Walleye getting smaller

[walleyehunter]

The table is being set for developing a plan to better protect Lake Nipissing and its fishery from natural and human threats.

Presentations at the Lake Nipissing Summit Tuesday morning focused on fishing pressure over the past century, climate change science and water quality data.

Options for strategic studies and improved fishery management will be discussed today as the two-day event wraps up at Nipissing University's Chancellor's House.

Richard Rowe, a biologist with FRI Consulting, said negative trends in spawning-size walleye noticed first in 2009 only make sense if there was an unexpected harvest.

Rowe used a digital slide show to demonstrate how data from fall walleye index netting correlated with fishing pressure over the past 10 years.

He said spawning-size walleye increased in 2004 as slot regulations for anglers and Nipissing First Nation's commercial fishing management systems, including nets that allow larger walleye to escape, were introduced.

But the line graphs showed drastic changes recently.

“Extra harvest had to occur in 2009 and 2010,” he said, noting the data makes the most sense when non-compliant commercial activity (including commercial spearing during the spawn moratorium), more anglers taking slot fish and possible Dokis First Nation commercial activity.

Rowe, formerly a biologist with Nipissing First Nation and the Ministry of Natural Resources, said there's an abundance of young walleye, but they seem to be skinny and maturing slowly.

He said the challenge is ensuring a greater amount of young walleye survive the double gauntlet of commercial and angler pressure to reach spawning age.

Bharat Pokharel, of Nipissing University's faculty of arts and science biology, explained how the green house effect is increasing temperatures around the globe.


While the cause can be debated, Pokharel said thousands of natural thermometers prove overall warming trends are happening.

He urged more studies based on predicted impacts in this region, referring to the potential for more heavy rain events in this watershed, which has a tributary collection system many times the actual size of Lake Nipissing.

“Are we ready for these things?” Pokharel asked, suggesting that lake level fluctuations, decline in ice quality during winter and fish habitat changes could threaten economies.

He said communities can assess the risks, coordinate long-term data management and integrate safeguards in planning.

Ministry of Environment representative Andrew Patterson talked about chemical water quality studies on Lake Nipissing over the past four decades.

While phosphorous readings in the 1970s and the last studies in 2003-04 are hard to compare due to different analysis and gathering techniques, Patterson said spikes in nitrate levels in Callander Bay in early spring and August raises questions.

“It's definitely worth going back to study this,” he said, adding “chloride concentrations are certainly something that should be tracked.”

The summit is organized by Nipissing First Nation and involves officials from each community on its shores.

http://www.nugget.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3523951

[krae]

I've fished out of Dokis to the mouth on nippissing for the past 6 or so years. My biggest was the first year there and the amount caught was greatest first year. Getting a limit wasn't a problem. Every year since has gotten worse to the point of going elsewhere this year. It has gotten so bad we don't get a limit between us over the course of our trip. The shoals we fish are void of marks on the sonar. I know conditions and timing play a role, but it had been really brutal.

Has anyone fished the Spanish? Or Opengo in Algonquin? We're also thinking lady Evelyn or temogami? Any incite on those?

[admin]

I have heard good things about Lady Evelyn, but never made it out there myself. Fished temagami this winter, no wallleye caught by me, just ling. Although I wouldn't class temagami as a walleye lake. Fishing was decent for whitefish and lakers for an oligo lake.

[Hooker]

I caught 6 lake trout and 1 large 4lb walleye (uncommonly big for winter there) in Temagami ice fishing trout opener this year. The guys up there were telling me they go to Lady Evelyn for walleye fishing themselves. It's very good from what they said but I personally have never been.

[Open Hole Jiggin']

Ive been to Lady Evelyn a few times with different outfitters. The lake is good for walleye and bass. Caught a few pike as well but mostly targeted the eyes. We found the fishing to be better the more west you go on the lake. Last year we stayed at Garden Island lodge, great fishing, with my father gettin the biggest, 30 inch eye. The people were great at this lodge, the cooking was great and the chef would cook anything you wanted to make your stay even better. When we went out it was slow time of year, so when we were fishing the cook and guide would be out fishing in their own boats along with us, so they put us right onto the fish. Lots and lots of islands and shoals, great lake to fish, great scenery and great people, will return in the future. The only bad thing I would say is about three years ago the fishin was slow slow and they had blamed it on OPG for letting too much water out of their dam so the waters were very very low, I think he said roughly 10 feet down from the year before which screwed some of the fish up. Another thing is its a big lake for a northern lake and with any winds she can get nasty quick with decent sized waves safety is always first.

tight lines