This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Would you like to use corn as a bait to catch fish?

That proposal is one of a couple that will come up Wednesday when the Utah Wildlife Board meets at the Salt Lake City Department of Natural Resources Auditorium Thursday at 9 a.m.

According to the Division of Wildlife Resources, Utah is the only state in the West that does not allow anglers to use corn for bait. Part of the concern is that anglers might use corn to "chum", which involves tossing lots of bait into the water to attract fish. That practice is currently illegal in every water in Utah except Lake Powell. Corn is one of the easier baits to chum with.

There is also a concern about anglers leaving corn cans behind to litter.

So biologists have proposed an experimental program where anglers could use corn as bait — but not chum — during 2017 and 2018 legally at Cutler Reservoir, Electric Lake, Deer Creek Reservoir, Fish Lake, Flaming Gorge, Stateline Reservoir, Lake Powell and Utah Lake.

If the wildlife board approves the proposal, biologists will work with DWR conservation officers to see if the use of corn has led to any negative results.

The idea came in response to a fishing survey DWR posted at the agency's website. The survey garnered 3,210 responses, 70 percent that were in support of using corn.

DWR cold water sport fisheries coordinator Randy Oplinger said corn is easy to use and cheap to buy, making it popular.

He said biologists have determined that corn does not hurt fish that eat it.

"Study after study has shown that isn't the case," he said. "Fish can easily ingest and process corn."

DWR biologists are also proposing that Jordanelle Reservoir smallmouth bass regulations be relaxed. The proposal would allow anglers to keep larger smallmouth bass. Currently, anglers can keep up to six smallmouth bass, but only one can be longer than 12 inches. The proposal would eliminate the 12-inch requirement.

"Most of the smallmouths are 11 inch or less in length," said Oplinger. "Right now, trying to keep larger smallmouth bass from the reservoir, even the larger, isn't the answer to growing bigger fish. Removing smallmouth from the reservoir, even the larger ones, is the answer."

The board will also consider a Utah Bowmen's Association proposal to allow those who draw a once-in-a-lifetime hunting permit to exchange the permit for an archery-only permit. Those with a permit could use archery equipment during dates that are outside the regular once-in-a-lifetime hunting dates.