Warm weather in the summer months can sometimes cause a harmful algal bloom at your favorite Utah waterbody. Just a few years ago, we rarely heard about these blooms. Now, there are advisories every year. What changed? And how do these blooms affect recreation and fishing?
It's another day on the water in the middle of nowhere, and it's perfect. The deep blue sky overhead, the swirling river against the boat's hull, and the shouts of excitement when we find another fish — they're all part of a larger quest. We've launched a new project to conserve the roundtail chub and hopefully prevent an endangered species listing.
As a relatively new conservation officer, I've encountered some wild fishing enforcement cases in the past couple of years. Here are a few that really stood out.
"Why did you stock that species of fish in that water?" is one of the most common questions I get as a fisheries professional. That question is usually followed by "And, why did you stock the fish at that size?"
One day, I received a voicemail from a fellow officer who'd been contacted by a man with an incredible story. He claimed that he'd wounded a bull elk on the mountain in the fall of 2012, and his bull had just been found — six years later.
As a kid, I was not the typical girl who got excited about manicures and pedicures with mom. Instead, I'd spend all evening packing hunting and fishing gear so my dad and I could get outdoors the next morning.
If you're in search of Christmas gifts for the outdoor adventurers in your life, here's an idea: Skip the stuff and give the gift of an experience instead.