DonAndersen

Call the Biologist in Rocky. She may know. i suspect the rainbows may be part of the rainbows thrown in nearly everywhere.during last 80 years which are related to the rainbows in tbe Bow. 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

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......

Bc, without a doubt, the Alberta Fish and Game assoc. will be the most vocal in opposition. Warched thier opposition to a idea proposed by Provincial Bios. to have a surcharge to fishing licenses to clean out illegally stocked perch. They went on for over an hour talking about how people would have to eat dog food. F.....king idiots. Don

No license - no fishy. Fine ‘em! Don

Folks, Been running by anglers are Beaver Lake Brian’s concept of a Areated Permit and what it should cost. All have been in agreement with suggestions of $50>100/year The issue is some lakes which are areated as NOT quality lakes with kill limits and general regulation. Are the people who fish them also going to need a permit? And what about the lakes with a upper size limit like Police. Lots of questions - few answers. Don

Was there very large browns in there. Don

Nope, haven’t been their in years since I did a project of increasing water quality by the use of milled barley. I have no idea if the fish are all gone. Don

Wow. Every fish removed. one has to wonder how. Don

Taco, could you send me a email with the errors. regards, Don

Yes, both stock fish. Why the ACA does it I haven't a clue. Don

Folks, Those that fish trout lakes may find this discussion interesting. http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?p=3840271#post3840271 Don

Tom Daniels, Public Relations of Sundre Forest Products [SFP] sent me this message today. As a reminder we have been putting one Mountain Pine Beetle bait site in every township within our Forest Management Area [FMA] since 2007. Baits are hung on three pine trees in a triangle formation. The intent is that if there is an overflight of beetle that we will be able to detect beetles as they might get attracted to the pheromone in the baits. This would then help SFP to assess whether we did get an inflight and hopefully the extent of the flight so that SFP can develop an action plan. The baits are deployed in June and about 50% of the sites are visited ½ way through the summer (August) and then the baits are pulled down usually later in September or early October. Earlier in August Keith Branter of SFP visited our bait sites north of hwy 11 since that is the most likely place we might see beetle due to proximity to Hinton and Jasper which are both in full infestation mode. Well I hate to say that SFP fears were founded. It would appear that the FMA was hit with a flight of beetles. As I have said to some folks we are raising the red flag but not sounding the siren just yet as it is early to determine how severe the flight was. The bait trees were mass attacked, but there was little evidence of beetle in non-bait trees which is a bit curious. This info is preliminary prior to starting to do a more detailed investigation. With that said there are reports along the hwy 16 corridor of an other inflight or possibly the same inflight, but over a very large area. Any way you slice it this is not good news. In the meantime I would request that everyone remain vigilant in looking for evidence of beetle and to report any location of pitch tubes, red trees or other. Those can be reported to Tom Daniels of SFP at 403-638-6211. or to Pam Melnick who is the Forest Health Officer for Alberta Agriculture and Forestry based out of Rocky. Thanks Tom

Looks like they are learning from the local Loons. Don

Debarb hook when tying or watchong sports Don

Here I thought the subject was about guys as old as me. Don

Smithy, i ain't looking for an attitude change. I want a behaviour change. And frankly, I give a crap what it takes. Fines or jail suit me just fine. i'm long past sitting on my ass watching my province get destroyed. Don

i had hoped that the Squatters and OHV abusers had finally seen the light and realized the abuse cannot continue. But SIGH, looks like the abusers will take the day. Don

Here ya go: http://aep.alberta.ca/recreation-public-use/recreation-on-public-land/public-land-use-zones/livingstone-pluz.aspx http://aep.alberta.ca/recreation-public-use/recreation-on-public-land/public-land-use-zones/

Anybody miss the good Old Days when all campground water was OK to drink. No testing was a Ralphie save some bucks idea. Don

Quad operations, from what I gathered at the kiosk, was they were limited to established trails. Some squatter camps still exist. But there are a lot less od them. Don

Folks, i've fished the Oldman River for something over 50 years and watched the changes. From the constant signs of land destruction, the loving sounds of quads and dirt bikes, from the villages of squatters things have changed big time. Damn but am I impressed. Only took a couple of years to change. Was it hard, must have been. Only took 50 years. Big trouble for where I live though. The herd will go somewhere. Don

Folks, Last Saturday a friend and I headed to the Coleman for needed supplies. We got replenished and headed to the Crow heading down to below the Highway #3 bridge. Damn but things were good, not only some decent fish but saskatoons everywhere and there is nothing better than saskatoons. So I went grazing working my way upstream. I wasn't grazing quite as fast as my friend who fished. Looking up,I realized he was 200 yards ahead of me. So I hurried, tripping over some bent branches, falling face first into some wood. One piece Impaled me into the palm of my hand. Tough looking at a 1/2" wood stick in your palm. So off to the hospital for an inspection and three stitches. Luckily, it was my right hand, not my casting hand. So all week, it was bandages and nitle gloves. Looked weird but I was still fishing. Oh, the fishing was OK. Camping great! So be careful out there. Sometimes nature gets ya'. Don

Seems like a lot of frustration chased by the lack of enforcement. Ever considered that is what somebody voted for. Seems like we got what we deserve. Don

You comment reflects what I found up this way. From 0 checks for near 60 years of angling to 4 times in one summer. You might think someone finally gives a crap about our resources. Don