This weekend I got to be apart of a trout research project on the Middle Provo River called fish shocking. The study was being done by the Department of Natural Resources. I fish shocking is what it sounds like, you zap the fish with electricity. A pontoon boat with a generator, charged wires hanging off the back and charged nets to net stunned fish is pulled up the river with people manning the charged nets. As we walked up the river the fish get stunned and float to the surface while we netted as many as we could in a 10th of a mile stretch. We made 2 passes in the stretch to make sure we captured most of the fish species in the area. Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, White Fish and Sculpin fish were collected in the study. We measured length, weight and species of the over 400 fish captured. The DNR uses this data to tell what species are thriving and if some are under or overpopulated. Some of the fish do not survive the study but in the area it is ok because the river is over populated and does not have enough food sources to produce a healthy trout. I looked at this study from a fly fisherman's perspective. I would rather catch a 16 inch fish that weighs 3lbs than a 16 inch fish that weighs 1lb.
Being able to be a part of this project was a real privilege. Most anglers hope they get to do this some day but never get the chance. I learned a lot about the river I fish so frequently and have a new found respect for the delicate trout population.
