This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Michael Hadley, a fisheries biologist with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, sent in this report of a recent gill net survey on Minersville Reservoir near Beaver. The gill net survey at Minersville was conducted March 23, 2012. Biologists found lots of fat, healthy rainbow trout. These fish ranged in size from 12 to 20 inches and from one to three pounds. The reservoir is completely full, meaning that rainbows will have plenty of food this year and should continue to see impressive growth. This will be a great year to visit Minersville and catch some high-quality trout. Special fishing regulations are in place at this reservoir, so consult the Utah Fishing Guidebook before you go. We also caught one seven-inch wiper that was stocked in 2011 at just two inches. Wipers are aggressive open-water predators and are being stocked in order to reduce the reservoir's abundant population of Utah chubs. Young wipers are often difficult to catch in gill nets, so seeing even one is a good sign that these hybrid fish first introduced to the reservoir last year are surviving and growing well. Anglers can expect to see wipers grow to "catchable" size in 2013. Photos:DWR fish technician Steven Price shows off two nice rainbow trout collected during a gill net survey at Minersville Reservoir on March 23, 2012.
This seven-inch wiper was collected during a gill net survey at Minersville Reservoir on March 23, 2012.
Aaron Esplin, an intern with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, shows off a 20-inch rainbow trout caught and released during a gill net survey at Minersville Reservoir on March 23, 2012.