The awesome perch lakes of yesteryear....

[pikeman06]

Yup I lived in bonnyville during the glory days but we were so busy working we only fished it maybe 10 days per year on the average over 6 years or so that I lived there. All those lakes up there were pretty good but the biggest perch were always selective. I admit to taking my buckets home too but never wasted a flake of perch meat so I guess I got peace of mind. Its overfishing and its happening right now at sylvan. I dont know how to remedy it besides a total closure in the winter where it can actually be enforced easily. People are greedy. Its a long way to recovery especially without stocking. I think its actually impossible in this day and age to manage so many anglers with so few fish.

[Talking moose]

Originally Posted by pikeman06

Yup I lived in bonnyville during the glory days but we were so busy working we only fished it maybe 10 days per year on the average over 6 years or so that I lived there. All those lakes up there were pretty good but the biggest perch were always selective. I admit to taking my buckets home too but never wasted a flake of perch meat so I guess I got peace of mind. Its overfishing and its happening right now at sylvan. I dont know how to remedy it besides a total closure in the winter where it can actually be enforced easily. People are greedy. Its a long way to recovery especially without stocking. I think its actually impossible in this day and age to manage so many anglers with so few fish.

People biotch about zero limits and tag systems, but when you pull up over the hill and look down at a lake, and it looks Woodstock festival down there, you know it’s needed. I welcome it.

[SNAPFisher]

Originally Posted by pikeman06 View Post
Yup I lived in bonnyville during the glory days but we were so busy working we only fished it maybe 10 days per year on the average over 6 years or so that I lived there. All those lakes up there were pretty good but the biggest perch were always selective. I admit to taking my buckets home too but never wasted a flake of perch meat so I guess I got peace of mind. Its overfishing and its happening right now at sylvan. I dont know how to remedy it besides a total closure in the winter where it can actually be enforced easily. People are greedy. Its a long way to recovery especially without stocking. I think its actually impossible in this day and age to manage so many anglers with so few fish.

Originally Posted by Talking moose

People biotch about zero limits and tag systems, but when you pull up over the hill and look down at a lake, and it looks Woodstock festival down there, you know it’s needed. I welcome it.

I agree with you Moose. Well said on both zero limits and tags. There is a reason both exist.

Surprised to see Pikeman coming around on overfishing being the real culprit. For sure stocking and expanding stocking of all sport fishing species, that can be, would be a great way to begin to counteract the slide. I believe it is possible to manage these fisheries. Alberta needs to change
to do it.

For example, I looked at Wisconsin a while back and they have over 200 stocking locations comprised of government and private industry. They stock everything they can including perch, pike, musky, etc.

Here is one example of a private firm in WI:
https://www.wisconsinlpr.com/lake-an...fish-stocking/

Just take a look at the species list. Also look at how they recommend walleye and perch together.

They have successfully privatized and made it into a valid business. May not be the only thing AB could do better but it is one thing. At least imho.

[3blade]

Originally Posted by Talking moose

People biotch about zero limits and tag systems, but when you pull up over the hill and look down at a lake, and it looks Woodstock festival down there, you know it’s needed. I welcome it.

It’s when the limits and tags aren’t managed properly that people get frustrated. Lac la nonne is a great example. Used to be lots of every kind of fish, big perch, plenty of above average pike, enough walleye burbs and whites that you could catch them if you tried....then the walleye got hit by bio-itis and “collapsed” -it never was a trophy walleye fishery. Just a good well balanced lake

Now there’s lots of scrawny pigeon-eyes that you can pay extra to throw back, and nothing else.

[1899b]

Originally Posted by shawn

When I was a kid and living in Bonnyville I remember we would come home with a 5 gal pail of perch and dad would be filleting forever. I think the limit was 30 or 40 a person back then. Mmmmm and I wonder why they are no longer around, kinda like everyone shooting supplemental wt does. Hopefully people are more educated and learn to conserve now, I know I learned my lesson.

Folks are from Bonnyville. We had a summer home at Northshore Heights. Perch fishing was phenomenal back in the 80’s and early 90’s.

We were from Fort McMurray and there was a lake my Dad would take his plane to called Heart Lake and it had some amazing jumbos....

[liketoshoot]

If any of you are old enough Sharron lake at the corner of 63 and 55 was a hoot but was short lived and a pile of years ago

[cheemo]

Me and Dad with our Russian hooks on Upper Mann lake. Memories! By the pail full!