Smallmouth bass numbers strong in Milner

BURLEY - Smallmouth bass are alive and well in Milner Reservoir and make-up roughly 32 percent of the total fish population, according to Department of Fish and Game electro fishing data. "That's pretty good numbers," said Chuck Warren, Fish and Game Regional Fisheries Biologist. "This is one of the most concentrated populations of smallmouth bass in the state." Over a four-hour period, Fish and Game staff captured 957 total fish, 311 were smallmouth bass ranging in size from two inches to 22 inches. The average size is 11 inches. Along with smallmouth bass, staff also captured 32 carp, for 3 percent of the population; 421 Utah suckers, 44 percent; 168 Utah chubs, 18 percent; 17 yellow perch and one channel catfish, for 3 percent. "This is a high percentage of game fish for the Snake River system," said Warren. "About 35 percent of our sample in Milner is game fish. In some areas of the Snake River System, game fish may only make-up one or two percent of the total fish population."