Something fishy’s going on here
DWR, sportsmen make annual pilgrimage to stock mountain fishing ponds
By Robert Stevens
Managing editor
8-24-2017
MANTI-LA SAL NATIONAL FOREST—A cooperative effort between the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) and a multitude of local volunteers has made fishing possible at many back-country Sanpete ponds for more than two decades now.
On Aug. 8, DWR biologists and more than 30 volunteers loaded up ATVs equipped with small coolers and distributed 3,000 Eastern brook trout into 18 ponds scattered around the Manti-LaSal National Forest east of Mayfield.
“Many of the waters in which the brook trout are stocked are along the Arapeen OHV trail system,” said Mark Hadley, DWR communications director. “The waters provide unique fishing opportunities for anglers of all ages and abilities.”
While the fish-stocking event started as an experiment, it has become a tradition many look forward to each year.
“The fish stocking went really great this year,” said Jackie Watson, blue ribbon fisheries biologist with the DWR’s Central Region sport fishing program. “The folks who volunteer to help stock the Manti Mountain lakes are an extremely dedicated group. Several of them have tons of history about all of the ponds, and they have really helped develop these fisheries, in addition to Brad Bradley, since the beginning.”
And it does begin with Brad Bradley. A retired DWR conservation officer, Bradley said that during his early career, he kept being pestered by fishermen who were unhappy with the availability of fish in ponds and lakes up in the national forest east of Mayfield.
Bradley decided the only way to make them happy was to try and improve the fishing in those areas, and if it didn’t work, he could at least tell them he had given it an honest effort.
Bradley said he didn’t really expect it to work; he thought the harsh winters in the mountains would kill most, if not all, fish he attempted to introduce to the area.
Nonetheless, he set about researching which fish to introduce. He eventually settled on the Eastern brook trout for its hardy nature, which he thought would have a decent chance of surviving the winter and getting big enough to be worth catching.
When nice, large brook trout started biting fishermen’s hooks, it became obvious Bradley had chosen the right fish—and added new duties to his workload. That’s when he came up with the volunteer concept.
Now, even after retirement, Bradley volunteers as part of the annual event, helping Watson and DWR Central Region sport fish project leader Mike Slater direct and organize the project. Sometimes, like this year, Bradley discovers new ponds, which the biologists and volunteers add to their list of spots to stock.
This year, DWR biologists and volunteers stocked 18 lakes and ponds, five up Six-Mile Canyon and 13 up 12-Mile Canyon. According to Watson, the fish stocked averaged 3 inches long. “They should be catchable size by next summer,” she said.
Watson said fishermen and fisherwomen who want to catch the trout need only go up and find them. And she offered some advice to people who decide to go after the brook trout.
“There are a lot of fallen logs and woody debris in the ponds, and that is where these brook trout like to hang out, she said. “Fishing jigs, like a black maribou, straight down between fallen logs usually lead to at least a couple fish caught per pond.”
Eastern brook trout are not the only fish to be caught in some of the areas, Watson said. Some of the larger ponds along the main trails like Upper WPA, Deep Lake, Shingle Mill and Spring Hill are also stocked with rainbow trout in the spring, providing an additional opportunity for anglers.
With so much volunteer support from the fishing community, Watson said she, Slater and the DWR in general hope to continue the program for a long time.
“We really appreciate all their efforts,” she said of the volunteers. “I personally look forward to working with them more closely in the future.”
Anyone with questions or an interest with getting involved in can contact Watson at jackiewatson@utah.gov or 801-616-6002, or Slater at (801) 367-5941 or michaelslater@utah.gov.
