Minerville Reservoir Spring Survey - Trout,..

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Minersville Reservoir Trend Net Survey by Michael Hadley with the DWR's Southern Region.

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources conducted a trend net survey on March 27, 2014, to monitor fish populations in Minersville Reservoir, west of Beaver. We found a variety of fish, including rainbow trout up to 4-pounds in size and wipers up to 3-pounds. We even caught and released several smallmouth bass, with the largest weighing four pounds. Trout numbers were similar to what has been observed in recent years and we saw many in the 17- to 20-inch range. Trout fishing has been a little spotty lately, but may pick up as the water warms throughout the spring. Wipers have been stocked since 2011 in the hope that they will feed on the reservoir's dense population of Utah chubs and help reduce competition with trout. Wipers seem to be growing well and should provide some exciting fishing this summer.Photo captions:Utah Division of Wildlife Resources office technician Mindi Cox shows off a 4-pound rainbow trout caught and released during a trend net survey at Minersville Reservoir on March 27, 2014.Utah Division of Wildlife Resources fisheries technicians Josh Verde (left) and Weston Cleveland (middle), and conservation officer Brent Farnsworth (right) display some of the wipers caught during a trend net survey at Minersville Reservoir on March 27, 2014.Utah Division of Wildlife Resources fisheries technician Weston Cleveland (left) and fisheries biologist Stan Beckstrom (right) show off some large smallmouth bass caught and released during a trend net survey at Minersville Reservoir on March 27, 2014.

Minerville Reservoir Spring Survey - Trout, smallies and wipers, oh my...