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Fishing season in Alberta sees the opening of 12 new lakes

Several lakes will be reopening this year after being closed for decades, including Glennifer Reservoir, which was last open 29 years ago.
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Tagged walleye.

Alberta families will have new destinations for fishing this year 12 of them because of all the recovery work of several lakes and fisheries, which have been closed for decades.

Although many lakes have not yet opened up for anglers, April 1 marked the official beginning of Alberta’s 2017 sportfishing season.

This year’s season also marks the launch of a new, responsive website mywildalberta.ca.

The province will open eight lakes to walleye fishing this year, many of which have been closed since 1996, when Alberta introduced major restrictions to walleye harvesting after major population declines.

Some lakes have been closed even longer, such as Glennifer Reservoir, which was last open 29 years ago.

“For many Albertan families, fishing is a bond that links multiple generations,” said Shannon Phillips, minister of Environment and Parks. “The reopening of these lakes demonstrates the importance of conservation and sustainable harvesting. Sound management of our lakes, streams and rivers will ensure Albertans will be able to fish for generations to come.”

The new fish harvest opportunities include Walleye in Pine Coulee Reservoir, Burnstick Lake, Gleniffer Reservoir, Gull Lake, Lac Bellevue, Bourque Lake, Hilda Lake and Lac La Biche; Pike in Pine Coulee Reservoir, Magee Lake, Manatokan Lake and Bangs Lake; and Yellow Perch in Strubel Lake.

To ensure the health of walleye populations, the province is implementing a tag system this year to prevent overfishing in the newly opened lakes.

The draw system will also support conservation efforts and ensure a sustainable harvest.

The 2017 Special Walleye Licence Draw began yesterday, April 4 and will run until Thursday, April 27.

Results will be posted beginning May 8 at https://www.albertarelm.com/licensing.page.

The cost of the tags is $11, roughly two-thirds of which will be invested back into the provincial fisheries program to further protect management of Alberta’s fisheries, and one-third being used to cover administrative costs.

Source: Government of Alberta