fishinfool wrote:
.........DWR recently did gill net study and looks like the wipers are well established and my dad is worried about his trout. They planted a bunch of nine inch trout last fall and doesn't look like any made it.
First net 22 wipers 2 20+ inch trout
Second net 21 wipers 1 20+ inch trout, 1 chub.
Not small mouth were netted.
fnf

There is a misconception that all fish are
equally spread out throughout a body of water. This is the
90% thinking (10% of the fishermen catch 90% of the fish,
90% catch 10 percent of the fish). In fact, wipers should not be in the same locations that trout or SMB are located, especially this time of year.
Additionally, gill nets are also sized and shaped somewhat specific to the type of fish. I know that Walleye gill nets usually don't catch bass and trout of smaller sizes usually swim right through a gill net set up for bass. Wipers are probably more like bass in their profile.
Still, poor Minersville had had issues for as long as I have recollection, and that includes my youth in the late 60's fishing it.
IF the trout and SMB are suffering, but the cubs get cleared out, well at least they wipers don't reproduce and can be controlled with liberal limits and reduced stocking.
Family down there tells me the fishing at Minersville is as good as it has been in years, especially with the low water they have had.
I wish the Minersville fishery the best.
My bucket list has a hole in the bottom of the bucket.