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Always wondered about Blood Indian; I have never fished it. I'm never down that way. Looks like AEP is going all in with Blood Indian, which I think is cool. Can't remember the last time 4 species of trout were stocked into one waterbody (someone can correct me here, undoubtedly). So I hope it isn't a waste; does the reservoir ever winterkill? Maybe I'll come fish the reservoir sometime. Personally, I am fine with more brook, brown, and tiger trout being stocked. Choice is good in closed stillwater systems that have no chance of impacting native fisheries. Makes it a little more exciting. Anyways, that's quite the buffet on the trout menu. Not to mention, that handful of Tiger brood stock! Anyone up for catching an 10 pounder???

I am excited! For many years it seems like the trout lakes in Alberta have been stocked based on tradition. Starting with Mitchell Lake and an angler request for a fall spawners [browns or brookies] to complement the spring spawners [rainbows], Brown trout were stocked in 2003. Angler acceptance of the mixed species resulted in a further experiment in Birch Lake with Brook, Rainbow and Brown trout stocked in 2013. At the request of many anglers, after either experiencing the Tiger Trout fishing in Manitoba or seeing the pictures, Tiger trout are now being stocked in several places throughout Alberta. After many years of catching Brown Trout from Europe, Brook Trout from some bog from in a New England state and Rainbows from British Columbia or the US, we are now on the cusp of a brand new mostly made in Alberta Rainbow. In conversation with Craig Copeland, Fish Culture Manager of Alberta Environment and Parks, I learned that a different Rainbow Trout is now being cultured for stocking . These Rainbow Trout, which are near 95% purity of Athabasca Trout, are one of the Native Trout of Alberta. The brood stock came from an end pit lake in an active coal mine. Clearly, as the trout are not 100% purity, they cannot be called Athabasca Trout for the purposes of identification. To reflect their mixed linage, they are designated as PLPL species in the stocking reports. Mr. Copeland also related that some of the PLPL strain have been added to East Pit Lake near Stoney Plain. He anticipated that somewhere between 100,000 > 150,000 PLPL trout would be stocked by 2020. Personally, as a third generation Albertan, I’m excited as hell to get a chance to catch a Rainbow raised in Alberta from Alberta stocks. My thanks to all involved to make my dream come true. Don Andersen Here are some pictures of the Athabaskas - I know - I know - I'm not supposed to say that but......

Unfortunately the belief still exists that removal of invavsives can.be accomplished by browns. Never worked in Phyllis and it won’t work in Blood Indian for exactly the same reason. The lake has to be capable of raising larger fish but as the food resources have been depleted by overstocking and invavsives, thereis nothing left to raise trout much beyond 12” Brooders are fish used to being feed pellets and not hustling the butts for groceries. They generally die soon after stocking. Don

Maybe they put the big tigers in there to eat some of the invasives in that lake.

Vote should have been extended to the whole province. We all get to share in paying the cost; which I think will be pretty much exclusively to Calgary and area's benefit (mostly Calgary).

Bron, Thr weight of the fish will depend on the lakes where they are placed. The overstocked lakes in Alberta will never give them a chance to see what they can do. There are however several lakes where they might do very well. Police or Bullshead come to mind. Don

Bron, They exist in very tough conditions near tbe farest north end of trout habitat. Tough trout. I’ve often wondered if the cutthroat stocking in tbe rivers north of the Bow should not have been Athabaskas. After all, cuts are moving into a tougher region than they are used to whereas the Athabaskas are getting softer conditions. Don