03-24-2023, 12:48 PM
The pendulum has swung, I believe. For decades, trout was king in Utah, and they planted them everywhere. There weren't many lakes where warmwater fish could do well - mostly low-altitude and southern lakes. So that may have been a natural course of fishology.
That's changing. Either because of climate change (how I hate to type that) or just changing population of anglers, more lakes now support species other than trout. Some - like Hyrum - still support both. Others like Pineview have become non-trout waters. Still more, like Echo, are in transition and harbor cool water species like smallmouth.
I grew up where no trout could ever live. I read story after story about the magnificent rainbows and browns. I dreamed about fly fishing and what was portrayed as the quintessence of angling. And then I moved to Utah. Caught my first one in the boat of Doug Miller at East Canyon. Fished avidly for them for years. And gradually discovered that trout weren't all that. Especially planted rainbows. Dumb, weak, and not good table fare.
At the same time, the fish I grew up with fought hard, tasted great, and still delighted me with every strike. Nostalgia on a string.
That's changing. Either because of climate change (how I hate to type that) or just changing population of anglers, more lakes now support species other than trout. Some - like Hyrum - still support both. Others like Pineview have become non-trout waters. Still more, like Echo, are in transition and harbor cool water species like smallmouth.
I grew up where no trout could ever live. I read story after story about the magnificent rainbows and browns. I dreamed about fly fishing and what was portrayed as the quintessence of angling. And then I moved to Utah. Caught my first one in the boat of Doug Miller at East Canyon. Fished avidly for them for years. And gradually discovered that trout weren't all that. Especially planted rainbows. Dumb, weak, and not good table fare.
At the same time, the fish I grew up with fought hard, tasted great, and still delighted me with every strike. Nostalgia on a string.