Introduction
As I was thinking of what to do for my capstone project a lot of different ideas crossed my mind. Maybe I could do a study on parenting and the amount of stress related to punishing your children, or maybe even a study on the amount of college students that enter college and never finish. But as I thought of what to do, and talked to some of my professors, I kept getting the feedback to do something that you really love and something that you want to see a change in. So, I chose to do an argumentative project and present to the Department of Wildlife Services a clear reason to add structure to our local lakes for the longevity of the greatest sport around, bass fishing.
Bass fishing has been around for a long time and our local lakes use to flourish with an array of large and small mouth bass. Due to some changes in our lakes, and the lack of structure, the amount of fish has dwindled. The size and healthiness of the bass species has also diminished. If we simply add structure to our reservoirs the number of healthy fish will increase, and the joy of fishing can still be taught to our offspring.
I have done a lot of studies on other lakes outside of Utah and I have noticed a dramatic difference in the fish population, as well as the wellbeing of the fish themselves. I know that the reasons behind those lakes having more fish and healthier fish is the amount of structure those lakes provide. Through this capstone I will show specific reasons structure is needed and easy ways in which we can apply the structure. If there is even the slightest possibility that structure can help the longevity of fishing, then I am going to do everything in my power to convince the people that make the decision to add structure or not, to add structure. It is necessary for the growth of our lakes, and for the growth of bass fishing.
Literature
In the article, The Right Approach written by David Brown, it talks about the need for structure and how structure is a spawning place and a hiding place for largemouth bass. It goes on to talk about how structure acts as a natural habitat and safety zone for new born fish. After reading this article it helped clear up some of the reasoning to put structure in our lakes. Another article I ran a crossed talked about the growth response that largemouth bass have when there is structure in certain areas and when there isn’t. The article was written by, Timothy Cline and John Post who are biologist at the University of Wisconsin. They did a study of largemouth bass in a closed off area with structure and then without structure. The results showed a tremendous amount of difference in the different areas of study. Fish that had structure, and places to forge for food, had a 35 percent increase in their weight than those without structure. Also the fish that spawned in an area with structure had an overwhelming success rate in the amount of baby fish that survived due to have a safe dwelling place. After studying and reading these articles I know that it is absolutely necessary to add structure to our reservoirs if we want a future of fishing for our kids, or for necessary food. (If it comes to that point)
Project Proposal
For my project proposal I decided to gather as much information as I could about the need for structure in our reservoirs, and present that information to the board of directors who are over the growth and population of our reservoirs. I plan to convince the board members, through my gathered information, that the need for structure in our reservoirs is essential for future growth.
Measurable Objectives
I started by getting a petition together on the need for change in our reservoirs. I had local fishermen sign it to see if it was as much of a problem as I thought it was. Just in our St. George community there were over a hundred people that signed the petition and had stated that the main thing we need to change; is the amount of structure that our reservoirs provide the fish.
I then went on to research environmentally safe ways in which we could add structure to our reservoirs and still maintain a balance of safety and beauty. I found out there are a ton of ways for people to simply add things such as Christmas trees or even man made bushes to the lakes. I also learned that a lot of these techniques are safer for the fish population and even make the bottom of the lake a more beautiful attraction.
After I had done some research, and really dug deeper into the need for these structures, I wanted to search if there were places that had already added structure to their lakes simply because they know that the longevity and health of the fish population does benefit from structure. There were an abundance of lakes that have already put man made as well as natural structure in their lakes, and the evidence of fish population that these lakes provide is astounding.
I wanted to focus on a few lakes close to St. George’s climate and geographical features. So I decided to focus on lake Havasu, AZ, and Clear Lake, CA, both of which are close to Utah and really portray a resemblance to our own reservoirs. I found out about the structure that was put in lake Havasu as I was there fishing a tournament for Dixie State University. As I saw, and further researched about these structures, I was intrigued to find out why they had added them, and how they had affected the outcome of the fish population. I found out that they were man-made structures, and they had been put in certain spots of the lake for fish to use as spawning beds and safety from other creatures. The results of adding these structures were amazing and I will demonstrate with results from fishing tournaments at these different lakes.
Havasu Structure
Clear Lake had a lot of different structure in their lake that consisted of some man-made stuff such as docks and boat ramps, but most of the structure in Clear Lake is natural based structure. Clear Lake has a lot of tree growth around the lake, which in turn causes some roots to grow underwater for more natural structure. Also in the building of the lake there were a lot of rocks and boulders left at the bottom of the lake for more natural structure.
Clear Lake Structures
Execution
I attended a DNR meeting in October and I had the chance to see how their meetings went and how to approach them with the concerns I had about adding structure to our reservoirs. The meeting was very helpful in the aspect of learning more about fishing regulations and more about the fishing handbook, but there really wasn’t a time to address the board about any future concerns and suggestions. One of the board members told me there was a meeting in February and that would be the time to address certain issues. I plan on attending that meeting and getting all the needed documents I can, so I can show them that adding structure is a necessity for the longevity of fish in our reservoirs.
Analysis
I feel that with all the information I have gathered, and the signatures of a lot of local fisherman, that the Department of Wildlife Services will see how important and easy adding structure to our lakes is and they will set a time and place to do so.http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=adding+structure+to+a+lake&view=detail&mid=A348187EE1874FD175A9A348187EE1874FD175A9&FORM=VIRE8
Evaluation
I absolutely feel that I have put in the time needed to build a great case to present to the DWS. I feel that this issue is a very big issue and really needs to be brought to people’s attention so we can save the awesome sport of fishing for today’s generation as well as our future generations. If there is a way to add structure to our reservoirs I know that the longevity of our bass fish population will flourish. Which in turn will lead to bigger tournaments, more fun days with the children, and maybe even catching that record bass that everyone has a fish tale about.
Clear Lake TOC October 31, 2015
Name, day one big fish and weigh in, day two weigh in, total weight, biggest fish
1 Randy Pierson 5.78 24.07 32.69 56.76 10.48
2 Vijay Malhotra 8.04 25.22 23.08 48.30 7.36
3 Bryant Smith 21.98 26.29 48.27
4 Greg Gutierrez 16.16 29.20 45.36 7.65
5 Paul Bailey 21.63 21.99 43.62
6 Wayne Breazeale 8.63 22.13 21.22 43.35
7 Aaron Britt 8.66 22.71 20.16 42.87 6.32
8 Angelo Alloro 21.36 21.04 42.40
9 Ron Tobey 22.32 19.85 42.17
10 Phil Garcia 6.42 23.52 18.03 41.55
11 Preston Henson 22.95 17.42 40.37
12 Mark Crutcher 5.56 23.91 14.91 38.82
13 Terry Bennett 13.74 24.07 37.81 5.65
14 Chad Martin 15.61 21.80 37.41 5.29
15 Ryan Friend 8.35 21.80 15.28 37.08
16 Chad LeBlanc 8.59 23.26 13.32 36.58
17 Alvin Borba 14.51 20.90 35.41 9.42
18 Gary Collins 14.71 20.50 35.21
19 Wade Durling, Sr. 17.17 17.79 34.96
20 JR Wright 20.81 13.07 33.88
21 Stacy Gee 6.16 21.59 12.28 33.87
22 Steve Consalvi 19.72 13.95 33.67
23 Howard Hughes 15.39 16.69 32.08
24 Scott Head 16.06 15.97 32.03
25 Lyle Gossett 6.36 16.44 14.83 31.27
26 Billy Hines 13.33 17.90 31.23
27 Moe Martinez 4.42 16.27 14.74 31.01
28 Tony Botelho 13.60 17.07 30.67
29 Chad Frie 12.77 15.50 28.27 6.13
30 Glenn Wolfgang 18.39 9.61 28.00
31 Jim Elliott 15.10 12.75 27.85
32 Jason Newby 17.95 9.30 27.25
33 Matt DalPorto 12.61 13.48 26.09
34 Brand Little 18.51 7.41 25.92
Lake Havasu Classic 10/16/2015
Name, amount of fish, total weight, big fish
1 TED HOLVERSON-GEORGE PERNICANO 5/5 19.33 5.35
2 MAX BAUER-CHUCK LA VIGNE 5/5 18.38 4.58
3 BOB PALASHEWSKI-DENNIS KOLENDER 5/5 18.06 * 6.02
4 JASON SIDEBOTTOM-ROBERT HENSLEY 5/5 17.53 3.95
5 MARTIN KEPPELER-WILLIAM LARSON 5/5 17.34 3.31
6 RICHARD FRANKLIN, JR.-ROBERT CASTNER 5/5 17.16 4.39
7 DONALD RIESE, SR-DONNIE RIESE, JR. 5/5 16.64 3.97
8 CHRIS STUDINGER-RANDY LEWIS 5/5 16.41 4.70
9 ALLEN TATUM-MIKE FOLKESTAD 5/5 15.82 4.58
10 BRENDON WIDICK-KATHEY HARTMAN 5/5 15.72 3.71
11 *STEVE DAVIES-*DELYNN DAVIES 5/5 15.57
12 JEFF VAN NIMWEGEN-BRAD SMITH 5/5 15.43 3.56
13 TOM LEEDOM-KEITH GUNSAULS 5/5 15.08 3.99
14 ANDY PALUCZAK-JACKSON PALUCZAK 5/5 14.91 3.53
15 MARC JEU DE VINE-KEITH RINI 5/5 14.51 3.13
16 JEREMY HAMEYER-JOEY BALDACCHINO 5/5 14.33 4.06
17 JUSTIN HANOLD-JOSH PARCK 5/5 14.00
18 ANGEL PEREZ-GILBERT VALADEZ 5/5 13.81
19 *GEORGE FEDOR-DAN INGAHAM 5/5 13.66 3.68
20 *RALPH WELLS-GARY BOYD 5/5 13.61 3.46
Quail Creek Tournament Results Oct. 10th 2015
Tournament Results
Name, total weight in pounds and ounces
1 Billy G. / Tom O. 13-05
2 Dan C. / Greg C. 11-13
3 David S. Brent P. 11-12
4 Bobby D. / Lynn J. 8-15
5 Leonard H. / Tarrin T. 8-08
5 Nordel E. / Keani M. 8-08
7 Kyle R. / Bridger R. 7-05
8 Mark C. / Brent S. 6-04
9 Brady R. / Frankie W. 5-10
10 Doug W. / Nikki W. 2-06
As you can see, from these October tournament results, the amount of big fish caught at Lake Havasu and Clear Lake clearly surpass those weights of our local tournament. The big fish caught at Clear Lake alone(highlighted) beat all but three of our team’s total weights, and that was with one fish.
I know the reason these other lakes total weight of fish are so high is because they provide some kind of structure for the fish to grow, populate, and forage for food safely. If we add structure to our reservoirs I guarantee we can also see a huge amount of growth in the sport of fishing, and a huge growth in the population of bigger, healthier fish.
Let’s address this issue and get on doing something about it.
