Smallmouth Bass in Island Lake Regulations?

[PerchFisherman]

If I were to catch any bass out of Island Lake near Smokey Lake, could I keep as many as I wish, as they are not an Alberta game fish.

[chriscosta]

If ya get one keep it as i really doubt youll get another ive heard they are there but my uncle had a cabin out there and hes never even heard tale of one ever being caught id like to hear from someone who has it would be interesting to know if someones ever got one oh and id triple check the regs before i went or even call the fish cops to see good luck tho

[EZM]

I recall reading although the lake was stocked with Bass, a survey several years later determined there was no evidence to support any of the stock survived.

I also don't recall ever seeing a picture of a bass taken out of that lake.

If you do hook one - post some pics. Would be cool to see.

[Stupid Deep]

Originally Posted by EZM

I recall reading although the lake was stocked with Bass, a survey several years later determined there was no evidence to support any of the stock survived.

I also don't recall ever seeing a picture of a bass taken out of that lake.

If you do hook one - post some pics. Would be cool to see.

From what I hear it last got stocked in 1978 or something.

[Kim473]

I saw someone pull a few out in the early 80's I have not been back since. Good luck if you try it. Should be some nice perch in there if they didn't winter kill a few years back as the water levels a few years back were very low if not, the lake all but dried up.

[davegrant]

Originally Posted by Kim473

I saw someone pull a few out in the early 80's I have not been back since. Good luck if you try it. Should be some nice perch in there if they didn't winter kill a few years back as the water levels a few years back were very low if not, the lake all but dried up.

Last I heard was from a guy who runs trapline up there caught a couple back in 08 but that is before killer winter of 2010. Water level still dropping still has fish but hook will never reach any bass(doubtful if any left ) gets eaten by hundreds of stunted foot long pike before hits bottom. Perch numbers low.

[SCOOBA_ACE]

Know of a local who pulls out atleast one a year from there. Caught one myself back in the early 90's. Thought it was a perch until it started jumping out of the water like crazy.

Good luck

[FishingFrenzy]

Originally Posted by SCOOBA_ACE

Know of a local who pulls out atleast one a year from there. Caught one myself back in the early 90's. Thought it was a perch until it started jumping out of the water like crazy.

Good luck

Pics or it didn't happen

[SCOOBA_ACE]

I had a pic of mine. Would have to look through the archives. No BS though, still a few of them in there.

[Dewey Cox]

I could be wrong, (and often am) but I was under the impression that you couldn't keep a fish that's not listed in the regs. The rule is to discourage the bucket brigade.

[chriscosta]

Originally Posted by Dewey Cox

I could be wrong, (and often am) but I was under the impression that you couldn't keep a fish that's not listed in the regs. The rule is to discourage the bucket brigade.

I believe that to be true

[Alexey]

Originally Posted by Dewey Cox

I could be wrong, (and often am) but I was under the impression that you couldn't keep a fish that's not listed in the regs. The rule is to discourage the bucket brigade.

It's true for gamefish in case of stocked lakes. Is that lake stocked?
By the way, bass is not Alberta gamefish, so there are no limits for it. Same as suckers

[Izumi]

Originally Posted by chriscosta

I believe that to be true

but this got me thinking...

Quote from Alberta Fishing Regulations
The section 'General Sport Regulations' titled 'Catch limits'

Lists all game fish and their max possession

Non-game fish – no restriction on the numbers kept.

Bass is missing from the Game fish list so it falls into non-game like a sucker or minnow.

So you can fill you freezer with Bass BUT this is only talking about possession.
We want a daily limit from island/nb1 not how many we can posses in a day.

So there is this note in that same section that states:
"NOTE: The limits and size restrictions that exist at specific lakes and streams are listed in the Watershed Unit sections of each Fish Management Zone."

so in the NB1 section
Island lake says

Island Lake (62-17-W4)
May 15 to Mar. 31 – Pike limit 1 over 55 cm; Perch limit 10
Apr. 1 to May 14 – CLOSED

Ok but Bass is missing... but fish species (it does NOT say sports fish and this is why you cant keep your bass) not mentioned at a lake is covered by this blanket statement

C. For other NB1 Lakes, Reservoirs and Ponds not included under (A) or (B) and for fish species not mentioned at a listed lake.
May 15 to Mar. 31 – Walleye limit 3 over 50 cm; Pike limit 3 over 63 cm; Perch limit 15; Lake Whitefish limit 10; Burbot limit 10; Trout limit 3; Arctic Grayling limit 2 over 35 cm (Arctic Grayling limit 0 May 14 to May 31 and Sept. 1 to Mar. 31); Bait allowed.
Apr. 1 to May 14 – CLOSED

Still no Bass...

So I think these guys are right, you cant keep the bass your not gonna catch ;]

I think it's kinda funny that non-sport fish have a unlimited possession limit but a 0 take limit from any lake/river since they are never listed...

Makes you wonder if that's supposed to say game fish...

[curtis_rak]

I went thru about 5 packages of bass worms this summer at Island Lake, just not to any bass. Water is low, but some nice holes...

[highwood]

Very surprised to see you got that boat in there. I assume you came from the back side.

[Mutter87]

Why would you keep a fish if there are hardly any left?

[the local angler]

i have also heard of bass at island lake and after doing some research i wanted to check it out untill i found out there was like 3 lakes up in the same area called island lake so i personally was not sure which one has bass in it.

[Levy]

The last angling survey to contain any Bass was in 93. Water levels were extremely low. I believe the lake is ground water fed so its likely an indication of a low precip climate cycle rather than increased water use. That area is not very developed. I heard several people say there has been partial winter kills in recent years. From the recent creel surveys the lake looks infested with pike and the perch numbers seen in the eighties and early nineties don't look to be present.

[chriscosta]

Originally Posted by Mutter87

Why would you keep a fish if there are hardly any left?

Cause theres hardly any left lol

[PerchFisherman]

This link contains pictures of Island Lake bass from 2000.

http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showt...ss+island+lake

[chriscosta]

Whoah thats sweet

[keep6matt]

I did a fish taxidermy mount on a smallmouth that supposedly came out of Island Lake...this is going back when I was in high school in Andrew (now I am 41...s**t time flies!) Anyways it definitely was 100% a smallmouth, no question. So yeah it seems there was smallies in there but whether there still is any left is another story...water levels down immensely.