Minnewanka & Banff Nat'l Park regulation changes

[thumper]

Interesting 2017 National Park regulation changes! New in 2017:

0 Possession Limit of all fish caught in Banff, Yoho or Kootenay Parks, with the exception of a daily limit of 2 Lake trout from Lake Minnewanka.
--- this is to reduce the chance of cross contamination of whirling disease between waters. Apparently, Lake trout are "less susceptible to whirling disease" so a harvest is still permitted.

And Johnson Lake and tributaries in Banff National Park (where Whirling disease was first found in Canada) is Closed.

Felt-soled wading boots are prohibited in all mountain national parks.
--- again, to reduce the possibility of cross contamination of Whirling disease.

"Motor boats launching in Banff National Park require an Alberta Inspection Certificate if they have been in waters outside of Alberta or British Columbia in the past 30 days"
--- in Banff, the only place where motor boats are permitted is Lake Minnewanka. This is reduce the possibility of introducing invasive species like Quagga mussels. No mention of where one obtains an Alberta Inspection Certificate, (because that would be too helpful) but there's the threat that "Launching without a required permit is subject to fines up to $25,000".

Coupled with the new Alberta provincial regulations, new this year, you are not permitted to keep any fish from the Bow River - from it's birthplace along the Great Divide, high in the Rockies at Bow Lake, all the way to the Bassano Dam.

[MathewsArcher]

You get an inspection certificate when you go through an inspection station.

[depolloc]

Asking out of ignorance, but how does reduced retention limits on Minnewanka (for all but lake trout) mitigate the risk of whirling disease?

[thumper]

According to the Parks Canada notice: "The movement of fish is the leading cause of spread for whirling disease".

Why an angler would 'move' a fish he/she caught and retained from one waterbody to another is a mystery to me.

My suspicion? They have to be seen to be doing 'something', and further restricting anglers is the easiest 'something' to do!

[TROLLER]

I thought the limit on Minnewanka always was 2.

[RavYak]

Where did you get this from, I can't find this information and would like to check changes in Jasper.

[deschambault]

I haven't fished it for a lot of years but am pretty sure the limit was 2 back then as well.

[RavYak]

Originally Posted by deschambault

I haven't fished it for a lot of years but am pretty sure the limit was 2 back then as well.

Definitely only 2 last year, the regs are still up on their website. The change would be the closure of all the other water bodies not a change in Minnewanka.

[Safety D]

The fishing at willy wanka has been so dead lately

[thumper]

Exactly right RavYak, - no changes for Minnewanka, except the requirement for an Inspection Certificate if your boat has been outside of AB/BC.

I bought my license yesterday in Banff and the mountain NP information was in the 'regs' they hand out, and in a paper insert.

I don't see any changes to Jasper NP regs, except that 'Felt-Soled Wading Boots Prohibited in all Mountain National Parks'.

* I hope to be in Home Bay in my Hobie the day the ice goes out!

[TROLLER]

Originally Posted by Safety D

The fishing at willy wanka has been so dead lately

Only open 4 months out of the year and you can call it dead

I spend a fair amount of time fishing Minnewanka and have never once felt it was as you say dead. Maybe you should spend a little more time checking it out. It is a big lake and the fish are not always in the same spot.

[depolloc]

Yes, the limit was 2 in previous years, but the limit of 2 included other species (such as whitefish). The way I read the original post (but I do need to find the new regs for myself) is that retention would be closed to all but lake trout. Thus my question. If the OP is verbatim, than I wonder how reduced retention is linked to whirling disease, I just don't fully understand the basis.

That being said, still need to do some fact checking.

[depolloc]

Sorry, should have read Thumpers post (no changes to minne). I'm just going to wait to see the new regs for myself.

[McLeod]

Interesting because at the Jasper information center they have the new regs and there was NO insert.

[McLeod]

Originally Posted by thumper

According to the Parks Canada notice: "The movement of fish is the leading cause of spread for whirling disease".

Why an angler would 'move' a fish he/she caught and retained from one waterbody to another is a mystery to me.

My suspicion? They have to be seen to be doing 'something', and further restricting anglers is the easiest 'something' to do!

Yes it make no sense.. but then again there aren't alot of waters in Banff where you can harvest fish from anyways.

[McLeod]

No changes in Jasper.

[Big Bull]

Originally Posted by McLeod

No changes in Jasper.

My understanding is that felt soled waders/boots are prohibited.

[McLeod]

Originally Posted by Big Bull

My understanding is that felt soled waders/boots are prohibited.

Yes that is true. For all Mountain National Parks

[McLeod]

Originally Posted by Big Bull

My understanding is that felt soled waders/boots are prohibited.

I checked the regus again and there is no mention of this . It may only apply to
Banff on an insert someone said there is. Also nothing in the regs about changes to fish limits in Banff.

[Big Bull]

Originally Posted by McLeod

I checked the regus again and there is no mention of this . It may only apply to
Banff on an insert someone said there is. Also nothing in the regs about changes to fish limits in Banff.

There should eventually be an insert regarding the waders in Jasper, once the dust settles. It's a long story.

[McLeod]

Originally Posted by Big Bull

There should eventually be an insert regarding the waders in Jasper, once the dust settles. It's a long story.

Good stuff. Thanks for the info.It will at least keep them out of Medicine.

I would like to hear that story over a couple of Brews someday ! Lol

[thumper]

Here y'all go. From the new regs and insert provided at the Banff info centre ...

P4050559 by Andrew Whittick, on Flickr

P4050557 by Andrew Whittick, on Flickr

P4050554 by Andrew Whittick, on Flickr

[thumper]

'Easier on the eyes' shots of the insert:

P4050555 by Andrew Whittick, on Flickr

P4050556 by Andrew Whittick, on Flickr

[McLeod]

Thanks for this. I wonder if the birds will read the regs too !

[Big Bull]

Originally Posted by McLeod

Good stuff. Thanks for the info.It will at least keep them out of Medicine.

I would like to hear that story over a couple of Brews someday ! Lol

Sure, give me shout when you are in town.

[SNAPFisher]

Yeah, thanks indeed. Very helpful.

[thumper]

Thank you for thanking me! Oft-times people on this forum go through considerable effort to pass information along for others to use, without so much as a 'Thanks'. In this case, it meant getting out the camera, photographing the regs, downloading them onto my computer, then uploading them to my Flickr account, and then posting them on this forum.

This, not to 'prove a point', 'win an argument' or in any way benefit me.

Knowing that others appreciate these efforts will ensure that many of us may continue to take the time to post accurate information for others to make use of.

[McLeod]

Originally Posted by thumper

Thank you for thanking me! Oft-times people on this forum go through considerable effort to pass information along for others to use, without so much as a 'Thanks'. In this case, it meant getting out the camera, photographing the regs, downloading them onto my computer, then uploading them to my Flickr account, and then posting them on this forum.

This, not to 'prove a point', 'win an argument' or in any way benefit me.

Knowing that others appreciate these efforts will ensure that many of us may continue to take the time to post accurate information for others to make use of.

Well said and again thank you so much !

[Mountain Guy]

Originally Posted by McLeod

Good stuff. Thanks for the info.It will at least keep them out of Medicine.

I would like to hear that story over a couple of Brews someday ! Lol

Keep felts out of medicine? Why would anybody want to use felts in the first place.

[McLeod]

Originally Posted by Mountain Guy

Keep felts out of medicine? Why would anybody want to use felts in the first place.

Good question but I am sure there are some.