Don Andersen

Scrath, You just made my day!! I like the bus idea a lot. Is it possible to get the spelling changed to Andersen from Anderson. Wouldn't want all those son's to take all the credit for doing something about perch. And I need a bigger pic. catch ya' Don

King Salmon, You don't have to go to BC to find lakes where unwanted fish stocks have been removed. Twin Lakes about 5 miles NW of Rocky was done perhaps 15 years ago. Cleaning out the lake in this fashion is quite expensive. I've heard about $ 35,000. And this is a little lake. Cow Lake - maybe 1/2 million. And there is no quarantee of success. Miss a couple of yellow perch and you'll start all over again within 10 years. Dry the lake up and you've got them all. catch ya' Don

Hatch Chaser, Although I'm not positive, Muir doesn't seem to have an outflow. Therefore, the happy salad growth and the nutrient load realized from them stays within the water body. The nutrient load is important. From it all good things flow. Of course, there is a point where the nutrient load is too high resulting in algea blooms and the like. This could result in summer kills. If the nutrient load gets too high, happy salad cutting is an option. The nutrient load captured by the weeds could be removed from the lake only if the weeds were removed completely from the water and banks. happy salad growth in the case of Star maybe surpressed by: 1] the lack of nutrient load 2]bottom substrate 3]lack of the species of happy salad prevalent @ Muir. I would expect that #1 are mostly likely. I've had an opportunity for the past 5 years to fish some of the richest lakes this province contains. In each case, lots of weeds = lots of bugs = large fish. In some of these lakes the fish put on 2 lbs. +/annum. What would be a neat excercise is measurement of water quality over time. Things like Nitrogen and Phosphates & TDS. I know that was a lack in information gathering over the past 35 years on Stauffer Creek. There is a lot of places where the chemistry could be done. Samples would have to be gathered from various points on the lake. A liter/location would suffice. Examination of the background nutirents over time correlated to lake production of both weeds/bugs/fish could them be established. Such data would them be used in happy salad control measures. And like Tim says - watch the water levels - low water levels usually result in heavier happy salad growth as nutrient levels rise. And I'm going to tie flies and dump the rain guage. catch ya' Don

Got your attention didn't I? Here is a web site that describes the process. Compare your favorite lake to Muir and that might just answer the discussion about stock rates. http://www.nre.vic.gov.au/DPI/nreninf.nsf/...A4?OpenDocument have fun, Don

Doc, I don't think there is a set number. I do recall never seeing a pelican except for the Bow and never there till about 15 years ago. Suspect that they take fish. Cormorants are also very effective in trout munching. Fished one lake this June where about 1/3 of all fish caught had been munched by cormorants. And if you recall the mercury thing, with it's demise as an agricultural chemical, the ospreys are back in force. And that doesn't say anything about loons. So, in a short answer, it depends on the lake and the bird life. Oh, I forgot the herons. Doc, the predation I was talking about is the people kind. You know - whack 'em and stack 'em - 20 to an ice cream pail. To give you an idea. Ironside's Pond got stocked with 500 trout and it is 8 acres. The fish are now 14>16" and getting close to 1.5 lbs. They went in this spring. Expect next summer to catch +20" fish. Ironside's presently supports a nest of Loons + regular visits by an osprey + the odd poacher or 2. As Ironside's is total C&R, other than normal mortality + angler induced mortality, there should never be much over 1200>1500 fish in there @ any one time. The rainbows stocked now last about 4.5 years and die of old age. catch ya' Don

Guys, The "normal" stocking rates for the "average" Alberta trout lake is 250/surface acre. That assumes the normal carnage of ice fishing, power baits and the rest. Predation is factored in as it exists everywhere. Expect that 50>80% of all fish stocked are removed/year in an average lake. Where does Muir fit in here? What is the surface acrage? catch ya' Don

Hank, Lougheed has a vision alright. Sell it all!! And the profits went over the border. Wasn't his brother-inlaw VP of Esso? Suggest for some history you look @ the Borden Report where eastern Canada subsidized western oil production for a lot of years. West of Ottawa valley crude sold for $6.00 [west Canadian crude] - east of the valley for a $1.00[ mid-east crude]. Went on till parity was reached in the early 80's. Then prices started to climb fast. Lougheed screamed for world oil price. Now we got it - and I'm happy as a lark. Least in this case some of the profits are now staying in Canada. Unlike before the NEP - most oil was produced by the big 7 and the profits went over the border. You just hqve to wonder when we see profiteering begin. Cost of oil sands production is $12.00/bbl. Selling price $80.00 CDN. Refining, transportation,taxes perhaps 30%. Price @ the pump /bbl = $ 190.00 Yupe - pleased as punch about world oil prices on a commodity that I've owned. Royality is estimated @ 4.00/bbl. And of course, Ralphie sold our share of Syncrude. Made money for the us - can't have that. Don

Hi, The F&W Division is planning to stock Pike into Cow Lake. Some history, Cow was stocked in the mid-50’s and resulted in rainbows to 8+ lbs. It was again stocked in the mid 80’s successfully twice with one stocking resulting in rainbows in the +15 lb. range. There never has been a lake as good as Cow Lake in generating double digit fish. Crawling Valley did it once before it became a walleye/pike fishery [ as expected]. The exit creek from Cow Lake has produced Brown Trout exceeding 10 lbs. Perch were illegally stocked in the early 90’s with them eventually overwhelming the food resources and getting progressively smaller. My take on the Gov’t Plan. Stocking pike effectively rewards illegal behavior. Stock perch and the Gov’t will stock pike. Now this wouldn’t be a big issue but ½ of all lakes within 1 hours drive of Rocky have now been illegally stocked with perch with Struble and Twin Lakes in the past 2 years. To this point the F&W Division has done very little to inform the public about the loss of their trout lake fisheries, educated the numbskulls doing the stocking or catch them. What can be done about Cow Lake. There seems to be a knee jerk reaction about using poisons so until the public becomes informed so that would appear to be a non-starter. But there is a solution. Cow Lake does have an outlet. Just pump it dry. This solution has been used the Dickson Trout Pond to control the Pike that seem to arrive in there from time to time. Works too!! And while the pumping is going on, develop a Poster Child Campaign on the Cow Lake remediation to demonstrate just what it takes to return it to it’s former glory. Now it is time to chose or not. You have three possible choices: 1] do nothing for that is what most of you do 2] support illegal stocking of perch by adding pike 3] don’t support the pike stocking Below is the advertisement in the local Rocky Paper. Catch ya’ Don

Vince, Remember Conservative Peter Lougheed - ex-premier of Alberta yapping on and on how Alberta needed world prices for oil. I was pissed when I got charged $ 20.00 for a $ 10.00 tank in 1980. Now I'm really pissed. And, Oh, make your vote count next time! catch ya' Don

Scratch, If Beaver Lake is any kind of example, the water clarity improved for the years 1999>2005 mid-June. Then the rains began and the nutrient levels increased from land run-off. It appears as there is now some algea where none has existed in the past 4 years. Aeration will cause some changes. As Muir doesn't have a flow through , they should take place fairly quickly. The happy salad growth may slow. All that is just a guess based on personal obervations of Beaver. And a question - the fish were stocked into Muir in 2003? catch ya' Don

Guys/Gals, Any one catch a keepable fish yet? Just wondering if the lake is raising them that large. And no - I have no intention of eating one. Don

Ian, Here are some photos of the tunrer I use. The turner is only used to turn rods to let the wrap coatings dry. A rod wrapper is another set of tools. For whateve reason, this program would only allow me to show 2 pics. The address for the others is below. If you have any questions, give a shout. Don http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/Don...uff/008a1cw.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/Don...uff/013a1cw.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/Don...uff/015a1cw.jpg

Ian, Couple of things you might like to consider: 1] Multi output shafts from your motor so that several rods can be turned @ the same time. If you want pics of my turner - I'll shoot some - It can turn 4 sections @ the same time. 2] Lining your rod supports with felt. I use sheet felt from craft stores. One layer seems to do it. 3] You rod supports may tend to "rock" a tad when wrapping. The bases of the supports you made may be a tad undersized. catch ya' Don

wm.... See http://hookandhackleclub.tripod.com/index.html One of the oldest fly tying clubs in Canada. I've been aware of them for 40 years. Don

Guys, Mike is right - its a Hex. They show up for a very short time and only in numbers late @ nite in creepy crawly places full of beaver holes and bugs. But occasionally they show up on a freestone stream - not often though. Found them first just outside of Rocky. They are a burrower and live in U shaped holes in silt. The Medicine River used to have a sack full of them. Mostly gone now due ot agri-business sewage. If 2 of them discover you fishing, the rumor is that they haul you in the bush and you don't come back. Happy fishing, Don

Guys, Found this bug floating across Dickson Trout Pond yesterday. Expect it came from the river. The big question is what hook to use. #4 Mustad 79580. Don

Guys, Found this bug floating across Dickson Trout Pond yesterday. Expect it came from the river. http://photobucket.com/albums/v654/DonAnde..._021a1wcopy.jpg Don

Guys, There is no question that grayling are disappearing most everywhere. A migratory species needs to migrate. Simple ain't it. How to stop migration, build a road. Naw, lots of roads, build them poorly and the grayling disappear. Like 700 of 900 road crossings in the Swan Hills area are fish barriers. Whats being done - zip - zero. The dimise contiunes. And using smoke and mirrors - blame the fishermen or access or .......... catch ya' Don

Garry, Give me a shout again. regards, Don

Guys/Gals, I've cancelled the beaver dam pulling. After 2 days of swamp slogging, mosquito slapping, willow pushing hiking from the Stauffer Road to the headwaters, only 2 dams are in all that mileage [ except for a short section east of B for W where we've left the dams intentionally]. Due to the lack of dams, I've cancelled the project. A couple of us can remove the dams readily in a hour later this summer. My thanx to you all for your interest. regards, Don Andersen

Guys/Gals, I've cancelled the beaver dam pulling. After 2 days of swamp slogging, mosquito slapping, willow pushing hiking from the Stauffer Road to the headwaters, only 2 dams are in all that mileage [ except for a short section east of B for W where we've left the dams intentionally]. Due to the lack of dams, I've cancelled the project. A couple of us can remove the dams readily in a hour later this summer. My thanx to you all for your interest. regards, Don Andersen

Guys, I've been the advocate of reason, the voice of moderation, the bearer of education and try to set a decent example for 40 years. And where has it got us. More poaching!! So, I'm no longer the advocate of reason, the voice of moderation, or the bearer of education. The good example is now - RAP the suckers. That beats the devil out of the second option of buffalo sticks and a flat shooting rifle although not nearly so satisfying. It's curious how I've changed. When the East Slopes Hearing were on, Barry and I BS'ed many a time about what we'd like to see. And after they were published, I told Barry that 10% of the work is now done. Enforcement would provide the other 90%. Took about 5 years before he came around and Streamwatch is the result. Examples abound about what we know is bad for us and what we do. 1] Drinking and Driving - we all did it - knew it killed folks and contined to do it until the penality became $600.00 and loss of privilges for a year. 2] Seat Belts save lives - now we conform - logic wouldn't do it. A $200.00 fine did. Rat them out and benefit the resource. regards, Don

Tim, A couple of things: 1] Identifying and turning in law breakers. I tried the low key approach a number of times. Responses varied but rarely resulted in anybody stopping fishing. I've got a better things to do with my time than try to convince that someone that is stealing from me they shouldn't be doing it. Several instances come to mind; a + 60 year old gal leaning against the bait sign while fishing bait and the guy who told me while fishing with 2 rods and bait "nobody will care if I catch my supper". And the off repeated "but PowerBait isn't bait" with the response from me "what part of the word BAIT in PowerBait don't you understand". And frankly @ 60>75% compliance with posted regulations scares the poo outta me. What about all the areas that are not posted - like nearly all of the province. Naw, Tim - I'm not longer the nice guy when it comes to fishing infractions. And if you/me and the everyone else don't quit soft pedaling the criminals, we will have no fishing left. The law breakers take advantage of us. They know that most Canadians rarely want to stick out their neck out and become involved so the law breakers will continue breaking the law. 2] With the stocking rates @ Muir, the bulk of the first years stocking may reach the Harvest Length. But I would suspect that the second and subsquent stockings will not and Muir is revert to what seems to be the norm for Alberta. Overstocking! And little fish - but lots of them. Millions or at least several hundred thousand. Wished it were different. Held out a lot of hope for Muir to raise larger fish. regards, Don

Scrath, While I didn't invent it, I'm certainly going to take advantage of it. The Program is called - - - CRIME PAYS. Any and all times I see the fishing regulations being broken, I call it in and - guess what - RAP pays me. And where is the money to be used - to pay for my cell service and add to the coffers of more habitat projects. So if you want more projects like Muir Lake and the $'s to pay for them, rat out a law breaker. Screw educating them. I've had enough. Approx. 30% of all anglers visiting Beaver Lake are breaking the law. This message is brought to you in interests of conservation. Let the CO's do the education. catch ya' Don

Guys/Gals, Spent last Thursday through Monday sampling 2 of the lakes in the western Edmonton area. Fished Muir on Thursday afternoon and Firday all day. Caught fish too!! Not big ones and not a sack full, but some. Was somewhat disappointed in the growth rate. Would have expected that the second year stocking would have at least matched Beaver. [ Second year by this time is 3 lbs. + ]. Did see a fair pile of bugs though. The folks that have done work on the lake site should be commended. Off to Star lake on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Didn't land nearly as many fish as @ Muir but the size was up. Did catch some from 3>6 lbs. Surprised that I didn't catch any of the 12>14" range [ second year stocking ]. Lots of tiddlers @ 8" and a few larger @ 18>24". What I found most interesting was fishing an urban environment. Traffic noises, airplanes flying, lawnmowers running, paddle boats splashing & kids playing. While I found it uncomforable as I am usually away from such noises, my companions seemed not to notice it till I pointed the noise out. Seemily, they accepted it as part of the background and ignored it. And there was some bait dunkers @ Muir. And know, they didn't last long. A thunderstorm arrived and they departed. And some the shore fishermen @ Star are a dirty bunch. Three guys from the county [ I think ] spent more than 1/2 hour picking up the trash. A good use for your tax $'s. Pleased to see that the similar folks exist your way. Thought they may be all @ Dixon, Beaver or Twin lakes. From what I saw, I'll plan another trip up your way. You've got some interesting lakes. catch ya' Don