The Division of Wildlife Resources recently completed their gill net surveys in local reservoirs. They went to Electric Lake, Scofield, Millsite Reservoir, Huntington Reservoir, Ferron Reservoir and Joe’s Valley.
Aquatics Biologist Calvin Black and his crew sampled Joes Valley Reservoir with five nets. Calvin said that some nice splake were netted. Many ranged from 15-25 inches. One weighed seven pounds. Cutthroat trout averaged 12-20 inches with the biggest one weighing three pounds. On Oct. 12, one party of anglers caught a 32 and 36 inch tiger muskie.
Mike Milburn, who catches tiger muskies on a regular basis, recently used a 5-inch brownish green swim bait called the Bass Assassin on a 3/8 oz. jig head. Using that rig last week, he landed two lunkers that approached 40-inches in 10-15 feet of water.
The fishing report recorded conditions at Electric Lake. Tyrel Mills fished on Oct. 2 and caught a 14-inch cutthroat trout. Conservation Officer TJ Robertson said that anglers have done well fishing off the dam. Cutthroats have been taking redside shiners or other minnows. Next year, the kokanee salmon in Electric Lake will be protected from early September to mid-November in order to ensure successful spawning.
At Ferron Reservoir the gill netting in early October revealed that brook trout ranged from six-17 inches with many in the 13- to 15-inch range.
On Oct. 15, Aquatics Biologist Calvin Black pulled gill nets and reported netting splake, tigers, cutthroats and rainbow trout at Millsite Reservoir. In general, the trout of all species averaged 1-2 pounds and appeared healthy. Calvin said most of the splake are in deeper water and close to rocky structures, while cutthroats and rainbows are in shallower water, and are especially prevalent near the inlet. State Park Manager Jonathan Hunt said boat docks have been removed. He also said that his fishing experience at Millsite two weeks earlier was excellent.
This summer, 700 6-inch cutthroat trout were planted from the forks of the Huntington upstream to North Hughes Canyon. Subsequent sampling along the creek indicated the planters had taken hold. On the left fork, most fish, especially the brown trout, will be at the upper end, downstream from Millers Flat.
Fishing is good from Electric Lake downstream to North Hughes Canyon. You’ll find fair fishing from South Hughes Canyon to the zone where flashfloods have scoured the streambed. Fishing becomes progressively slower downstream.
At Huntington Reservoir students from Todd Lauritsen’s science class at Mont Harmon Junior High took part in the gill net survey.
Black did a presentation for the students concerning the work they do with the fisheries and the science involved.
Fall gill net surveys yield fishing information
"DWR personnel collect the nets at Millsite Reservoir."