Canadianfisherman,
Stocked Rainbow, Brown and Cutthroat Trout need running water to spawn. Stocked Alberta Lakes typically have no running streams that could spawning populations.
There is some suggestion that a few BC Lakes with active springs are supporting spawning populations of lakebound rainbows, but it is very site specific.
As for Bookies, they fall spawn on gravel in a lake.
But stocking Perch, Pike and Walleye all will reproduce.
Bios ARE WELCOME to explain why they do not raise perch or pike in the hatchery system.
They really cannot see the forest for the trees.
As for Perch, just watch sundancefisher's post of attempts to control perch in their subdivision lake, and it will give you some obvious ideas of a source for Perch for stocking. Simply net in the shallows in the Spring in any number of these urban lakes and transport the Perch to the target lake. Sundancefisher regularly posts his perch cull exploits with more than 6 - 5 gallon pails of perch for a Fike net pull.
If F & W stepped in, and moved these Perch, there would be plenty available to restart perch fishing pretty easy somewhere else.
Two benefits from moving the Perch from Trout ponds: The trout do better in the Donor lake, and the Perch do not stunt and can be moved to enhance an existing perch fishery somewhere else where there is heavier demand.
PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY THIS CANNOT BE DONE BIOS!!!
As for Walleye, stocking has been done to rehabilitate some lakes like wabamun, and Lac La Biche. No reason why it could not be a regular occurrence for walleye lakes that see alot of pressure and where the population is not naturally reproducing.
Yes, it will cost money. Get over it and make it a priority for the Department.
The fishing pressure is there and will only increase, so why not meet the demand for the resource just like we do with so many other Government services like roads, hospitals, schools, parks, etc.
Drewski
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