planting bass

[fishing101]

I have noticed that in sask they are stocking bass in a few lakes and seem to be doing very well. I was wondering why have no local rod and gun clubs thought of trying them out in certain southern areas of the province? The water gets warm enough and there is lakes that don't have any walleye and it would give us something else to fish for. They have taken off good in BC and Sask why are we the only province without them? They do very well in Montana, but nobody has done it in alberta yet. Just wondering why people have not tried to push this?

[pickrel pat]

not a good idea. too much can go awry. fishermen could transplant them into other unintended water bodies. this could wreak havoc on albertas native fish species. it would be alright if we knew for sure that we could contain them in that body of water. just my thought. keep alberta natural

[geezer55]

Why not introduce another speices, we've done it before. Taken from Alberta SRA web site.
Alberta's Golden Trout Management Plan was completed in 1995 for this 'species of special concern.' Alberta is the only Canadian province with golden trout. The species was first introduced in 1959 from its native alpine lakes in California. The plan is being implemented to conserve this unique species and at the same time provide some special fishing opportunities by way of restrictive angling regulations.

[Rockymtnx]

When something like this comes there is a pile of red tape to break through. I am sure it has been brought to the table a few times.
Maybe this would be a good topic to bring up with your local F&G club. Possibly a resolution could be brought up at a future conference just to show that there is interest in the topic of introducing bass into Alberta.

[catnthehat]

Hanmore Lake was stocked with smallmouth bass years ago, but I do not know what became of it.
Cat

Originally Posted by catnthehat

Hanmore Lake was stocked with smallmouth bass years ago, but I do not know what became of it.
Cat

it was Island Lake, across the road from Hanmore, people do still catch the odd smallie. But dont go there on a Bass quest.

Originally Posted by geezer55

Why not introduce another speices, we've done it before. Taken from Alberta SRA web site.
Alberta's Golden Trout Management Plan was completed in 1995 for this 'species of special concern.' Alberta is the only Canadian province with golden trout. The species was first introduced in 1959 from its native alpine lakes in California. The plan is being implemented to conserve this unique species and at the same time provide some special fishing opportunities by way of restrictive angling regulations.

if memory serves me well, Coral Lake also has the only Self-reproducing stock of Golden trout, they come out of the lake in a creek that you can pee across and spawn.

I was wondering why have no local rod and gun clubs thought of trying them out in certain southern areas of the province?

Stocking by private individuals or clubs is strictly forbidden in Alberta and for good reason. Bass have been tried in Alberta quite a few times over the years...Wabumun...Island....Minnewanka and all have failed miserably. Our average water temperatures are not warm enough for bass. Ya, I know it gets warm in the summer here but the average temperatures of our lakes are too cold for bass. That may change in the next few years with global warming but right now, you're going to have to head for southern Saskatchewan or BC if you want to go bass fishing.

Why not introduce another speices, we've done it before. Taken from Alberta SRA web site.
Alberta's Golden Trout Management Plan was completed in 1995 for this 'species of special concern.' Alberta is the only Canadian province with golden trout. The species was first introduced in 1959 from its native alpine lakes in California. The plan is being implemented to conserve this unique species and at the same time provide some special fishing opportunities by way of restrictive angling regulations.

You can add rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout to that list of introduced species and there have been many more tried....Dolly Varden, kokanee and many others.

[bobalong]

Originally Posted by sheephunter

Stocking by private individuals or clubs is strictly forbidden in Alberta and for good reason. Bass have been tried in Alberta quite a few times over the years...Wabumun...Island....Minnewanka and all have failed miserably. Our average water temperatures are not warm enough for bass. Ya, I know it gets warm in the summer here but the average temperatures of our lakes are too cold for bass. That may change in the next few years with global warming but right now, you're going to have to head for southern Saskatchewan or BC if you want to go bass fishing.

I would think some of our southern reservoirs would support bass, it seems like the last couple of years some of the most southern ones hardly freeze over. Milk Ridge, St Mary's and maybe even a little farther north to Travers and Sherburne, or maybe just wishfull thinking on my part. I think stocking Bass was a good idea, they just chose the wrong part of the province to try it in, as Sask and B.C have had their success in the southern part of their provinces as well.

You may be right but even in Saskatchewan...the only successful stocking is in a reservoir that is artificially warmed by cooling water from a coal generating plant. I can't see largemouth ever surviving here but maybe smallmouth.

[JohninAB]

There is a lake in North Eastern Sask near Jan Lake that is stocked with small mouth bass. Believe they opened it to fishing July 1.

To me, I could not see smallmouth doing that well here as do they not prefer a more rockier type habitat ie shield lake versus a largemouth that prefers the muddy/weedy type lakes we have for the most part here in Alberta?

Smallmouth are actually fairly adaptable and are found in several U.S reservoirs similar to ours and a number of the lakes on Vancouver Island are not your classic smallmouth habitat.

Are you refering to Rocky Lake?

Smallmouth bass would survive but red tape has prevented several attempts in southern Alberta. . Lots of risks though, i wouldn't want to be the guy taking responsibility for negative impacts. Golden trout intros for example were fairly low risk as there habitats are limited and no one can tell the difference if they move to lower elevations. Bass could spread like weeds through the irrigation systems. Brookies seemed like a good idea everywhere 100 years ago, now we look at the stunted populations and there's nothing we can do. They still do good in many rivers but the natural fish populations would sure be nice to have around in others (just illustrating my own concerns with intros).

[Winch101]

You want to talk to guys who have fished NW Ontario ( outside of Lk.o
Wds) for years;most of the smaller lakes that had Smallies introduced
the walleye fishery has gone for a sh-- . You would never be able to
contain them in the Eid system ...Having fished all the southern reservoirs
there really isnt the kind of structure that Bass like ... Where the lakes are shallow and warm up , they are slimier than pike . Fun to catch...
We need more walleye stocking , more put and take and pay fishery ...

[pickrel pat]

can you imagine what huntung might be like if we transplanted 1000 more wolves to alberta? i would say no to bass!!

[ABDUKNUT]

screw the bass and get MORE turkeys!

maybe we can trade some wolfs?