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Doubling the bag limit on smallmouth bass in Lake Powell and reducing the bag limit for largemouth bass on Tempe Town Lake are two of the recommended fishing regulation changes being considered by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission Oct. 20.

The commission is meeting in Phoenix starting at 8 a.m. on Oct. 19 and 20 at the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 2 on 19th Avenue just south of Thunderbird Road. The proposed fishing regulation changes are being considered during the Saturday, Oct. 20 portion of the meeting.

"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 a little different. "Tempe Town Lake can become a tremendous fishery. It has a slowly developing population of largemouth bass that could be easily over harvested. We want to reduce the bass bag limit from six to four, and require a 13-inch length minimum for harvest comparable to other city lakes," Riley said.

The following regulations changes are proposed for 2002;

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.

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 evaluating this proposal and will be making a recommendation to the commission.

In addition to the proposed changes above, the Fisheries Branch is doing some "clean up" on the regulations to ensure that season dates and closure dates are accurate and easy to follow. "This is pretty important. We want to ensure that anglers get the straight skinny on waters with seasonal regulation changes and posted closures," Riley said.

For instance, the posted portion of Mittry Lake is from Nov. 15 through Feb. 15. The regulations currently say Nov. 15 "through the second Monday in February."

The department is also making sure that the fishing regulations are consistent with state law regarding posting of lands by landowners.

"We will also be proposing to the commission to add yet another lake to our very successful urban fishing program. The Town of Sahuarita has been working with the department to include Sahuarita Lake to the program. That agreement is coming before the commission for action," Riley said.

Last but not least, he said, is clarifying the regulations to show that live carp may be used as bait at Lake Pleasant.

Source AG&F web site

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