The Board approved a 10-fish limit for yellow perch at Yuba and included a mandatory catch-and-keep on the fish between Jan. 1 and April 30. Anglers have been patiently waiting for Yuba to open up possession of perch for a while and even solicited a regulation allowing the practice at meetings in fall 2006.

Anglers said the perch population was growing rapidly and could handle the pressure. They warned that if left unchecked, the perch would expand too rapidly and end up busting when the numerous adults started to feed on their own fry.

Fisheries staffers from the Division of Wildlife Resources' Salt Lake office heard the pleas, but said the regulation change time period was in the spring and they didn't want to propose a radical change without allowing time for comments.

So the perch continued to take over Yuba and reports are that the panfish are already becoming stunted from a lack of food. A 10-fish limit is hardly worth the effort for anglers to head to Yuba; the only dent in the population will come when the perch collapse.

Anglers missed out on some great fishing last summer and this fall and now have little reason to head to Yuba where it will be at least another year before the perch fishing picks up again.

It's all unfortunate.

Other regulation changes starting Jan. 1 include:

* Fish can be filleted at Utah waters with the following exceptions where size restrictions are in effect and law enforcement officers may need to measure the catch: Strawberry Reservoir and Panguitch Lake trout and Jordanelle Reservoir bass.

* Spearfishing limits will be the same as regular fishing limits. Jordanelle, Yuba and Pineview reservoirs have joined the list of places where spearfishing can take place. Spearfishers will not be allowed to hunt tiger musky at Pineview.

* Spearfishing will no longer be allowed at Joes Valley Reservoir.

* The 2008 spearfishing season runs June 1 to Nov. 30.

* Biologists are coming up with a list of bait and baitfish restrictions to prohibit substances with a probability of carrying aquatic disease. The list will appear in the 2008 Utah Fishing guidebook, formerly known as the proclamation.

* A six-bass limit will be in place at Sand Hollow Reservoir, but only one can be longer than 12 inches.

* East Canyon Creek, the South Fork of the Ogden River, Wheatgrass Creek and the Electric Lake tributaries will be moved to general statewide regulations.

All of the rules approved by the board can be found in the 2008 Utah Fishing Guidebook, which state officials say will be available at www.wildlife.utah.gov by mid-December.

brettp@sltrib.com