Pigeon Lake Fisheries Management Plan

[Rob Miskosky]

PUBLIC MEETING
Review of the Proposed Management Plan and Fishing Regulations for Pigeon Lake and an opportunity to provide feedback.

Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
Fish and Wildlife Division
Fisheries Management Branch, Red Deer
Will be Hosting Two Public Meetings:

FIRST MEETING:
When: March 3, 2009, 7:00pm
Where: Nisku Inn, 1101-4th St. Nisku AB.

SECOND MEETING:
When: March 5, 2009, 7:00pm
Where: Wayside Inn, 4103-56th St. Wetaskiwin AB

[BBJTKLE&FISHINGADVENTURES]

Count me in , Might be my chance to actually speak to the people that matter instead of sending letters with no reply . Im there .Hopefully we can get others out .

[BigRackLover]

Is the proposed plan available to review before the meeting? If so, where can I find it?

[BBJTKLE&FISHINGADVENTURES]

Originally Posted by BigRackLover

Is the proposed plan available to review before the meeting? If so, where can I find it?

Ive been looking also , but nothing , Makes me wonder where these people hear that there going to put a bait ban on Pigeon well here's the 2009 proposed changes and there's nothing stated .And nothing about Pigeon lake ither .

http://srd.alberta.ca/fishwildlife/f...ble_100608.pdf

[Rockymtnx]

Originally Posted by BIGBADJOHN

Ive been looking also , but nothing , Makes me wonder where these people hear that there going to put a bait ban on Pigeon well here's the 2009 proposed changes and there's nothing stated .And nothing about Pigeon lake ither .
http://srd.alberta.ca/fishwildlife/f...ble_100608.pdf

BBJ, you better make sure you can attend a meeting.
I think there is going to be many disappointed anglers (including myself) with what is going to be announced. It sure is being kept hush hush. Remember they aren't just holding a public meeting for the good of their health.

Unfortunately I won't be able to attend these meetings. So you boys make sure to voice your opinion for me.

[bowbow]

You know. I dont post much on here but I am going to give my thoughts on all this talk about bait bans, tag systems and all that great stuff.

Personally, I think its a great idea because in my mind all across Alberta needs help and bad. Ive noticed in my experience that during the warm months you rarely see as many fish being kept and taken home and the ice season you theres fish on the lake everywhere. People are keeping fish left and right and I do not understand why. Our lakes are small and the few lakes that have good numbers of big fish are all taken home and in a few years its near impossible to find good fishing. I know of this from a few lakes that Ive fished often over the years. I think that us as fisherman(woman) need to regulate ourselves on keeping fish because i know that theres alot of people who may take their limit of pike home and then go out the next weekend and keep another 3 pike... while there are fish in the freezer.
Support Catch and Release, I cant stress it enough.
(I just kept 2 walleye from a lake that 3 can be kept for the first time in 5 years or more, because i wanted to eat walleye)
Now, along with this bait ban.. I dont see why this would want to be in affect unless they really want it to be a trophy lake and are trying to do the same sort of things like trout lakes.
I am going to try pretty hard to go and listen to what they have to talk about and what it is they want to get as a response from the anglers. As for Pigeon lake, I think a lot more than just a bait ban has to be in effect... that lake is in trouble...
Regardless, it wont bother me if lakes are catch and release only and as for a bait ban.. I am pretty sure I can get over that and use the artificial lures that are out there to catch fish.
But I think that the anglers need to work together on this more than rely on fish and wildlife. They know the biology and populations and how to control that aspect of the lakes so why dont we encourage some catch and release.

** Do they want a bait ban so that fewer number of fish are caught, which in turn means more fish are released healthy rather than risk that chance of later dieing after the release?

Thanks guys.

[BigRackLover]

So is that the official rumor? Bait Ban? What else? Do you have any evidence? Example a document or annoucment?

[BBJTKLE&FISHINGADVENTURES]

Did anyone make it to the meeting yesterday ? Wondering what sorts of idea's were brought up.

[fish-man]

Bait ban?

Has the fishing gotten that much worse in Pigeon the last couple of years? I remember catching walleye at will; the problem wasn't too few of them but too many, with not enough food.

[BBJTKLE&FISHINGADVENTURES]

Here folks I was able to get the data that was handed out at meetings and am posting it for everyone to view.

[budd77]

If a bait ban was implemented on Pigeon Lake what would the walleye eat? If you take away the millions of tubs of minnows the walleye will completly clean out everything that swims including walleye fry.

[BBJTKLE&FISHINGADVENTURES]

Originally Posted by budd77

If a bait ban was implemented on Pigeon Lake what would the walleye eat? If you take away the millions of tubs of minnows the walleye will completly clean out everything that swims including walleye fry.

All the thousands upon thousands of perch they say there are in the lake .

[budd77]

If there are all these perch why aren't they eating them now? If a bait ban is put in place will they send a message to all the walleye that they have to start eating perch now and maybe instructions on how to catch and eat perch. I know this is a stupid idea but an even more stupid idea would be implemnting a bait ban. If there is such a high number of walleye(which there is) and they are stunting because of lack of food it would be alot better to either issue more tags or open the lake till the walleye numbers have dropped to a point that the lake can support itself. What would a bait ban do to help this. Yes catch and release fishing kills some fish and using bait catches more fish but if some fish don't die and keep reproducing even at a low rate and no additional food species are stocked the walleyes will starve and become more stunted. I've seen skinny pigeon walleye. Take their alternative food source(minnows from fishermen) and you can only imagine how skinny they will get

[BBJTKLE&FISHINGADVENTURES]

Originally Posted by budd77

If there are all these perch why aren't they eating them now? If a bait ban is put in place will they send a message to all the walleye that they have to start eating perch now and maybe instructions on how to catch and eat perch. I know this is a stupid idea but an even more stupid idea would be implemnting a bait ban. If there is such a high number of walleye(which there is) and they are stunting because of lack of food it would be alot better to either issue more tags or open the lake till the walleye numbers have dropped to a point that the lake can support itself. What would a bait ban do to help this. Yes catch and release fishing kills some fish and using bait catches more fish but if some fish don't die and keep reproducing even at a low rate and no additional food species are stocked the walleyes will starve and become more stunted. I've seen skinny pigeon walleye. Take their alternative food source(minnows from fishermen) and you can only imagine how skinny they will get

There reasoning for the bait ban is to limit the risk and mortality rate of the walleye from taking the bait to deep . This is what there thinking is . Ive only ever seen 2 dead fish in that lake .... But they magically say theres thousands of them .... WHERE .

[happy perch fisher]

Originally Posted by budd77

If there are all these perch why aren't they eating them now? If a bait ban is put in place will they send a message to all the walleye that they have to start eating perch now and maybe instructions on how to catch and eat perch. I know this is a stupid idea but an even more stupid idea would be implemnting a bait ban. If there is such a high number of walleye(which there is) and they are stunting because of lack of food it would be alot better to either issue more tags or open the lake till the walleye numbers have dropped to a point that the lake can support itself. What would a bait ban do to help this. Yes catch and release fishing kills some fish and using bait catches more fish but if some fish don't die and keep reproducing even at a low rate and no additional food species are stocked the walleyes will starve and become more stunted. I've seen skinny pigeon walleye. Take their alternative food source(minnows from fishermen) and you can only imagine how skinny they will get

While its been 6 days i guess i got explain it agian. Walleye numbers are slowly declining in pigion its not noticable yet. Probably won't be for 2 years. I would say over 90 percent of the fish are stockers that have'nt been spawning. The fish from the 1990's where the ones spawning in the creek. The last genration of stockers where giving specail habbit in pigion lake in the hopes they would spawn there. While they have'nt been. Most of the orignal walleye have been removed by the tags and the few that are spawning in bewteen 17-20inch range are slowly being removed by the tags. Also most of there fry are being eaten by the stocker walleye. So very small walleye are being added to the population. So basically when the stockers start to die there numbers will drop rapidly down. There is a ton of catch and release mortatlity. How many guys u see just horking the walleye out of the water by just lifting with there rod. You probably reducded there chance of survival from 98to90 percent and if there hooked in the gill there probably only a 25 percent chance of them suriving. Theres tons of inexperenced anglers that have little fish handling experince that probably drop them on the side of the boat a couple time rip the jig out by just pulling straight and more stuff like that. What about the guys using barb hooks. There are so many people that do that. Which is so stupid because its not like u can't just drop your jig down and get another one. Slip bobbers are a really bad thing 2 if your not watching them at all times the walleye will just take it deep. I've seen that happen so many times. Most people will just yank it out so they won't have to retie there hook. Then there release it swimming half sideways swimming down. Now theres pike during winter. There trying to allow pike to grow to a big size and allow them to spawn more. While guess what going to happen people will just nail them with tipup. There never get to those sizes. Because the pike will take the bait into the gills and people won't want to lose there 3-5 dollar pike rigs so there just yank and release the 30+ some inch all bloddy pike back down the hole so it can die. I would say 40+ inch one but 98percent of people are going to keep it for its meat and also so they can brag to everyone. A bait ban is going to do huge things for that lake. If you can't catch a walleye at pigion without bait you sould stop fishing because you apparently are the one worse fisherman i ever seen or heard about. I've tossed a rock tied to a hook down there and have caught a walleye just by sturring up the ground. I didn't know why people can't just accept that its going to good things for the lake.

[savagencounter]

Originally Posted by BIGBADJOHN

Here folks I was able to get the data that was handed out at meetings and am posting it for everyone to view.

Been out on this lake several times very nice water early spring but by the time summer is in effect SO many boats out its getting ridiculous also the number of boats is definatly increasing the pollution and spread of algea blooms both from oxegen enrichmnt and people not cleaning there boats off when travelling to another lake. Im a boater myself but think pigion should start looking at a motorized boat ban for a few years to controll the alge and pollution before it gets any worse. last year it was closed to swimmers due to the alge. To many ski boats jet skis ect. Wont be long and that lake will be dead seen it happen in b.c then when its almost free of life they put a motor boat ban. battery motors ok canoes fine . you want to fish on a good lake then you might have to get some exercise. Alberta has some of the worst water management i have ever seen IM orig from northern b.c and you never see the lakes or rivers treated like they do here. Hopefully it gets better before it gets anyworse i wouldnt let my dog drink the water out here.

[buckmaster]

Originally Posted by savagencounter

. Alberta has some of the worst water management i have ever seen IM orig from northern b.c and you never see the lakes or rivers treated like they do here. Hopefully it gets better before it gets anyworse i wouldnt let my dog drink the water out here.

x2, i agree

[floppychicken]

Originally Posted by savagencounter

Been out on this lake several times very nice water early spring but by the time summer is in effect SO many boats out its getting ridiculous also the number of boats is definatly increasing the pollution and spread of algea blooms both from oxegen enrichmnt and people not cleaning there boats off when travelling to another lake. Im a boater myself but think pigion should start looking at a motorized boat ban for a few years to controll the alge and pollution before it gets any worse. last year it was closed to swimmers due to the alge. To many ski boats jet skis ect. Wont be long and that lake will be dead seen it happen in b.c then when its almost free of life they put a motor boat ban. battery motors ok canoes fine . you want to fish on a good lake then you might have to get some exercise. Alberta has some of the worst water management i have ever seen IM orig from northern b.c and you never see the lakes or rivers treated like they do here. Hopefully it gets better before it gets anyworse i wouldnt let my dog drink the water out here.

Algae Blooms are a NATURAL occurrence. Pollution is one thing but don't try and blame Pollution as the cause for ALGAE on a 'spring fed lake'. It happens ALL over Alberta and is 'particularly bad' in some of the LEAST used reservoirs and Lakes. If Pollution due to PWC was indeed the issue, how could you 'possibly' explain the difference between Sylvan Lake VS Pigeon Lake? The traffic on Sylvan Lake is at LEAST 10 times what it is on Pigeon !

Also, comparing a 'Northern BC lake' to an Albertan Lake is like comparing an apple to a 'Pomegranate'. The two just aren't even in the same ballpark...

Do you have any idea how many people would likely drown in Alberta Waters if they didn't have some kind of Motor to assist them in getting back to shore ? This is Flat Prairie with 'WINDSWEPT' lakes and no amount of electric motor will help you when the wind decides to blow....

Anglers per lake in Alberta ? >370 per lake
Anglers per lake in BC ? <10 per lake

I would think Alberta is doing a MUCH better job at managing their waters than the B.C. Government is.....

Cheers,

/FC...