Sport Fishery Surveys: Christina, Fickle, Grist, and Shiningbank Lakes, Alberta, 2009

Author(s)

Brendan Ganton and Clayton James

Summary

High fishing pressure, coupled with slow‐growing and late‐maturing populations, have resulted in the over‐harvest of many of Alberta’s sport fish populations, including Walleye (Sander vitreus), Northern Pike (Esox lucius), and Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush). To aid in the management of these species, we conducted creel surveys on four priority lakes (Christina, Fickle, Grist, and Shiningbank) during the summer of 2009. Our objective was to generate the information required for effective management and harvest regulations.


Based on 749 angler interviews, estimated fishing pressure at Christina Lake was 2.73 h/ha (95% CI=2.40–3.07). Total estimated yield of Walleye was 190.55 kg (95% CI=162.96–220.18) or 0.09 kg/ha (95% CI=0.08–0.10). The Walleye population exhibited a wide length distribution, ranging from 342 to 694 mm fork length (FL). Age ranged from 4 to 18 y with a mean (±SE) of 8.3 ± 0.1 y (n=257). Growth rate was slow; growth estimates indicate it would take 10 y for Walleye at Christina Lake to reach the Alberta Walleye Management standard size of 500 mm FL. Total estimated yield of Northern Pike was 716.14 kg (95% CI=588.10–944.19) or 0.33 kg/ha (95% CI=0.27–0.40). The
Northern Pike population had a wide length distribution, ranging from 322 to 872 mm FL. Age ranged from 1 – 9 y with a mean of 4.1 ± 0.1 y (n=183). Growth rate was moderate; growth estimates indicate it would take 5 to 6 y for Northern Pike at Christina Lake to reach the 630 mm TL (593 mm FL) harvestable size.


Based on 976 angler interviews, estimated fishing pressure at Fickle Lake was 19.75 h/ha (95% CI=17.35–22.30). Total estimated yield of Walleye was 272.68 kg (95% CI=233.85–315.08) or 0.71 kg/ha (95% CI=0.61–0.83). The Walleye population exhibited a narrow length distribution, ranging from 285 to 489 mm FL. Age ranged from 3 to 10 y with a mean of 6.1 ± 0.3 y (n=42). Growth rate was slow; growth estimates indicate that the average Walleye at Fickle Lake will not reach 500 mm FL. Total estimated yield of Northern Pike was 100.71 kg (95% CI=83.71–119.72) or 0.26 kg/ha (95% CI=0.22–0.31). We were unable to collect adequate samples to describe the Fickle Lake Northern Pike population.


Based on 153 angler interviews, estimated fishing pressure at Grist Lake was 2.71 h/ha (95% CI=2.04–3.47). Total estimated harvest of Lake Trout was 274.85 kg (95% CI=202.79‐356.40) or 0.25 kg/ha (95% CI=0.18–0.32). Length distribution of Lake Trout ranged from 330 to 892 mm FL. Age ranged from 3 to 16 y with a mean of 6.3 ± 0.5 y (n=30). Growth rate was moderate; growth estimates indicate it would take 8 to 9 y for Lake Trout at Grist Lake to reach the 650 mm TL (629 mm FL) harvestable size. Total estimated yield of Northern Pike was 98.94 kg (95% CI=57.93–156.19), or 0.08 kg/ha (95% CI=0.05–0.14). We were unable to collect adequate samples to describe the Grist Lake Northern Pike population.


Based 504 angler interviews, estimated fishing pressure at Shiningbank Lake was 10.57 h/ha (95% CI=7.61–14.27). We were unable to collect adequate samples to describe the Shiningbank Lake Walleye population. Total estimated yield of Northern Pike was 475.12 kg (95% CI=338.61–650.00) or 1.04 kg/ha (95% CI=0.75–1.43). The Northern Pike population had a narrow length distribution, ranging from 278 to 596 mm FL. Age ranged from 1 to 8 y with a mean of 4.0 ± 0.2 y (n=86). Growth rate was slow; growth estimates indicate that the average Northern Pike at Shiningbank Lake will fail to reach the 630 mm TL (593 mm FL) harvestable size.

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