Tiger chasers grew concerned last fall when fisheries biologists announced they were suspending stocking of the warm-water monsters in Utah because they were concerned about introducing a deadly fish disease.
Viral hemorrhagic septicemia, more commonly called VHS, is a highly contagious pathogen that strikes fresh and saltwater fish. It causes internal hemorrhaging and death. The disease is not a threat to humans, but it can be fatal in 37 known species of fish.
Utah had been obtaining tiger muskie fry from sources in Minnesota, but federal officials banned the importation of fish from that state and seven others around the Great Lakes region in the winter of 2006.
Because they are a hybrid between a northern pike and a muskellunge, tiger muskies are sterile. That makes them a good fish for management because they can't get overpopulated, but it also means constant stocking is required.
No tiger muskie fry were placed in Utah this past spring, but Division of Wildlife officials have been trying to find a way to get more of the popular game fish planted in the state.
They are working to obtain a disease-free certification from northern pike at Recapture Reservoir in southeastern Utah and are trying to secure an order for muskellunge milt (fish sperm) or eggs next spring from a facility in Missouri. They then will mix the eggs and milt - the tiger muskie hybrid cross works either way - in an effort to raise their own tiger muskies.
This all will take place at the Wahweap Hatchery near Big Water close to the Utah/Arizona border by Lake Powell. The Wahweap Hatchery suffered the impact of a major flood on the creek next to the facility in 2006. Improvements are being made to stabilize the creek to prevent any further damage. That work is expected to be completed in January.
If Utah officials are able to secure the health certification on pike at Recapture and secure eggs or milt from Missouri muskellunge in the spring, Utah's own tiger muskies could be swimming in a state hatchery next summer and soon thereafter in places such as Pineview.
brettp@sltrib.com
