Quote:
Originally Posted by Penner
The other "stuff" wasn't missed by me, I'm happiest catching a variety species in a variety of age classes. I also don't mind taking a fish home for the frying pan every now and then. I'm an avid angler just like the rest of you. One difference however, I'm realistic.
Perhaps what is misunderstood by yourself and most others is the single fact that Alberta currently does not have the water bodies nor the population of fish within them to allow sustainable harvest of any game fish species under general possession limits with the number of licensed anglers that currently exist. There are likely only 2 things that could possibly change that, an extensive stocking program for all game fish species, combined with extensive regulation enforcement. But there is little chance either of those are going to happen with the economical pressures in this Province that we are likely to be faced with for the foreseeable future.
No argument from me the fisheries biologists have certainly contributed to the current state of our fisheries, however its your brother, your dad, your uncle, your grandfather, the fellow anglers on this forum, yourself, I, and any other angler in this province past/present whom have impacted the fishery the most and are where the fingers should be pointed at.
Times have changed and the times of keeping 5 of that, 10 of this, 30 of those are long gone and aren't coming back anytime soon.
Restating keep limits because you feel "entitled" to it, or bitch'n that the "biologist" don't have a clue, or eliminating the draw system "because it is just a money grab", ain't going to solve squat and quite frankly is the exact mindset that has gotten us to where we are.
Thus to my original point, I'd rather catch and not keep, then not catch or keep. Have draws for those whom like to take a meal home every now and then. That's reality.
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It's not about bonking fish, it's about balanced fisheries and diversity. If you protect walleye in a lake they are an apex predator. They are fishing 365 days a year eating everything in the lake that they can fit in their mouth. As many fish as we ever caught we never could have fished the lake out of perch in a lifetime. What we could not achieve in a lifetime the walleye have collapsed in 15 years of protection. It was really interesting to watch a lake change over time and population dynamics flux with the simple shutdown of the walleye fishery. Mid way it was looking pretty great... we have long since past that point.
I think the number of waters and sportfisherman is an excuse! Government will always blame us. I used to actually see way more people fishing back in the day when there were limits. Now hardly see anyone fishing on the lakes. Natives are still netting these lakes. The oil industry continues to deplete the ground water and lake levels in areas across the province have suffered significant drop in water levels. Winterkill/ summer kill, blue green algae, nutrient loading from surrounding cattle and grain farms.
You pointing the finger at me is kind of funny given haven't lived in Alberta for 15 years and I haven't kept a fish from the lake I mentioned in years. There are lots of fish in Alberta and super easy to catch... they're just all small starving walleye.
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