Upper Oldman River Drainage Bull Trout Tagging

[robertboyce]

Hi everyone,

 

Here's a neat project where the province is looking for interested anglers to assist with a Bull Trout study on the Upper Oldman River. I've been involved in the initial projects with the Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) and Fish and Wildlife for a few years now and can say that it was a lot of fun learning more about the fishery and being able to help out. Here's the backgrounder from Fish and Wildlife (posted with their approval). This is my first post so if I've made an error somewhere pls let me know....

 

Upper Oldman River Drainage Bull Trout Tagging Project - Information Sheet, 2012

 

Background:

 

In 2007, the ACA began trapping and tagging post-spawn migratory Bull Trout in the upper Oldman drainage as they moved out of their spawning streams in the fall. This project continued for 4 years and in 2011 Fish and Wildlife continued the trapping at a reduced level. From 2007 to 2011, a total of 382 different adult Bull Trout (>30cm) were captured and marked with PIT tags in the drainage. This data gave Alberta Fisheries staff important information on the utilization of different tributaries by spawning migratory Bull Trout and provided a rough population estimate.

In 2012, due to the large amount of resources needed to install and monitor the traps, Alberta Fisheries staff decided that angling would be used as an alternative capture method. Continuing with the tagging program will provide more information on Bull Trout movement throughout the drainage and if enough fish are captured, a population estimate using mark-recapture methodologies can be made. In order to increase sample size and the accuracy of population estimates, Alberta Fish and Wildlife is looking for experienced volunteer anglers to assist with the capture and tagging of Bull Trout.

 

Volunteer Angler Criteria:

 

While Alberta Fisheries staff appreciates all those who might wish to assist, they don’t have the manpower to supervise or the required sampling gear to equip a large number of anglers. We would like responsible, conservation-minded anglers who have experience fishing for Bull Trout in the area. Anglers experienced with fishing the upper Oldman drainage and catching high numbers of Bull Trout will be able to improve population estimates and information on Bull Trout movements.

 

Participation Requirements:

 

Participation requires anglers angle and tag Bull Trout on a number of occasions with Alberta Fisheries staff on a one-on-one basis. A Fish Research License will then be issued and tagging equipment lent to anglers if Alberta Fisheries staff feel they are capable of safely tagging the fish without our supervision. The licence allows volunteers to capture and tag Bull Trout in the upper Oldman River drainage without Fish and Wildlife staff being present.

The tagging process involves anaesthetizing, measuring and weighing the fish, scanning for existing tags and if none exist, inserting a new one. Data such as time spent angling and location of catch will also need to be recorded. Alberta Fisheries staff will go through the whole process with each volunteer until they are confident the tagging can be conducted independently. It should be noted that ideally volunteers will fish with an additional person (not necessarily a trained volunteer) to assist with the tagging process.

 

If you’re interested in participating and/or have any questions, please contact:

 

Kenton Neufeld

Fisheries Biologist, Southern Rockies Area Fisheries Management

Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development

Kenton.Neufeld@gov.ab.ca (403) 563-7013

[Guest Sundancefisher]

Interesting. I miss tagging and very much enjoyed my fisheries work on the Oldman drainage.

 

 

 

[robertboyce]

I should mention that a person would not need to sign up for the whole program to help out.

 

If you give Kenton a call you could fish with him for a day which doubles his chances of finding a tagged Bull Trout.

 

If you're interested in learning more about fish this is a cool way of doing it because you essentially trade your angling skills for a day for the opportunity to fish with one of the provincial biologists.

[HeliTroutSlayer]

When are the dates for this. I have done tons of fishing in that area and I would like to take this opportunity to give back a bit to the waters that I spend allot of my summer on. I'm 25, I used to chase after bulls for the majority of my season, but now I kinda switched over to smaller creek cutty fishing. However the streamers I tie along with my 8wt, I can guarantee you numbers. I have never done any fish tagging before so I would need a quick run by but I'm sure my older bro would be available as a helper too.

keep me posted !

[robertboyce]

Hi HeliTroutSlayer,

 

Give this guy a call. Tell'em I sent you if you like.

 

Kenton Neufeld

Fisheries Biologist, Southern Rockies Area Fisheries Management

Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development

Kenton.Neufeld@gov.ab.ca (403) 563-7013

 

Line up a date with him and away you go.

 

Good luck,

 

Robert