Smitty

My reply to question 16, when it asked for feedback: The AEP is trending in an extremely troubling direction. This department has been on the decline for a while, and this latest survey is exhibit A. (https://talkaep.alberta.ca/north-central-native-trout-recovery/survey_tools/north-central-native-trout-proposed-angling-closures) I have many objections: 1. I challenge the data and the methodology of determining the FSI's. 2. I demand public hearings and no more online surveys where biologists and department officials will actually ENGAGE with the angling public and listen to their concerns. Give us the numbers and provide evidentiary proof of diminishing populations, and then provide proof of correlation between angling pressure, the ineffectiveness of catch and release, and justify the closures on a cause and effect basis. 3. The AEP needs to be completely over-hauled in terms of its engagement policies with the angling public. They need to adopt a broad strategy of enlisting assistance from anglers while reminding themselves that they serve both the fish AND anglers’ needs. Currently, the Fisheries Round Tables, online surveys, etc., amount to nothing more than tokenism. 4. My strongest objection is the complete abdication of any sense of responsibility this department has in terms of serving what's best for fish. It is my belief that the biologists and officials have pre-determined outcomes and policies they are just going to implement without seriously looking at ALL the factors and variables that go into habitat degradation and diminishing fish populations. Why are anglers being punished for circumstances beyond their control? Why doesn’t the AEP issue directives, studies, policies, protocols, recommendations and reports detailing the incredible challenges facing all fish and fauna in the province with regards to industrial intrusion? Where is the AEP’s policy recommendations on aggressive logging practices, road densification, hanging culverts, improper allowances and setbacks, and habitat fragmentation? Is the AEP claiming that catch and release regulations are an ineffective management tool; and then using that as an excuse to close watersheds? Does the AEP anticipate fish population recovery will happen on the basis of removing anglers from the picture all while ignoring the aforementioned industrial impacts? Has the AEP anticipated the resulting increase in angling pressure during the next season, as more anglers are forced to fish fewer watersheds? My recommendations, instead of using (and the pretending to act upon this ludicrous survey) is to do the following: 1) Before changing any regulations – especially related to reducing angling opportunities and closing watersheds - how about dramatically increasing the enforcement, not only on recreational users, but industry too? Increased enforcement can be partially funded by the fines imposed. I see gross violations of industry frequently when I fish. 2) Identify the TRUE root causes of pressured or diminished fish populations, and then PRIOTIZE the needs to get them addressed. Most of the skepticism and outrage that I have heard from fellow anglers is that angling has been identified as a primary cause. I – and others – highly doubt this. I have fished many watersheds that have been catch and release since the last regulations were over-hauled, and the fishing has improved over the past 20 years. I’d venture to say based on my anecdotal observations that fishing is more impacted by industry, improper trail penetration, and erosion right now along watersheds that are already catch and release. 3) The AEP and other suitable government agencies should put pressure on industry groups to comply with policies outlined by the AB government as it currently reviews BOTH industrial and recreational usage along the Eastern Slopes. Issues related to fish populations recovery are far beyond the scope of just one single variable (angling pressure). 4) The Alberta Government overall should, plainly and simply, get their act together and develop an over-arching plan to ensure that riparian areas, fish and animal habitats, and water quality are going to be preserved for future generations. There is far too much fragmentation, segregations, and a stunning lack of coordination between various gov’t departments. Anglers have become the easy, knee jerk targets for the AEP to take the simplest way out in attempting to manage fish populations. It’s both bad science and bad policy. And the AEP needs a serious look in the mirror: something needs to happen to shake this department out of its bureaucratic entrenchment and self-internalized feedback loop. Otherwise, I fear all we are left with is nowhere left to fish, and no fish left. Please, I encourage you to speak up: John Tchir: John.Tchir@gov.ab.ca And, consider cc'ing the following people: Dave Park: dave.park@gov.ab.ca, Shannon Phliips: AEP.Minister@gov.ab.ca, Premier Notley: edmonton.strathcona@assembly.ab.ca , premier@gov.ab.ca,

For camping and clothing, ...sure. For a specialty fly shop, I'd say we are under-saturated. We don't even have a specialty fly shop!! Yeah, I know, Edmonton can't / won't support one. I get it. But we're down to Cabelas and TFH for fly fishing stuff. Not enough, imho. (No, I don't count Crappy Tire) Smitty

Careful what you wish for, don't you think Bcube? Aren't we now treading into the dangerous territory of "ALL C&R fishing is deemed harrassing and capturing, therefore it is now banned?" Ergo, total ban on all fisheries deemed to fragile for harvest? Aren't we invoking the argument that C&R fisherman are the worst sportsmen on the planet? As in, let's join some of those in Europe and some indigenous groups that find C&R, at best, incredibly distasteful? Do we see a slippery slope coming soon? So, in the end, what's left in the province for trout fishing is harvesting stocked, non-native trout such as rainbow, browns, and brooks. Total ban on even targeting cutts,bulls (like in Montana), and grayling (Athabows too). ^Ok, so mostly devil's advocate there. But let's not pretend we haven't heard those arguments. Anyways, it's not unprecedented to close fishing permanently. Look at Wampus, Eunice, and Deerlick. The entire region of White Goat and Siffleur wilderness. Etc. Having said all that, I am in favour of a delicate balancing act. You could convince me to close fishing for those fragmented populations that exist in streams you could jump across. Always interesting to have debates about angling and sporting ethics. We know that some animal rights advocates like nothing more than us looking in a mirror and feeling like we need the confessional and priest on Sundays after mass.

Castle Wildland Park, Forestry Reserve, and Waterton to be closed as of today. From minister Philips: "With wildfires threatening parks and campgrounds in the province, there are several current and impending closures people need to be aware of. In southern Alberta, a full forest closure is expected to be in place by 10 a.m on Monday, September 4. This closure will include all areas south of Willow Creek. The South Castle Valley in Castle Wildland Provincial Park is now closed. A full closure of Castle Wildland Provincial Park is expected to take place by the afternoon of Monday, September 4. A wildfire north of Crescent Falls Provincial Recreation Area has led to its closure and the evacuation of the campground. The threat of wildfires has also closed several trails in Castle Provincial Park, Thompson Creek Provincial Recreation Area and Kootenay Provincial Recreation Area. Visit our website for details: http://www.albertaparks.ca/albertaparksca/advisories-public-safety/advisories/ Wildfire conditions in these areas are well past the extreme level. In these conditions, wildfires can move very fast, and embers can create new fires several kilometres away. Forecasts indicate a new fire can reach up to 45 hectares in size in under an hour. Please stay safe and visit AlbertaParks.ca for the latest details on closures."

Dad and I are planning our annual trip to southern AB this year; we delayed it a bit, hoping for cooler temperatures and - fingers crosses - some precipitation. Any forecasters out there want to speculate on what the water conditions will be like for the September long weekend? Water levels, water temps? We're thinking the usual haunts; Crow, Castle, Oldman (upper and mid). I am assuming that close to the mountains, maybe the nights are starting to get colder, and, even if the region doesn't get much precipitation between now and then, there will be enough night time cooling to make it worthwhile... Thoughts? Reports from down there? Cheers, Smitty

GIven my feelings about riparian zones and what I have seen in my beloved home waters in the Hinton area, I absolutely cannot believe I'm about to play devil's advocate in my teeny tiny defense of forestry. Someone slap me out of my ignorance. But 1000m sounds like a big buffer. Not within one single creek or tributary? I'm sure we've all looked at a waterbasin map. The entirety of the foothills from the Montana border to the Peace river region is just blanketed with flowing water. Every. single. tributary? Within 1000m? Doesn't that pretty much effectively ban logging from 90% of the foothills? Isn't it easier to just prohibit logging altogether from most spaces? Isn't that what you're advocating? Actually, never mind. I'll shut up now. That sounds about right to me. I'll just look the other way when I see the unemployment line double in size after we've gelded the forestry industry. Smitty

Looks like some great trips / classes!

I know it's a long drive for Calgary folks, I absolutely get that. But if #2 goes for anything less than $200 it will be the biggest steal of a deal on this board. Easily. So says the guy who won it last year. By the way, not only can you catch pike out of Talbot, but a couple of IFGA tippet lb class records - from Talbot Lake - have been established for Lake Whitefish, the freshwater mountainous version of bonefish. Catch both species in one day! Bid $125 on #2, just cause. Only raised it by $25, cause I want someone to outbid me.

BurningChrome, internet is a poor medium for detecting tone. So I'll assume the sarcastic emoticon was in full force, ya? The major point being the backhoe has approved work (whether they are compliant or not is a separate issue) that has been deemed either necessary or fulfilling some sort of desired outcome. Either way, the other salient detail is that the backhoe's presence is temporary, whereas recreational users with their OHV's and trucks are disturbing watersheds continually and steadily from May long weekend until, what Labour day (or longer?). And for what purpose; will there be a public benefit? No, it's purely for there own recreational pleasure. Surely you see that difference.

I'll bid if you offer another trip that ends up with a 7lb bully on my line!

I like the move too, but to be a nitpicker, there's a huge difference between regs for the National Parks and a general blanket term "Rockies". For a moment, I thought a provincial rule had been implemented.

Isn't the problem with Rotenone is that it pretty much obliterates other gilled organisms, including aquatic invertebrates? As an aside, and I'm not excusing the gov't by any means, but fisheries management in this province is incredibly challenging. You got the put and take guys to appease, the fanatical fly fishing QSF catch and releasers, the Lac la Biche and S. AB crowd that want to eat their walleye, the guys that specialize in hammering jumbo perch, the Lakers crowd fishing / loving Cold Lake to death, the let's make kid-friendly fisheries, gotta make the ice fishermen happy, first nations rights, etc... Add to that an historic overall lack of water, a 400% increase in population translating into more users and stakeholders, gov't mismanagement, lack of gov't foresight, lack of gov't pro-activeness, combating decades of way to liberal keep and possession limits, sure as hell ain't easy managing fisheries these days, especially when you're part of the problem.

The "incentive / dis-incentive theory" is a failure in my opinion. Do you really think the incentive theory has saved Beaver from being infected? If so, can I see some evidence / proof? Trouble is, its exceeding difficult to prove a negative, right? They should at least try a pilot program - somewhere - let the lake have a no limit on perch. Stock perch lakes with Tigers and Splake; don't they eat the perch too? Why do 90+% of our lakes only have one species of trout? Many successful lakes elsewhere support multiple species. Just an alternative viewpoint. Maybe the best and cheapest alternative is to learn to live with the perch and decimate them as best we can. Government seems terribly reluctant to do rotenone, plus, it has limited use. Can we get some sterile pike? I jest.

Cause the fly fishing community isn't as "connected" as it is down here, with 5+ fly shops, plus, basically speaking, the organizations in Edmontonchuk don't seem to place a priority in bringing it up there.

Lee: Is the February date also sold out? Saw on the website there is a 2nd screening. ....sigh...which of course ticks me off as an Edmontonian. IF4 rarely comes to Edmonton...

http://www.nationalobserver.com/2016/12/21/opinion/garossino-why-kinder-morgan-isnt-hill-fight-and-die

Don: No one is snarling or whining 'too'. And resist the temptation to put words in my mouth about 'paying forever'. Calm down and spend some time with your bamboo cane and see if that reduces the blood pressure. lol I was simply asking if you has some thoughts on the logistics. Clearly, you don't. You simply have the knee jerk reaction. I wish you luck. Mike

A quick google search yielded these: http://www.rockymtnflycasters.org/articles/disinfect.php http://www.murraysflyshop.com/fly-fishing-articles/cleaning-and-disinfecting-your-fly-fishing-gear/ http://www.successfulflyfishing.com/how-to-clean-your-waders-and-wading-boots/

That's what I am driving at. Disinfection stations don't sound like blanket angler bans to me...

Well, like others of course I'm sympathetic and very concerned about this. But are you serious Don? We're simply going to ban boat traffic and anglers from Montana? And what about vice versa; Albertans going to Montana? You have some thoughts on how to work that out, logistically speaking?

Thinking seriously of ditching my cable tv, listening to more and more of my IT savvy friends ditching Telus and Shaw altogether, in some cases, years now. I'm at the point where I see this process is fairly straightforward now and pretty user friendly, so I am very tempted. So what are you guys using? The dilemma now is the burgeoning array of choices; Android boxes, chromecast, Roku, Slingbox, Kodi, Plex, Apple tv. What works best in Canada, or provides the best quality and variety of programming? Was wondering. Mike

Update: It would seem he has re-located?

Did you try the AB Outdoorsmen forum? Just from a numbers perspective, there may be alot of knowledgeable hunters whose brains you can pick on that forum. Just a thought. Mike

I thought there was a shop in Red Deer? Just like described a pop up store or something similar? And while I would stop at your shop on my way to the Bow, Aidrie wouldn't work if I am doing the full blown southern AB thing. When I go to the Pass, it either means Fish Tales (closest to bypassing Cowtown), or the Crowsnest Angler or the Crowsnest Cafe. If you're talking the Red Deer area cutties, browns, and bulls, there is no incentive to drive all the way to Airdrie and back when I am turning onto hwy 11A or 54 when coming from Edmonton. Even with the lack of a true flyshop up here, I can usually get enough stuff to sustain myself for an outing. Mike

Don't do it, for reasons stated above. Extreme price competition with bass pro, extreme overall competition from what...5 other shops? And, a shop in Airdrie is on the 'wrong' side of the city. Fairly distant from your bread and butter, the Bow. Sorry to be such a Debbie Downer.