It has been a wild two weeks since the fishing season opened. Many anglers have been enjoying the great outdoors and catching a few fish along the way. Walleye fishing has been excellent in many of our lakes and rivers. Lake Winnipeg and Lake Manitoba have been good for both numbers of fish and some big walleye. Freshwater drum are biting in the Whitemud and on the Red River. The channel catfishing has been excellent on the Red and good on the Assiniboine.
We also got some much-needed rain in southern Manitoba which has alleviated drought conditions to some extent. It has also helped raise water levels.
Now for some tremendous news.
Last year was a hard year on our fisheries resource due to a large increase in angling pressure. To address that problem, the Manitoba Fisheries Department put together a comprehensive plan to overhaul fisheries management in this province.
This 10-page document is titled: Manitoba's Recreational Angling Strategy — Managing our World-class Fisheries.
This is a welcome response to the growing demand for better angling opportunities for everyone. It includes plans to create new angling opportunities, strengthen fish population monitoring and implement new measures to protect our fisheries.
Personally, this document outlines proposed changes that I have been waiting years for. This includes having a year-round angling season for several species including northern pike, smallmouth bass, crappies, and channel catfish.
As for walleye, the season closure would match that of Ontario, the third weekend in May. This will allow walleye a chance to spawn even if it is a late spring.
They also propose a couple changes to angling licences by dropping the conservation licence and adding a one-day licence.
Probably the most important part of all this is the commitment by the province to adopt a science- based approach to fisheries management. This is really the only way to manage the fishery sustainably since many of our lakes are mixed-use. This means they include domestic harvest, commercial fishing, and recreational angling activity.
As retired regional fisheries biologist Ken Kansas said, if you don't have data, you can't make informed decisions on managing a fishery.
Agriculture and Resource Development Minister Blaine Pedersen announced that the Manitoba government is investing more than $800,000 to help sustain the province's world-class fisheries.
"Our fisheries are an incredible resource that are important to Manitobans, and also play a large role in our rural communities and tourism sector," said Pedersen. "More people than ever are out enjoying our lakes and rivers, but we must be proactive in managing our fisheries with the added pressure."
The province has committed an additional $600,000 for wildlife and fisheries management. These funds will be dedicated in 2021-22 to Manitoba fisheries to support enhanced monitoring and data collection.
This enhanced data collection will be targeted at high-use recreational angling lakes and mixed-use fisheries. The data collected will also help support the eco-certification of commercial fisheries and ensure that Manitoba's fisheries continue to be managed sustainably.
An additional $250,000 investment has also been made for a new fish hatchery stocking truck. The new truck features an improved tank configuration that will allow for more efficient and flexible stocking operations while reducing emissions.
For more information on Manitoba's fisheries, including the Lake Information for Anglers website, visit www.manitobafisheries.com.
Anglers Notes:
With the current public health orders extended, as it stands you can only fish with members of your household. You are not allowed to fish with a guide, but you can go to lodges, although there will be no guide service.
Non-essential travel to northern Manitoba (north of the 53rd parallel) is restricted. The public health order allows Manitoba residents from southern Manitoba to travel to northern Manitoba to attend a cottage/cabin/provincial park/campground/hunting or fishing lodge. They must be free of COVID-19 symptoms, travel directly to their intended destination and limit their use of local services to the minimum required, given the circumstances of the visit.
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