If the warm sun, lush alpine and fresh waters weren’t enough to get Utahns fishing this summer, planned updates from the state’s Blue Ribbon Fisheries Program might do the trick.
Nearly half a million dollars will go towards 11 projects spread over at least eight of the state’s Blue Ribbon fisheries, considered some of Utah’s best fishing spots, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources announced Wednesday.
The projects aim to address two major concerns: habitat improvement and increased fishing access. For instance, the proposed project for Cedar Springs Marina in Flaming Gorge includes installing a floating raft to allow fishers to reach deeper Green River waters. Floating rafts also provide welcome shade to the fish below.
At Recapture Reservoir, in southeastern Utah near Blanding, plastic structures will be installed within the lake, meant to allow algae to accumulate and natural plants to take root.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Rainbow trout are put into Smith and Morehouse Reservoir by Utah's Division of Wildlife Resources on Tuesday, June 21, 2022.
The structures, which DWR assures will not decay or harm the lake’s residents, will also offer protection for vulnerable species like the yellow perch and black crappie, who need shelter from larger predatory fish. The strengthening of the prey population will have a ripple effect, supporting the fish that anglers want at the top of the food chain.
Projects will begin on July 1 and continue through the first half of next year. The six other Blue Ribbon fisheries that will see work include Uinta mountains south slope (Oweep Creek), Uinta mountains north slope (Carter and Sheep creek drainages), Gordon Creek watershed, Little Bear-Logan watershed, Starvation Reservoir and the Lower Provo River.
Fishing is one of Utah’s most popular and money-making recreational activities. The Blue Ribbon program, first created in 2001, was formally established in 2005. Through it, a council decides which of the state’s fishing spots are the most elite, weighing 12 categories including the size of fish caught, the type of fish caught, water quality, and harvest potential.
Since the program started, 43 waterbodies including Lake Powell, Strawberry Reservoir and Bear Lake have been designated as Blue Ribbon fisheries. So have two areas in the Uinta mountains and on Boulder Mountain.
Trina Hendrick, a spokesperson for the wildlife resources division, explained that anglers are willing to pay more to fish at reputable Blue Ribbon fisheries. They’re also willing to travel further and return more often.
That’s why its greatest beneficiaries are the small Utah towns that neighbor Blue Ribbon fishing locations. Some are sparsely populated and rely on the fisheries for revenue.
The proposed projects lay the groundwork for a fishing future that Utah towns and outdoorspeople can look forward to reeling in.
