Author Topic: Bull Trout  (Read 2162 times)

Guido

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Bull Trout
« on: September 26, 2012, 03:44:00 PM »
Since Bull trout have been protected, do you think they have been detrimental to the Cutthroat populations in the various streams in southwest ab. e.g. oldman, dutch, racehorse?

Guido

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Re: Bull Trout
« Reply #1 on: September 26, 2012, 11:40:02 PM »
 I've fished the area for about 40 years. There is less cutthroat, but the average size is bigger. there are just as many or more bull trout. I don't think there is more pressure, only the first 2 weeks of lower water levels. I don't know if your old enough to remember when the streams were open in alternate years, but there was way more fish then, and limits were way more generous.
 Over the years I have observed way more catch and release fishermen. So now, i would say there are similar numbers of fishermen harvesting way less fish. The limit use to be 5, now it's 2 (i think). There use to be stories of people taking 5 gallon pails of fish back to camp.
 Fish in Dutch, Racehorse, oldman, etc. don't get leary to flies in my experience. However they do get leary to fishermen tromping through the water.
 The only conclusion I come too with my observation of less small fish, less creel #'s, is more hungry bulltrout.
This is just my opinion, it may change through discussion.
 What brought this to my attention is there has been suggestion of changing the limits to zero (which I'm in favour of), but i think there should be a season on bulls also. Maybe like the walleye tags????

JIMMY 808

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Re: Bull Trout
« Reply #2 on: September 27, 2012, 06:20:18 AM »
Piss poor fish handling has killed more fish in those creeks than anything else Hand prints bottom jaw cut in half.  I would rather spend a week chasing one 8 pound bull trout then catch 20 minnows.   

Tuc

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Re: Bull Trout
« Reply #3 on: September 27, 2012, 09:07:29 AM »
I camped and fished the Oldman and Dutch creek for years and watched the decline of the cutties.I agree on the poor management and don't think bull trout have devastated the stock. Remember bull trout are only now coming back and numbers were low for many years.

Guido

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Re: Bull Trout
« Reply #4 on: September 27, 2012, 10:30:47 AM »
I don't think the Bulls have devastated the cutthroat numbers either, but I do wonder how much they have to do with the lower numbers. There are still large cutthroats in the creeks, but the number of "minnows" have gone down drastically in my opinion. I just don't think there is anything wrong with a limit of one or two bulls per year.
 I only noticed this recently after taking 2 trips with 2 new fishermen. "back in the day" you could take first time fly fishers out and they would have a hayday, not anymore. With less small fish it only means less large fish in the coming years.

Lurch

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Re: Bull Trout
« Reply #5 on: September 27, 2012, 11:03:06 AM »
Anyone that thinks a healthy Bull population doesn't impact a pressured (from angling and poor management) cutty pop. is fooling themselves.

Recruitment is much lower than when the large bulls were being harvested.

I like the Bull protection, and would like to see cutts protected the same way. If you want to keep a fish for supper, there are plenty of stocked lakes to do it in.

just my opinion

MAV

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Re: Bull Trout
« Reply #6 on: September 27, 2012, 11:14:44 AM »
Not that I've had enough expereince in the past twenty years to have a good opinion on this topic I did run across this article by Lorne Fitch. Again I don't really know but it has some real interesting observations and conclusions about the bulls in there.

http://albertawilderness.ca/issues/wildlife/species-at-risk/archive/2012-08-15-an-elegy-for-the-crowsnest-bull-trout
“Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter least”
         Goethe

Guido

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Re: Bull Trout
« Reply #7 on: September 27, 2012, 11:35:19 AM »

Anyone that thinks a healthy Bull population doesn't impact a pressured (from angling and poor management) cutty pop. is fooling themselves.

Recruitment is much lower than when the large bulls were being harvested.

I like the Bull protection, and would like to see cutts protected the same way. If you want to keep a fish for supper, there are plenty of stocked lakes to do it in.

just my opinion

Not that I've had enough expereince in the past twenty years to have a good opinion on this topic I did run across this article by Lorne Fitch. Again I don't really know but it has some real interesting observations and conclusions about the bulls in there.

http://albertawilderness.ca/issues/wildlife/species-at-risk/archive/2012-08-15-an-elegy-for-the-crowsnest-bull-trout


 I am just thinking of the future population of the Cutthroats. In no way do I believe the bull trout should be exterminated, just kept in check. By the way, I can't remember the last time I kept a fish out of a creek. I do agree that if you want to eat one, go to a lake , or safeways. Maybe they are not the problem at all. Maybe environmental issues, or just the natural cycle. Overfishing, I don't know. All I know is that there are less fish. That is either a fact or I have become a shitty angler. (which is probably the correct answer)
 Justin, I guess I am just fishing on the days that it's not overcrowded. In 3 days of fishing I saw 5 other fishermen.

Guido

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Re: Bull Trout
« Reply #8 on: September 27, 2012, 12:08:27 PM »
Justin,
 where can a guy find the info on numbers of Bulls in the water? I'm just wondering what time of year they are taking these surveys.

JIMMY 808

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Re: Bull Trout
« Reply #9 on: September 27, 2012, 03:36:01 PM »
Sorry bid but the fishing pressure is at an all time high there.  That is why you are having a hard time catching fish.  When I fished it as a kid there was no one fishing.  Now you run into a guy in EVERY hole.  I won't even go down there anymore because of that.  As for keeping bulls I say no way in hell.  If they aloe that we will be back to a problem real quick as every person will keep a couple and stocks will plumit. Also the whole walleye tag thing is a cash grab joke.  Only fix is to go fish less fished waters.

Brad Pit was not a fishermen when you were a kid.