DWR asking anglers to catch and NOT release

Flaming Gorge fishermen. Photo: Courtesy of DWR

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah. — Several agencies are asking anglers to keep any lake trout under 25 inches that are caught at Flaming Gorge in an effort to improve the health of the fishery. An annual fishing tournament (that was canceled last year due to COVID-19 concerns) will resume this year to incentivize anglers to help in this effort. 

In a statement, The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources said the Mac Attack Derby is a collaboration between itself, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and the Flaming Gorge Chamber of Commerce that will focus on the restoration of the trophy fishery at Flaming Gorge Reservoir. The fishing tournament began in 2019 to encourage anglers to target and harvest small lake trout in Flaming Gorge. 

Currently, the popular reservoir in northeastern Utah — known for producing some of the largest lake trout in the U.S. — has too many small lake trout in it. In Flaming Gorge, lake trout larger than 25 inches primarily consume kokanee salmon and rainbow trout. If the abundant population of smaller lake trout (under 25 inches) is not reduced, there could be impacts on the salmon and rainbow trout populations, as well as fewer fish to feed the trophy lake trout.

“In the 1990s, an 8-year-old lake trout was about 30 inches long,” Ryan Mosley, DWR lead fisheries biologist at Flaming Gorge, said. “Today, an 8-year-old fish is about 23 inches long. On top of the decreased length, the number of small lake trout in the reservoir has increased, and we’re concerned the situation is going to get worse. We’re managing for a balanced fishery of predators and prey, and currently, there are too many predators. Reducing the number of small lake trout now will mean healthier lake trout in the future, while also increasing the survival of trout and salmon that are highly sought after by anglers. They’re already growing slower and unless we can ‘thin the herd,’ it will only get worse.”

Angler harvesting can be an effective tool for managing fisheries. Harvesting and reducing the number of smaller lake trout would provide more food for the remaining fish to eat, which would do two things:

• Allow more salmon and rainbow trout to survive so there are more for anglers to catch (because smaller lake trout also compete with salmon and rainbow trout).

• Allow the remaining lake trout to grow faster and larger (because kokanee salmon and rainbow trout are the primary fish the trophy lake trout prey on).

“Many anglers don’t realize the smaller lake trout are quite tasty,” Mosley said. “They’re one of my favorite fish to eat. In Flaming Gorge, only kokanee salmon rival them in taste.”

Lake trout limits from DWR:

The lake trout daily limit is 12 lake trout, with only one of the fish exceeding 28 inches. Anglers also have a two-day possession limit of lake trout at Flaming Gorge. During the spring, lake trout forage close to the shoreline, so anglers should have excellent opportunities to fill their limits.  

“Anglers are fundamental to helping control the number of lake trout in the reservoir,” Mosley said. “Many anglers don’t fish the Gorge’s open water this time of year, so there’s very little fishing pressure. It’s a great time to get out and target these smaller fish.” 

Derby info from DWR:

The Mac Attack Derby is scheduled for April 24-25 and is open to both boating and shoreline anglers. Each angler can submit 12 lake trout less than 25 inches each day of the tournament. Prizes will be awarded for the most pounds of lake trout turned in during the two-day fishing tournament.  

“We hope efforts like this derby serve as an educational opportunity to address growing concerns about lake trout and the overall health of the fisher at Flaming Gorge,” Mosley said.  

For more information and to register for the tournament, visit the Wyoming Game and Fish website or the Flaming Gorge Chamber of Commerce website. If you have questions about specific locations or techniques to target smaller lake trout at Flaming Gorge, call Mosley at 435-885-3164.