Assessment of the Status of the Sport Fishery for Pike at Wolf Lake, 1999

Author(s)

B. Patterson

Summary

To recover or maintain Alberta's northern pike fisheries, a new pike management
strategy was implemented in 1999. In 1999, the pike fishery at Wolf Lake was classified as
stable-recreational (vulnerable) and a 63 cm (maximum total length) size limit, 3 fish daily limit
on pike was implemented in the sport fishery. In order to assess the status of the pike fishery
at Wolf Lake, a creel survey was conducted during May to August 1999. During the 1999
survey, the number of anglers interviewed at the survey site was 1,005. The total number of
anglers was estimated at 2,476. The angling effort dropped 76% from the survey conducted in
1991 to 2.1 hrs / ha in 1999.
The catch rate on legal-sized pike (>63 cm max TL) was 0.032 fish / hour. The
estimated release rate on sub-legal pike was 0.44 fish / hour. The estimated harvest of legalsized
pike was 214.
Historically, the fishery for pike was very good. Respondents to a historical survey
reported common catches of pike five to 10 pounds and catches of trophy pike up to 25
pounds.
Based on the criteria used to classify pike stocks in Alberta and historical information,
the Wolf Lake pike population is vulnerable.

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