Survey, Ice fishing on Kipawa?

[puckster_guy]

I came across this survey put out by a couple of guys in Temiscaming. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10217493800312379&set=a.1205842901696&type=3&eid=ARAWDHHULA0J0Flf8-rpo_Wr-rpePXmcYOlsjNtvQuRhuogOtErqQzLIGD4-9LiiD5wmPuBRCSTyvpDT

I thought it would be good if we can get as many of you guys who would ice fish here to sign it. I already did. hopefully we can get the fishing open again soon.

[puckster_guy]

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/kipawa

[limacharley]

And I promise I won't target lake trout. I can't stand the taste of them....yuck.

In fact, I would even be ok if they still outlawed minnows. I've caught plenty walleye on Berkley Power Grubs and Worms. jig, jig, jig....

[Fort Wisers]

And I promise I won't target lake trout. I can't stand the taste of them....yuck.

In fact, I would even be ok if they still outlawed minnows. I've caught plenty walleye on Berkley Power Grubs and Worms. jig, jig, jig....

Ever have them done on the BBQ?

[limacharley]

Ya they're not bad on the BBQ with lots of seasoning.
In a smoker too. Just don't target them when tasty walleye available.

[Fort Wisers]

Yeah fair enough, hard to beat walleye

[puckster_guy]

For me Lakers make a nice change from walleye. Still prefer walleyes but I'll eat a Laker from time to time but....
We have a healthy and strong walleye population and I'm sure everybody will toss back Lakers. The locals I talked to last week all want the ice fishing back, they all prefer the walleye as well. We consider the ban overkill and lazy enforcement of the rules. Easier to charge someone for being on the lake then to check their creel bag.

[limacharley]

I don't think there is much enforcement on the lake. In 7 summers on the lake, I've only seen them once and that was last summer.
3 guys in a nice zodiac; one CO from Temiscamingue, one CO from Rouyn and a QPP from Rouyn. They confessed that they seldom come down this far as the zodiac belonged to the Rouyn office.
I'm thinking that the CO's from Temiscamingue only do enforcement from pick up trucks.


Anybody have similar or different experiences with enforcement on the lake? I don't mind the enforcement but like you said Joe, I think the closing of the whole ice fishing season is just a lazy way of keeping everyone enforced.

[puckster_guy]

Hi LC. I too have seen zero enforcement in 7 yrs on the lake. I asked Len about it and he thinks the CO's are keeping an eye out. I told him I might just drill a hole near my camp and he strongly advised against it. He says they are watching the lake. I know at the chutes by my place there's a sanctuary and I have seen them enforcing in the spring, but I rarely see them otherwise. My neighbours have been stopped a couple of times. But your right I see little enforcement.

[limacharley]

How can they be watching the lake when I've been sledding over the past 7 winters and have yet to see them on their sleds. Do they even have sleds??
I do know that the QPP patrol the FCMQ trails but not the lake.

[Jay Thomas]

Just a question for this discussion. What alternative regulation methods could work?

Due to the poor state of the lake trout fishery in many Quebec lakes, the authorities opted for the following:

Closure of winter lake trout fishing throughout Québec
Closure of lake trout lakes in zones 1 to 15, 18, 26, 27, and 28 to all winter fishing regardless of species

It's my belief that the Quebec Government could not enforce no winter lake trout fishing any other way - to try to do so would be cost prohibitive. And that would lead to no enforcement at all.

While the ban on winter fishing walleye on Lac Kipawa represents some short term inconvenience, it's the price that has to be paid to try to remedy past resource management mistakes.

Jay

[limacharley]

Jay

Lets assume there's 6 CO's in the office in Temiscamingue. What are they doing if they ain't out checking on things?
To just arbitrarily close the season for everything, isn't that a little bit much for the taxpayer, the license buyer, the sportsman?

There's a very strict length limit on Nipissing; there has been for a few years now. The Ontario CO's in North Bay are out every week
keeping everyone honest.

I'm a believer that walleye and lake trout aren't swimming in the same circles so a ride up and down the lake every once and awhile
would be enough to enforce the "no lake trout" rule.

If they really wanted to save the lake trout fishery-close the summer fishing for it too. Walleye only.

[puckster_guy]

Thats my opinion as well LC I cpuldn't have said it better. That reinforces my opinion above. Lazy  policing and a shitty attitude to all local folk across the province. As well as a blow to outfitters. Send in the CO's to vigorously uphold the regs. Not an outright ban. If any CO's are reading this how about you guys talk to us.

[crackers42]

Guys,

I hate to disagree but the ban on ice fishing and also the slot size had to come eventually.

If you look back on this lake throughout the years it has gone down drastically.

Some say temperatures, some say the fish are still there, but I am fairly certain square hooks took a toll also.

The CO's are there and we talk to them quite a bit as they come in for a visit in Mungo Landing.

You have to remember they have quite an area to cover (no different then in Ontario)

If the when with a slot size when they should have they wouldn't have the problem they have now.

Agree you may think it is a great fishery but quite honestly not what it used to be.

[crackers42]

and I hate to add but it one doesn't think it is done properly step in their shoes and see if you can do it better.