troutfriend

Interesting topic. I would suggest that there were a few different issues leading the increased issues around Saprolegnia last fall. Lower than average flows in the Bow River starting in late August – mapped by Alberta Environment. An abnormal runoff last year (not abnormally high volume) that was laden in silt – ie. Higher dissolved solids- moulds connect to these solids to and are transported more readily. Increased ambient air temperatures- according to Environment Canada, - lead to increased water temps - (hypothetically but I have no facts to back this up - not monitored). Increased angler effort due to nice weather. Increased issues with Dissolved Oxygen as there is increased Didymo and other river plants known to be in this system – increased temps in river = increased production of didymo and aquatic plants = increased dead and decaying didymo and aquatic plants = decreased Dissolved Oxygen as this process occurs at night in the rivers = increased stress on fish during high stressful time of the year spawning in the shallows and high requirements for oxygen due to higher metabolism at this time of year. Fish interacting more than normal during spawning and transferring this mould via contact. As it is a secondary infection this is an issue for battle scared fish and handled fish that may be infected. This has happened in the past according to longer in the tooth staff of AESRD. Not reported to the same extent then. Why? Now there are more anglers on the rivers, we all have cameras, we all have access to the internet, we are all are looking for solutions to protect their beloved resources. What to do? Close the river? – well this is a potential solution that may work to reduce handling related stress but is in reality a small part of the puzzle as this does not address the other larger scale issues of flow and temperature. Yes, The Bow River is ultimately controlled by power generators upstream who help us light and heat our houses and is also regulated by irrigators downstream who make us food. BUT, I actually think we can address these issues. This river looks a lot different now than it has in the past (check out some of the awesome images at the Glenbow) as it continues to down cut, widen and shallow – all benefitting higher temps, lower water levels, didymo and Saprolegnia. I am not advocating reverting the river and the city to what they looked like in 1920, but there are some steps that could be taken to work with the river rather than work against it. What reduces didymo and Saprolegnia? Flooding, ice cover and scouring, and education. Floods and ice cover are often correctly feared by those who have invested in floodplains. So this is a hard sell; Hell the city has an entire department that exists to avoid this eventuality! Is this a trade-off? There will be other 2005 and 2007 floods in the future (maybe starting today?) and these have long term benefits for these natural river systems. These events will scour the river bottom and continually re shape the river. People love to engage the river, but they hate it when it engages them!

Well here is the meat of the agenda topics... minus the introductions and housekeeping type items... Hear from participants about upcoming projects and initiatives being undertaken by their organizations Provide information about Fisheries Branch key initiatives and undertakings (policy development, commercial fishery management, grayling status assessment, barbless hooks, 2014 regs, ACA/ESRD MOU, Fisheries Act, ESRD re-org) Update from Licensing Review Committee – review recommendations and identify next steps provided Presentation and sharing ideas regarding needs and opportunities aimed at reducing the number of angling regulations for Alberta - presented by Darryl Smith Provide information about fisheries management trends and challenges and discuss issues - presented by Mike Sullivan Presentation and exchange of ideas on the enhancement of trout fisheries in flowing waters - Note: This never took place as the presenter was not available.

Took place in Red Deer on April 13th. Minutes do not seen to have been added to the site? http://srd.alberta.ca/FishWildlife/FisheriesManagement/AlbertaFisheriesManagementRoundtable.aspx

According to a report competed by a masters student about 10 years ago the majority of rainbows (about 75%) living in the Bow River between Carseland and Bearspaw were spawned in the Highwood /Sheep drainage. they tend to spawn in side channels, but that does not mean that practice is not damaging to the ecosystems it touches. peace.

The blue rafts that use that access point are "RiverWatch" http://www.riverwatch.ab.ca They do have special access privileges as an endorsed education program.

Hello, I can assure you that this issue did come up multiple times over the course of the 4+ year planning process for the Harvie Passage project. The Calgary Parks Foundation would likely have notes to this effect. I do recall a meeting where the fire department was invited and they discussed their concerns with increased usage of this launch (A. by rafters, B. by kayakers and C. and the accurately foreseen increased use by the fire department themselves) and how they currently have a hard time at this access site to launch their craft (they require blocking the sidewalk so they can safely turn around). I left the meeting with the distinct impression that they had the ability to close access to the site if they felt that increased access would impact their ability to easily and quickly access the river. I understand that the condo development may be experiencing some money or legal issues ("goatman" may find out more about that) which would likely complicate the agreements made a few years ago to retain current access to this site. there was a plan to re-route access to the launch after the development was completed, but as you can see that development has been stalled for a while now. The bigger issue is that these access sites are being lost and not replaced. Most people do not realize how close we came to permanently loosing access at Policeman's... Policeman's has not yet been formally handed over to parks as was the plan as there are many complicating factors. Access cost and maintenance is a huge issue for these sites, so when looking for new or additional sites this must be considered. Maybe there is an opportunity to create a new site and find sufficient funding to ensure it remains operational- in or around a currently utilized park? Somewhere with safe river access, adequate parking potential, near a regularly maintained park.. maybe there is a way to make this happen at Inglewood golf course? under Ogden RD? St. Patrick's Island redevelopment? maybe there is some thinking outside the box needed to get this done. I can also tell you that there are members of the paddling community going through a process to identify and spec out new access sites in the city.

Rainbows typically (but not always) spawn off the main channel of the Bow River, so watch side channels especially and the tributaries. When scoping out redds watch for: A. A uniform clearing / cleaning of algae and plant material from river bottom in a tear drop or oval shape, B. A obvious excavation to expose lager sized materials, and C. An associated deposition of finer materials downstream. At this time of the year it can be cool to watch trout on redds! Check out the Elbow River to see if they are moving up yet. Temperatures should be getting close soon... Rock Snot is an issue in so much as it competes or limits the total area where trout (especially for broadcast spawners like mountain whitefish) can successfully spawn. It is important to not that Rock Snot is not invasive to Alberta, but it appears to be growing and expanding its range in part due to lack of ice scour, ice presence, transmission by river users and balanced flows due to highly regulated flows.

Anyone interested in this can go see them in action tagging fish and discussing the project tomorrow Friday the 26th at Bonnybrook Treatment plant at 8:30 am with shocking to occur at 9:00ish! All questions can be answered there.

Grinr, From personal conversations with the government officials on both ends it appears that there was a procedural issue that was overlooked in the process to bring the barbless hooks regulation into place initially. Apparently these regulations were put in place by government without proper public consultation. Therefore the proper process was not followed and so the changes were reversed in Alberta. This is now in the hands of the lawyers as they try to work reinstate the barbless regulations, but this as you can expect will take time. If other provinces have gone through the proper procedures and completed their public consultation process, then this change will not be challenged.

Arrived today... Great News! Lifetime Membership Cost Increase Delayed Until March 15, 2013 Due to rising costs the cost of a Lifetime Membership with Trout Unlimited Canada was scheduled to increase from $1000 to $1500 effective March 1, 2013. However due to an overwhelming response we have decided to delay the Lifetime Membership cost increase until Friday March 15, 2013 A lifetime membership with Trout Unlimited Canada continues to offer excellent value, including membership that never needs renewing! In addition to the benefits of regular membership, Life Time members are provided with a choice of a premium Winston or Orvis fly rod or a TFO signature rod partnered with TFO Mark I or Mark II reel. The value of the Winston or Orvis rod or the TFO rod and reel combo alone almost equals the cost of the Life Time membership. If you are currently enjoying the benefits of an annual Trout Unlimited Canada membership and are considering the purchase of a new fly rod or rod and reel combo why not upgrade to Lifetime status? Becoming a Life Time member is a perfect way to support Trout Unlimited Canada's continuing conservation efforts while obtaining that fly rod of your dreams. Take advantage of this delay and become a lifetime member today. If you are already a lifetime member perhaps a friend or college may be interested? For additional membership information or to renew your TUC membership or to become a new member please click here. To donate to TUC online please click here Thank you for your support of Trout Unlimited Canada Or call their office???

Is this what you are looking for? http://www.environment.alberta.ca/apps/basins/DisplayData.aspx?Type=Figure&BasinID=8&DataType=1&StationID=RBOWCALG

Really.... Seriously…? I have to post this???? http://www.albertaregulations.ca/fishingregs/general-regs.html Alberta fishing regulations state: Additional Restrictions: The edible flesh of legally kept game fish must not be wasted, destroyed, spoiled or abandoned.

420 and others: I think it is critical to understand that these liberal harvest limits are ONLY allocated to participants who have: 1: Taken and passed the fish identification test; 2: Participated on at least one supervised outing; 3: And most importantly ONLY for Specific streams in the project area! "Ditching" of brookies from any systems is illegal and should get you poaching charges. This project does not include systems like Cataract Creek as there are NO remnant populations of native fish upstream from the first waterfall. Therefore, it would be pointless to remove Brook Trout from Cataract Creek. This project would also never be used in systems like the Bow River as dams and river temperatures and other water quality conditions would never facilitate a meaningful recovery of native Cutthroat Trout / Bull Trout populations in this system – this would be pointless- it is a great fishery now. In the case of the few specified creeks included in the Stewardship License Project, there is still an opportunity to facilitate the recovery of the native Cutthroat Trout / Bull Trout populations. Anyone who has participated on the Quirk Project over the years can tell you how great it is now to catch a nice 16 inch Cutthroat from that system today.

VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

EDIT: Has anyone taken photos of any juvenile / non-spawning Browns with Saprolegnia? Say any fish less than 16" or 17"? How about Rainbows?

I think I have a solution to bring attention to the enforcement issue...opening weekend grab a camera, a pad of paper and a nice lawn chair. Sit up at the pay phone at the upper lake beside the boat launch and start calling the RAP line every time you see an infraction (it is free if you dial 310-0000). Flooding the RAP line with calls from up there should increase enforcement, but we will see if the Parks Enforcement (not AESRD Enforcement, ooops I mean Solicitor General Enforcement) do their job. Or walk around with a clip board, that appears to do the trick.

An open Invitation: To all those who have opinions on anything relating to the future of this province and the land use actives and changes occurring in your favorite fishing spot : THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A STATEMENT TO REPRESENT YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS ON HOW THESE AREAS WILL BE PROTECTED OR NOT IN THE FURTURE!!!! Have a problem with random camping … for 6 months straight? Have issues with that guy quadding down the creek while you are fishing your favorite pool? Have concerns with the cows wading across the river while you are casting to that shy fish? Have a concern with the provinces plans are for forestry in your favorite bull trout spawning stream? Have a thought about additional campgrounds around the province? Concerned with roads being punched into the slack country? Wondering what the provinces stance is on cultivation and farming actions eroding the riparian areas? Have an area of the province you love and think she be provided some special protection? Thoughts on how the province compensates private land owners for preserving natural resources? The survey is long, but you can start and revisit the document multiple times. It took me a few hours to complete but I care about these resources, have opinions and thought it was a great use of my time. I encourage you to at least take a look at it and make an attempt. Thank you.

This boat launch should be open, but it appears to be the victim of poor planning relating to the Harvie Passage project.

This was one of the major missteps with the Harive Passage design, there was never a "formal" launch site developed in association with the project. Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought the boat launch opened by the intake to the treatment plant below Bearspaw? Not suggesting this is all that is needed to solve the larger access issue, but I thought it was now open….?

I was present at the consultation hearings for the TMX pipeline (the 36inch line that now runs through Jasper). I was told clearly and repeatedly at those meetings by one of the engineers that these pipelines never leak so there is no need to worry! ......

Good question, Here is one published local paper to support this: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1577...AO%3E2.0.CO%3B2 full document - http://www.bio.ucalgary.ca/contact/faculty...003%20NAJFM.pdf Here is another related paper on the issue: http://classes.uleth.ca/200901/biol4500a/R...gs/Stelfox2.pdf

Floods are good for fish. 1. Removes silt, excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphates and deposits this in the active flood plains (unless they are dyked or developed with houses. 2. Scours plant/weed growth from river beds exposing new spawning habitat (more important for broadcast spawning species like the Mountain Whitefish). Anyone who visited Southland Dog Park following the flood of 2005 has seen the 2-3 inches of silt that were deposited on the park and has seen the great regeneration of grasses since the event. 3. Populations rise following flood events- increased recruitment is often observed in subsequent years (Call ASRD on this for the numbers). 4. Brook trout have an advantage as fall spawners over Cutthroat and Rainbow Trout, but Bull Trout and Mountain Whitefish are also fall spawners, the difference is: a. Brook Trout can spawn in a wider range of temperatures and habitats. b. Brook Trout can spawn when they are 2 or 3 years old, while bull mature at 6 or 7. c. Brook Trout are harder to catch than Bull or Cutthroat Trout. d. Weed/Algae growth reduces Mountain Whitefish spawning success. 5. Cottonwood Trees require floods to regenerate, during floods the small fish move in the floodplain and seek cover behind these trees. The river may be dark brown, but find a spring seep, backwater or little creek flowing fresh water into the Bow River this week and you will find lots of little fish just waiting this little flow event out. Rivers need floods as they are living ecosystems,

Encourage her to join the new Calgary Women Fly Fishers: http://www.calgarywomenflyfishers.com/

FYI, Coyotes typically will take food away and eat them in peace; another predatory bird (ie. eagle, hawk or falcon) will eat out the breast and leave the rest of the carcass. If anyone was to find a "fresh dead bird" this could be submitted to fish and wildlife to be passed onto their necropsy lab for analysis. Do not even bother to send a bird that is all dried out or has been dead for months as this will not be useful to them at all.

Or put up a gate and you never have to worry again. You may not be concerned about the parking, but apparently someone is, someone with a gate. Now there is no need to call a tow truck to move a vehicle when they have to get a boat into the river to save a life.