Welcome to Week CLIV of 鈥楩ishing Parkland Shorelines鈥�. Like most of us I am a novice fisherman, loving to fish, but far from an expert. In the following weeks I鈥檒l attempt to give those anglers who love to fish but just don鈥檛 have access to a boat, a look at some of the options in the Yorkton area where you can fish from shore, and hopefully catch some fish.
Guess what fisherfolk, the calendar is about to flip over to May, and you know what that means, fishing season is about to open.
When you go to get this year鈥檚 license there are some improvements to the Automated Hunting, Angling and Trapping Licence (HAL) System.
You remember HAL, the high tech system which is great for some, but a barrier to those with no Internet access, or credit card, or printer. Well, it鈥檚 here to stay and since most small operators gave up even attempting to sell licenses after HAL, we have to live with it. Such is the way of all great ideas handed down by government.
On the positive side the Anglers Guide suggests HAL is more secure now.
鈥淣ew security enhancements will be implemented for all HAL accounts beginning April 1, 2015. This will include an improved login procedure which includes password protection. Customers will also be required to verify their personal information is correct and up to date, to ensure the appropriate licences are available for purchase,鈥� it states.
Now once you have your license the first thing anglers should do before thinking of heading out this year is give the Anglers Guide a read through. We tend to think of the rules being static things, but that is not the case. There are always tweaks and changes taking place. For example, there are a number of new catch and release waters designated, so be aware.
Something else to be aware of, because it could help those making the rules, get a better handle on the sector is the2015 survey of sport fishing in Saskatchewan.
鈥淓very five years since 1975, Saskatchewan has participated in a national survey of sport fishing which assesses angling activity within Saskatchewan and across Canada. The survey provides the ministry with important information on angler effort, harvest, preferences and expenditures related to sport fishing in Saskatchewan,鈥� notes the Guide.
鈥淭he survey will be conducted online early in 2016 and will solicit input from several thousand randomly selected anglers who fished in 2015. If you are selected to participate in the survey, please do so as soon as possible. Your assistance is vital to the survey鈥檚 success and is very much appreciated.鈥�
Now what we really care about in May, the season dates for 2015-16;
鈥� 麻豆视频ern Zone - May 5, 2015 to March 31, 2016
鈥� Central Zone - May 15, 2015 to March 31, 2016
鈥� Northern Zone - May 25, 2015 to April 15, 2016
Locally we are in the southern zone.
It should be noted Lake of the Prairies, the local haunt of many fisherfolk has some special rules as a shared border lake with Manitoba.
麻豆视频 of Highway 357 鈥� walleye/ sauger limit is four (in combination), only one may exceed 70 centimetres and none may be between 45 and 70 cm; pike limit six, none of which may exceed 75 cm; perch limit 25. Sizes are total length without tail pinched. The mandatory use of barbless hooks is required. Either a Saskatchewan or Manitoba angling licence is valid on lake.
And take note, the season opens May 9.
Size limits are in effect on a number of Saskatchewan waters, and while sometimes frustrating, they are a wise management tool in terms of overall fish populations in a particular water.
From the Guide; 鈥渁nglers in Saskatchewan may retain one fish over the upper size for walleye (55 cm), northern pike (75 cm), lake trout (65 cm) and arctic grayling (35 cm). These species require the extra protection of upper size limits due to heavy angling pressure or limited distribution within the province.
鈥� Larger breeding sized fish play an important role in sustaining the fish resource.
鈥� Lakes with healthy spawning stocks and good spawning habitat can usually produce enough young fish to sustain a fishery.
鈥� If spawning stocks are depleted by heavy fishing pressure, there will be less natural reproduction and fewer fish available to support the fishery.
鈥� It is therefore important to protect larger, breeding sized fish. Upper size limits are one way to accomplish this.
Next, make sure to check limits. That is particularly wise if heading to a new water, as they can vary. In general terms, remember the fish in the freezer are part of the equation. It鈥檚 no longer a way to stock up for winter, but rather a way to catch a meal or two, then head back out.
鈥淕eneral limits apply to most Saskatchewan waters. Special limits on specific waters are listed 鈥� 鈥楲imit鈥� refers to the maximum number of fish you are allowed to retain or have in your possession,鈥� explains the Guide. 鈥淎nglers may possess no more than one limit of each fish species at any time. This includes fish that are eaten or given away for that particular day and all fish that are at your camp, being transported by or for you, or fish that are in storage.
鈥淐atch and Release (CR) designated waters types 1, 2 and 3 are included in the special regulation section on pages 14 to 30 of the guide. These reduced angling limits or CR designations have been implemented on many waters across the province to help protect or sustain a fishery. Barbless hooks are mandatory on all CR waters, as well as on Athapapuskow, Caddis, Madge and Tobin lakes and Lake of the Prairies.鈥�
In addition to mandatory limits, the Guide urges fisherman to not overdo it on a day fish are really hammering the hooks.
鈥淲hen large numbers of fish are caught and released, anglers should voluntarily limit their overall catch. If catch is not limited, an angler can kill in excess of their daily limit. Research has shown that fish may experience mortality after being released for a variety of reasons. Most fish experience physiological stress when caught and even though the fish may appear healthy or swim away upon release, delayed mortality may occur due to stress or injury. Even with careful handling, delayed mortality of released fish can be in the order of 10 per cent. To estimate delayed mortality, count one fish killed for every 10 fish released. This mortality, combined with the number of fish kept, will provide an estimate of total fish kill. When the total fish kill equals the daily limit for a particular species, anglers should consider stopping their fishing activity, or effort should be diverted to another species,鈥� it details.
The Guide goes on to note 鈥渃atch and release (CR) fishing has increased in popularity in Saskatchewan over the past number of years. Results from the 2010 survey of recreational fishing in Canada indicate that 98 per cent of anglers in Saskatchewan practice some form of catch and release.鈥�
And it encourages fishermen to use proper techniques in terms of CR to ensure the lowest fish mortality, which makes sense.
However, in some cases those 鈥榖est practices鈥� run counter to some aspects of our hobby.
As an example the Guide suggests to 鈥渓and the fish as quickly as possible to avoid fish exhaustion. The tackle used should match the size of the fish targeted; avoid using intentionally light tackle to prolong a fight.鈥�
I grew up thinking that way because we took fish home to eat. So 14 pound line was generally the norm.
But there is a lot to be said for the fight, especially if you are releasing fish. We like the challenge of it. A big pike landed on light line at Echo Lake a few summers back was a huge thrill. The line was basically botched after the struggle, but I had managed to win the battle even though I was under-armed.
That same catch also illustrated why they say land quick. That big pike was exhausted by the time it was landed. It took some reviving to swim away, and while I like to think the big fella would rest and flourish, I can never be sure the effort of the fight didn鈥檛 ultimately end its life, counter to the effort of releasing him.
Now in that case, I wasn鈥檛 expecting that big a fish, meaning you will at times always catch fish that are more than the tackle you are using is generally designed for, and that is going to extend the fight to land the fish, but the Guide鈥檚 suggestion is still a good one in general terms.
A few other interesting things gleaned from the Anglers Guide which may interest readers include links to more online data.
As an example, the Ministry of Environment conducted fish population surveys on 38 water bodies in the province in 2014, using gill/trap nets to monitor for changes in species abundance. A summary of the survey results (Fish Facts 2014) is available on our website at www.saskatchewan.ca/fishing.鈥�
And, 鈥渇ish stocking is a tool that biologists use to manage or manipulate fish populations. In 2014, the Fort Qu鈥橝ppelle Fish Culture Station stocked approximately five million walleye fry into 30 waters, 80,000 northern pike fry into two waters and 450,000 trout fingerling into 103 waters. A detailed stocking summary for 2014 that includes the numbers and species of fish stocked along with the receiving waters is available on our website at saskatchewan.ca/fishing.鈥�
Finally, if you catch a big fish, why not get a little recognition for the success.
The Saskatchewan Angling Registry is a program delivered by the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation (SWF) that recognizes anglers for catching trophy-size fish in Saskatchewan鈥檚 public waters. Eligible species meeting the minimum size requirements may be entered in the Catch and Release or Catch and Keep categories. All qualifying entries will receive a certificate and will be entered into a prize draw. For more information or to enter a fish, contact the SWF at (306) 692-8812 or go to swf.sk.ca.
There are also Saskatchewan Catch and Release Certificates. These certificates recognize the conservation efforts of anglers who catch and release large fish.
*All fish must be legally angled within Saskatchewan. Fish that do not survive when released are not eligible.
*Application forms are available at saskatchewan.ca/fishing. Anglers may submit one application per species. Application forms must be received within 30 days of the catch.
*Ministry representatives will be the final judge of all applications, and reserve the right to publish names and addresses of certificate recipients.
