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Trout Unlimited Canada Dated: Feb 02 2021
Bow River Chapter
Mr. Rick Moses – Chapter President
51 34th avenue S.W.
Calgary, Alberta T2S 2Y9
Our group (Friends of the Red Deer River) has been tirelessly working for 35 years at reaching out to the province to embrace the proposals we think could lead towards embracing a successful path forward for the sustainability of the province’s fisheries. We have had some minor successes in several different areas in relation to what the actual issues are and some real opportunities to address these issues. We have made the province aware that our group has been watching, making suggestions for proposals and actually holding them to a somewhat higher standard. We now think it is time to go next level and reach out for a larger support base to enable the province to gain stake holder support of what we are proposing. We think what our group is proposing has great potential to address many issues and provide a real resourceful path forward. These programs our group (Friends of the Red Deer River) are proposing will address the interests of anglers of every persuasion and all pursuits. Enhance both native and what our group calls naturalized trout (Brown and Rainbow Trout) in a careful, resourceful manner in as close to wild state as possible. This will go a long way towards ensuring that optimal trout numbers per mile remain constant. It will ensure both the consumptive angler can pursue their objectives in the specific areas (in a sustainable fair manner), and the conservation minded angler has his/her areas to pursue their goals. It will address and effectively disperse the grave concerns involving intense angling pressure. It will most assuredly reach out and touch the poorly behaved angler who insists on rampantly retaining large numbers of fish illegally. It will provide higher minimum fines that have serious repercussions for the poorly behaved and seriously curtail this rampant behaviour.
While Walleye have been heavily enhanced, thoroughly protected and zealously managed for anglers that pursue them by (AEP) in a format many of them didn’t support. The angling public helplessly resigned themselves to the fact this was going to happen regardless of whether they supported it or not. We would like to see several of the Walleye lakes in the southern and central region contain Lake Whitefish, trout and Walleye. While on other Walleye Lakes located in areas more suited to trout be changed to trout fisheries.
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We think on any fishery in Alberta even for Walleye the one fish a day with a maximum of 5 fish regardless of species cumulatively retained in any one region per year is fair where retention is allowed. If you wish to retain any more than five of any species of fish combined you can purchase 5 tags in another region. The same would go for Lake Whitefish, and trout on the lakes as well. The opportunity to retain five fish annually regardless of species on fisheries that allow retention is a privilege not a right. The tag system we propose is like a big game tag and each fish kept/dispatched must be tagged immediately upon retaining it. There is no real need for an angler to fish in order to provide table fare to support their families that can be done at Safeway’s. We think native trout species and naturalized trout species have taken a back seat for far to long in this document we cover a lot of support for trout. So, you will see a lot of support for sustainable trout fisheries and experiences throughout this document. We have other documents where we support sustainable programs for Lake Whitefish and Rocky Mountain Whitefish as well.
We also support sustainable programs for Bull Trout in realistic numbers per river mile. We will also cover the wonderful opportunity to pursue the West Slope Cutthroat Trout in the areas where they do best. Our group would like to reach out and invite the province, Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP), the Alberta Conservation Association, Alberta Fish & Game Association and Trout Unlimited Alberta Chapters and the Red Deer River Watershed Alliance to be open minded and supportive and not think about angler reaction on this next proposal. We are asking the angler whether they be local or non-resident to be thoughtful and tolerant with the next thing we are about to discuss in this document. Our group supports non-natural enhancement through sourcing wild genetics and giving the wild native West Slope Cutthroat Trout population boosts at specified intervals when fish populations drop off negatively over time. Natural wild recruitment will not keep up with habitat issues, water related problems, rampant illegal retention and intense angling pressure.
Which leads into our next proposal we hope the province and anglers can make the right choice and implement “Dry Fly Only” measures on the “Upper Oldman above the Gap”, “the Livingston River” and the “North and South Ram Rivers” above their confluence. We realize this is hard to wrap one’s mind around and is a new approach that has never been implemented before. However, our group feels that the collaborative cohesive measures involving enhancement and the “Dry Fly Only” regulation will stabilize trout populations, disperse angling pressure over more fish, provide a chance for the fish to maintain a much better cosmetic appearance and result in trout with a much more robust conditioning factor. The angler’s true benefit will be a much more enjoyable angling experience overall and result in a lot prettier trout to catch and release. This proposal is also a lot more acceptable compromise than full closures or limiting access. Please at the very least let’s try it on at least one of these rivers as a pilot project to see what the results would be. It is high time as well to put the single barbless, one hook only per lure regulation/restriction back in place province wide it has been we believe since 2011 when it was rescinded. This regulation will assure that our fish species will be much more cosmetically appealing and ensure faster release times. It will also ensure the juvenile fish that are small, very slippery and struggle the most when handled during release don’t get seriously injured or possibly even destroyed. The maxillaries on juvenile fish also are much more fragile than on mature fish and this is when a major amount of the cosmetic injuries happen during release of fish.
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Juvenile fish are usually quite slippery (wet) and struggle and wiggle more than mature fish do. Because of these three situations when anglers are removing hooks from juvenile fish, they drop them repetitively (they are slippery) on the rocks while they struggle and wiggle endlessly. Not only do they drop them at least a few times during a single release many anglers also squeeze the fish more and more as they struggle harder. In the time it takes the anglers to remove the hook many fish may swim away when released but a considerable number will die later. There will always be written literature that will sight scientifically one way or the other on whether the barbless hook restriction makes a difference or not. Many of us anglers have visually seen the horrific results out on the streams we so dearly enjoy that is more than enough proof for us. The province simply needs to take the high road on this serious issue and quit wallowing in indecision.
The combination of artificial enhancement through wild sourced genetics, single barbless hooks and the dry fly only restrictions on the four stretches of our precious wild native Cutthroat Trout streams will collaboratively make a huge clear definitive difference. There will be a vast improvement of trout per mile, that are in much better shape cosmetically and conditioning factors will be vastly improved and the overall angling experience will be vastly enhanced. Friends of the Red Deer River would love it if we lived in a perfect world and all our natural areas, rivers streams and creeks were in perfect condition and native trout species were thriving but that simply is not the case. Our group might normally apologize for the focused effort towards trout in this document, but four States in the U.S.A. have clearly demonstrated that Trout will draw the most tourism dollars. We have also discussed the virtues of the Hofer strain of Rainbow trout with Travis Ripley of (AEP) and its built-in resistance to whirling disease and the tubifex worm which will be around for the foreseeable future. We think the programs we propose will create a program where outfitters, guides, non-resident anglers and locals can angle in an uncrowded enjoyable venue. We think our program provides the experiences that prosperous well traveled anglers hunt out, pursue and spend large dollars in. We also think our program deals with trout species that will survive best in elevated water temperatures, less than desirable water conditions, in relatively contaminated waters.
This appealing sturdy durable fish we speak of is the Brown Trout which can adjust best to intense angling pressure and go successive years without recruitment. The Brown Trout will do this in the most dynamic manner and it is also beloved by many anglers for its selectivity, beauty and its ability to reach very large sizes, because it has a longer life cycle. This is a very versatile set of traits that make the Brown Trout the fish of the future with the threat of global warming looming for our large lower-level rivers. With warmer winters and searingly hot summers threatening the concern of rising water temperatures and eminent water related issues are probably only going to elevate the Brown Trout is a prime candidate to focus on. Along with the reality that point source and dispersed source contaminations are only going to intensify in the foreseeable future.
The province has to recognise the attributes of the Brown Trout and its ability to safeguard sustainable and enjoyable angling experiences. If any of the departments or organizations wonder why what we present should even be considered or require clarification on our group, what we have accomplished and our support base please feel free to enquire. We are reaching out trying to enlighten everyone on the possibilities of what a collaborative effort can achieve.
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Hopefully we have clearly explained that we are focused on what can be changed, improved or initiated in the near future if support is forthcoming. Anyway, hopefully this document will help you in your decision-making process on whether you will support this effort or not. If you would like more in depth clarification of any or all we have covered here please feel free to contact our group. The following paragraphs will shed some light on what we are covering within this document. Large deep cold clear trout lakes with resilient restrictive measures will ensure cost savings in stocking regimes (stocking less trout annually) and a cost savings in not having to aerate annually. These large trout lakes will create great fishing opportunities and diversify the angling experience as well as disperse intense angling pressure. These larger deeper trout lakes we propose the province develop also provide the opportunity to raise larger populations of trophy fish much better than small ponds and prairie potholes.
They will also provide a trout that tastes a lot better for the consumptive angler in a fair but sustainable manner. Our group supports the program where the chance to put in a one fish over 23” a day and where the angler can only retain 5 cumulatively on an annual basis in any one provincial region where retention is legal. The cautious tag program (with the issuance of five fish tags at a cost of $5.00 each) will maintain 4-year classes of trout in the lake providing a higher catch rate and a variety of sizes of trout to catch. We even support a full-on opportunity to provide a few lakes for trout where there is zero retention for Stillwater anglers to pursue a true trophy trout experience. Our group does think the opportunity to provide a real chance for optimal goals may require a few of the very best trout lakes to be no ice fishing. We support the appropriate program on the right trout lakes that best suit each specific opportunity. Our group supports stocking small ponds (just over 150 ponds and prairie potholes province wide stocked) for the consumptive angler. Which obviously they are on ponds where the trout won’t over winter in and an environment that will really only provide the father and son the consumptive program they enjoy. Even on these ponds though restraint is an enviable goal the retention of 2 or 3 trout per day is very fair. However, the cumulative possession limits regulation of 5-10 fish per year will ensure more anglers have an equal chance to retain some fish. We also feel that these anglers should have to purchase the consumptive license costing $ 10.00 dollars more and the tags @ $ 5.00 each to help the province maintain the program financially. These programs are a great service/program run by the provincial government and the Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) they should be supported as well as appreciated.
The opportunity for the consumptive angler to catch and retain one large fish or any fish for that matter a day is very fair and sustainable. The five fish per angler cumulatively over the entire season regardless of species per region in a season for table fare on fisheries that allow retention legally is very sustainable and more than sufficient. Surely this is a program the Alberta Fish and Game association, Alberta Conservation Association and Trout Unlimited can get behind. The high ideals set here support the vision of sustainable fisheries, quality and diverse angling experiences and at the same time create new super fun fisheries. It also goes a long way towards addressing and dispersing intense angling pressure. Not only on each lake but over many more lakes that provide a much larger surface area, with colder cleaner water and more sustainable depth to provide quality fish for table fare that will also sustain much higher angling pressure. The Alberta Fish & Game Association, Trout Unlimited, the Alberta Conservation Association, AEP and Friends of the Red Deer River need to step back and look big picture and on a much larger scale. We all need to work collaboratively together in a collective effort and not just focus individually on our own mandates, missions, goals and objectives.
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What ever past struggles have clouded the venue for all of our outdoor organizations to work together towards one clear objective and goal must now be set aside. Our group thinks if we all take a long hard realistic look at what Friends of the Red Deer is proposing here it is a very knowledgeable, resourceful and realistic program. That supports all anglers interests in a very sustainable, realistic, fair and cost-effective way to manage Alberta’s fisheries. Our group thinks we can do it, the anglers hope we can do it, our watersheds and fisheries need us to do this and the chance for sustainable fisheries depend on it. If or when each of the four separate stakeholder groups can show support through this letter of support. It will provide a very powerful message if we can all just look past what has kept us from the possibilities in the past which now must be left behind. We really hope we can all find a shared interest to support each other and achieve greater things.
The possibilities for Carson Lake, Blood Indian Reservoir, Burnstick Lake, Swan Lake, Waterton Reservoir, Cow Lake, Police Outpost Lake, Crawling Valley Reservoir, St. Mary’s Reservoir, Sylvan Lake, Glennifer Reservoir, Glenmore Reservoir, Brazeau Reservoir, Upper and lower Kananaskis Lakes, to provide a much better and diverse fishing opportunity is huge. If one needs actual proof on how these programs we are proposing can and will work and work very well in all environments be they lake, river, stream or creek environment feel free to contact our group for more information. Our group would suggest taking a look at what the “Grand River” in Ontario near Alora and Fergus has achieved under the vision, drive and direction of “Warren Yerex”. Or what the lower Bow River, upper Bow River, Tailwater on the Red Deer River, the upper Red Deer River, upper and lower Oldman River, North and South Ram Rivers, the Clear water River, Prairie Creek, Stauffer spring creek, the South Raven River, the Little Red Deer River, Fallen Timber, the Livingston River, the tailwater on the ST. Mary’s River, the Waterton River upstream of the Waterton Reservoir, the Kananaskis river upstream of Barrier Reservoir, the High wood River, the Sheep River, the Elbow River, the Spray River, the Cascade River, the Blackstone River and many others could achieve.
We think we can all agree there is plenty of water and huge opportunity here. The programs our group has presented will provide an environment to support and improve native species, genetic diversity and stable populations for the biologists to work towards in a very sustainable format. They will also provide the opportunity for anglers that prefer a more natural catch and release experience on quite a few different rivers and streams. It will support the desires of anglers who hunt trophy trout in the Still water environment. It will address the consumptive anglers needs in a fair but sustainable manner. Individually all the programs will cohesively and collaboratively work very realistically and resourcefully as a cohesive effort to address the issues of overly consumptive attitudes. It will reverse the illegal activity and poorly behaved angler’s destructive behaviour in a cost effective and serious manner. It will disperse the deteriorating issue of intense angling pressure over more regions, more lakes, more rivers, more streams.
If we can get fish populations per mile to a much higher more resilient population base through constructive, careful, wild genetic enhancement it will put much less pressure on each individual fish on each individual stretch of river or stream. It will ensure every fish has a much better cosmetic appearance and a much-improved conditioning factor. The programs we speak of will put the right fish species in the environment where it will do the best. They put the right angling experience and fishing program where it will prosper and generate a duality of desirable results.
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It will provide opportunity for resilient numbers of fish per mile so that balance is achievable and each fish survives in better cosmetic shape and overall conditioning factors. It ensures that effort and allocation of fish species is supported in a dynamic manner in the areas where they do best. It also ensures that we don’t try to have every fish species everywhere in an obsessive manner province wide.
It embraces and delivers a much stronger and financially beneficial environment in the hospitality and tourism industry throughout the southern and central regions of Alberta. There is a very real opportunity here to diversify and improve Alberta’s economy and surely augment our provincial GDP. It also provides the right programs in the right place to help disperse angling pressure over more quality fisheries in the most populated section of the province. This directly and indirectly supports the Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP) mission, the purpose of Alberta Fish & Game, the goals and objective of the Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) and the underlying mission objective for Trout Unlimited hopefully. The situation where one or any of these organizations do not engage in a written show of support or a real strong reason does not speak well to the future of sustainable fisheries in Alberta. It will also surely embrace the scenario where the overall pleasurable angling experience for all anglers will be at risk. What our group is asking for is a letter of support here and the opportunity to list each organization in our support section on our organizational document for “Friends of the Red Deer River”. Please take the time to read this e-mail and document we then leave each organization the free will to decide if it is a yes or a no. That is up to you, but we do ask supportively for a written stance one way or the other and hopefully why you have made whatever decision.
Yes, each department, organization or group focusing individually on organizational mandate, mission, goals and organizational objectives is very understandable. However, we must all try to embrace the collaborative effort and see the big picture, the large-scale opportunity before us. Let’s focus on what is possible and not on what we can’t do. Our group has a fairly successful track record, progressive and growing support base from Mayors, Tourism boards, chambers of Commerce, fly shops and sport shops, the hospitality industry, some of the provincial outdoor organizations as well as anglers. Now we need an even larger stronger base and this is why we hope each of you are willing to get involved. Our group cannot do this alone we now need the organizations involved here to help do their part if this is to succeed. Come on guys and girls we need all the support we can muster if we are going to hold the province to a higher standard. It is time we all stood up to be counted and as Danielle Smith says if we say No! No! No! how will we ever get to yes? Our group optimistically and hopefully waits for a supportive reply to this e-mail, document and our vision. Thank you for your time, patience and support hopefully.
Bryant (Bob) G. Edens
For: Friends of the Red Deer River
E-mail address: [email protected]