will not
impact the existing trout or native Little Colorado spinedace populations.
3.
Reduce
trout and channel catfish bag and possession limits for Fortuna Pond. Trout
limits will be reduced from six fish to
four fish, and channel catfish limits will be reduced from 25 fish to four
fish.
Rationale:
An
intensive put-and-take fishery was developed at Fortuna Pond in 1999. The
fishery, within 10 miles of the town of Yuma, is frequently stocked with trout
(winter) and channel catfish (summer). Because of positive input and intensive
use from the angling public, we are requesting the bag and possession limits for
trout and channel catfish be reduced. These daily bag limit reductions will
establish a more fair and equitable distribution of fish per angler.
4.
Proposed for Lake Powell, increase bag limit on smallmouth bass to 20,
reduce bag limit for largemouth bass from six to five fish, and reduce bag limit
on crappie from 20 to 10 consistent with changes proposed by Utah Division of
Wildlife.
Rationale:
The
average size of smallmouth bass in Lake Powell is smaller now than it was from
1990 to 1997. Growth
has slowed for most fish due to competition with each other for limited food.
The physical condition of the fish has also declined. Increasing harvest to
reduce population will enhance growth and condition of the smallmouth
population.
Largemouth
bass, on the other hand, are not present in large numbers due to limited nursery
areas. They grow larger than smallmouth bass and are highly prized by anglers.
The proposed bag limit decrease will further protect the largemouth bass
population.
The
lack of nursery cover also limits black crappie and it has resulted in limited
crappie survival. Harvest reduction will also safeguard this population. Since
the vast majority of Lake Powell is in Utah, but often accessed through Arizona,
the department wishes to maintain simple, consistent, regulations whenever
possible.
5.
Close Raspberry Creek in Greenlee County to fishing for Gila trout
recovery.
Rationale:
Gila
trout were introduced into formerly fishless Raspberry Creek in November 2000,
and they are the only fish species that occur in the creek. Gila trout cannot be
legally taken or possessed until they are down-listed and a special rule is
enacted allowing for sport harvest. No fishing opportunity will be lost as a
result of the closure.
6.
Identify existing seasonal U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuge closures at
Cibola and Martinez lakes.
Rationale:
Both
Cibola Lake and portions of Martinez Lake have been closed to entry in the
Refuge regulations for several years to protect waterfowl. This is a request
from both the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge and the Imperial National Wildlife
Refuge to clarify and provide consistent regulations.
7.
Change regulations on JD, Middle, Elk, and Perkins tanks (Coconino
County) to catch and release only, artificial lures and flies with single
barbless hooks.
Rationale:
It has been proposed to change JD, Middle, Elk, and Perkins Tanks from a protected slot limit regulated fishery to a catch and release fishery. These waters are currently managed under the Blue Ribbon concept to provide larger than average fish and a quality experience. All are small productive bodies of water (six surface acres or less) located south of Williams, and all but Perkins are on the same drainage.
The department is currently evaluating secondary production to be sure these waters can still grow the larger fish desired. In addition, we will be conducting creel and opinion surveys this summer on the tanks to further validate the need and desire for “Blue Ribbon” fisheries on these tanks and the acceptability of more stringent method of take and harvest regulations to achieve this result.