Buck Lake / Pigeon Lake / Gull Lake Report from last week

[Brandonkop]

Well the vacation is over and its back to work... so decided to post some of the reports now.

My Father in law usually puts a couple nets is South Buck lake and I went this year to pull the nets for the first time. Last year they only got one whitefish in each net. This year we got 5 whites, 2 pike and 4 burbot. Really slow. I think the lake is fished out. Hopefully they shut it down for a few years and maybe things will improve.

Here is a video from the net fishing.
http://youtu.be/4a5e6ab4Y6o

We stopped at pigeon on the way home but the whites didn't start moving around till dark. Hooked one that broke my fishing partners line. Sure different from that first day I was out. We've been back three times and barely see a white swim by now. They must have moved out.

The next day we tried Gull lake. Lots of guys on the ice out at Birch Bay, but didn't see any fish. Tried a bit further north and just saw alot of weeds. Decided if we can't see any fish we won't be catching any so we headed back to Pigeon lake. Tried for whites but didn't see anything. Headed to a walleye spot right before sunset and landed a couple walleye and two pike in about 30 min.








Brandon

[Lefty-Canuck]

Cool pics. I was curious as to what fish you were targeting with the nets? Isn't it odd to get both whites and burbot in a net? From what I understand they are in opposite ends of the water column.

LC

[Brandonkop]

I don't know what you mean by opposite ends of the water column... all fish are between the bottom and the ice and that is where a net goes. Burbot and whitefish both stay close to the bottom. It is actually very common to get whites and burbot in the same net. All nets are set with the purpose of catching whitefish, nobody wants burbot in a net. It has weights on the bottom and the floats pull the net errect to whatever the height of the net off the bottom. So you pretty much catch everything from the bottom to the top of the net. You have to set the nets deep enough so the floats are not up against the ice or it could freeze in if it is cold enough. Commercial fishing in Alberta is for whitefish as far as I know and thats what everyone wants in their nets.

Brandon

[SNAPFisher]

So, you or your Father In Law can justify a 45% hit ratio on the target species as good?? Buck Lake then is just fished out and this is helping how?

[Lefty-Canuck]

Ok...I just thought the whitefish were up higher in the water column. That would explain why you were getting burbot and whites in the same net.

I never understood how you can "target" whites when if they hang near the bottom much like the other "non-target" fish do? (pike, burbot, walleye, perch, etc.)

I guess I assumed people could target whites because they were up higher in the water column....but this is clearly not the case.

I would imagine thats a pretty poor turn out for a net....as someone else suggested it is also a poor ratio of target to non-target species.

Just curious did you keep the burbot or leave them behind? Burbot are one of the fish the net guys like to leave behind.....and it is perfectly legal to leave them.

LC

[Alberta Bigbore]

Nice pics Brandon.. thx for posting

[Daceminnow]

nice eelpout. gonna get some guys juices flowing on here. maybe expect some pm's asking for livers.

Dace

[Brandonkop]

Originally Posted by SNAPFisher

So, you or your Father In Law can justify a 45% hit ratio on the target species as good?? Buck Lake then is just fished out and this is helping how?

Why would we have to justify what got stuck in the net??? We followed the rules and this was the outcome. I didn't say it was helping the lake. Its not the commercial fishermans fault... its poor management by the government. Net fishing has certainly helped in the decline of the lake, can't deny that. The size of the mesh is what changes to avoid catching smaller fish and other species like the walleye. The big hump on the white gets stuck in the larger mesh as I understand along with some larger fish. Personally I'm not a big net fishing fan. I wish they'd stop it all together. I was just along for the ride to enjoy something my Wife's family has been doing for many years.

All the fish were eaten and no the burbot did not go to waste. My father in law knew a guy who wanted them and dropped them off the next moring.



Brandon

[ken]

Wouldn't a lot off people catch that many fish with a hook and line in a days fishing?????