EDITORS NOTE: You can hear the podcast I did with Eric on the subject by clicking on the link here. THE EARLY DAYS OF STOCKING The Manitoba government has a long history of fish stocking, dating back more than a century. Since 1917, the province has stocked desirable species in Manitoba lakes. Early stocking efforts were often driven by the social palate for new or popular species, and many were experimental, requiring little planning. As angler behaviour and motivations in our multi-use fisheries became more complex, so did our interest in evaluating the rationale and results of publicly funded stocking…
Author: Eric Mullen
Eric Mullen
Eric Mullen is a Provincial Fisheries Biologist living and working in Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba. His work is focused on monitoring and studying fisheries in Manitoba`s Eastern Region. Eric completed his Masters degree at the University of Manitoba studying the effects of catch and release angling on Lake Sturgeon in the Winnipeg River. As an avid angler, hunter, and canoe tripper, Eric takes any chance he can to explore Manitoba`s wilderness areas.”
TROPHY NORTHERN PIKE ARE WORTH THEIR WEIGHT IN GOLD! Northern pike (Esox lucius) are a popular sportfish species among anglers in Western Canada and around the world. They are widely distributed, feed aggressively, fight hard, and provide year-round opportunity for those seeking excellent table fare or chasing trophies. ADAPTABLE SPECIES These fish inhabit a wide variety of habitats from small streams to massive lakes and are geographically widespread. Pike have a circumpolar Holarctic distribution, meaning they occur naturally in most of the Northern Hemisphere above 40 degrees latitude around the globe. They become the apex predator in many fisheries once…
NEW STUDY SUPPLIES GUIDELINES FOR ANGLERS Editorial Introduction: Manitoba Regional Fisheries Manager Eric Mullen compiles some amazing research information conducted by the Fish Biology and Aquatic Conservation lab at the University of Winnipeg, led by Dr. Caleb Hasler, and Manitoba Fisheries. Several management relevant research programs have taken place to study Manitoba’s lake trout populations. This research was funded by the Fish and Wildlife Enhancement Fund with money generated from angling license sales. It is a must read! Lake trout are a popular sportfish in Canada and every year thousands of anglers make trips into pristine cold-water lakes in the hopes…
MAKING INFORMED CATCH AND RELEASE DECISIONS Anglers practicing catch-and-release in deep waters may sometimes have difficulty keeping their catch healthy for a strong release. Fish caught in deep water may appear bloated, stressed, or unable to swim down. These symptoms may be related to a phenomenon called barotrauma, a physical injury that occurs to fish that are rapidly moved from a high-pressure environment in deep water to a low-pressure environment near the surface. This article explores the fundamental concepts of barotrauma and discusses the effects of deep-water fishing on released fish. First and foremost, everything in deep-water is under a…
Catch and release (C&R) angling is a useful fisheries management and conservation tool, and its popularity amongst anglers continues to rise. A 2015 survey of recreational anglers in Canada indicated over 184,000 adults went fishing in Manitoba and reportedly caught and released over 10 million fish. To fisheries biologists, this information is important because, at the population level, there is no such thing as a zero-mortality C&R fishery. DO YOUR HOMEWORK There is great information available in the angling community on how to properly handle and release fish to improve their survival rates. Proper gear selection, reduced time out of…