Northern ALBERTA and SASKATCHEWAN

[coldpreacher]

Hey! Just started spearfishing and love it. Any one on here who is familiar with northern AB & SASK contact me, I would like to share some locations and tips with you, and possibly some hunts!

 

[prime8]

wow, one and a half years, and nobody has taken you up on your offer. lol
I also am from Alberta, I havent done much spearing here, as most lakes I have tried are either too early, or too late, and then i find just a green hue in the water. I wanted to try Cold lake this year, any place a person could go you think? I also am in need of fishing friends, as my current friend is saying he is getting too old (early 40's pffft) and so i am not really wanting to go solo for safety reasons.

 

[Salehthefish]

Hello and welcome on DB... It is nice sport starting with love addiction and end with haunting Enjoy it...

All best

 

[Erik]

I missed that original post, too bad. Looking forward to Spring 2010.

 

[agbiv]

Welcome from Texas! Guess you were in cold storage!!! snork

 

[prime8]

Here you go Albertans... Perhaps if enough people read this and phone/ask about it, we can make a difference. This was sent to me from Ken Bodden from Sustainable resources Alberta, when I inquired to the regulations pertaining to the "no size limit" on some lakes, and why we are not allowed to spear them... I hope we can have some luck in swaying their decisions there.




The restriction on spear or bow fishing for pike was implemented when we introduced minimum size limits on the species. Until then pike, perch, lake whitefish and suckers were actively pursued on a limited number of lakes. Perch, whitefish and perch are still allowed to be taken with spears or arrows. ​

The discussions at the public consultation sessions for the pike management plan did focus on the two issues you raise; the need for minimum sizes and the possibility of fish being injured and subsequently dying from their injuries. The need for the regulation was apparent for the size issue but comments were also collected on the injury issue. Based on all the comments received the regulations were changed to remove pike from species eligible for the gear. ​

Since the regulations were introduced a number of lakes have had the size restrictions reduced to allow for harvest on lakes subject to winterkill or where environmental conditions are thought to be limiting growth. A number of lakes in the northeast will be monitored over the next few years to see if smaller fish in these lakes are the result of minimum size regulations and harvest activities or environmental conditions. The results of this study may affect a large number of waters in the northeast portion of the province.​

Your email is the first I am aware of requesting a review of the regulation. At the time the gear restriction was imposed it had to be applied to all waters. Administratively we have introduced some flexibility into the regulation schedules so that the gear restriction can be applied to individual waters. The next round of consultation for regulation changes has started with the goal of introducing changes for the 2012 season. If you have particular lakes where you would like to see the change made please contact the area fisheries biologist about your concerns. I will raise the issue at the next round of regulation discussions at the provincial level scheduled for September. ​

Thank you for your comments. If you have other comments or need some help contacting the area fisheries biologist please contact me at this email or at 780-427-7791 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 780-427-7791 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Ken Bodden
Provincial Fisheries Specialist
Fisheries Management Branch
9920 108 St.
Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2M4
780 427-7791 Fax 780 422-9559