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[JordsyU]

Hey guys,

Does anyone know why DFO has opened retention of springs on the Alouette? I have been fishing this system most of my life, and I am finally seeing some healthy Chinook returns. However, at Alco Park there are numerous people standing in knee-deep water flaucing and jigging the springs out. There is no way the run can be sustained with this practice. Although I did hear the springs were introduced and they were found to be too large for the system.

Any info would be appreciated!

[Rodney]

Chinook salmon is opened for retention on the Allouette River with a daily quota of one per day above 216th Street. If people are snagging to get their fish, it is best to phone 1-800-465-4336 to address that concern, make sure the dispatcher know that it is not a one-time incidence but an ongoing practice so when the message is passed on, officers will drop by as part of their patrol route.

[JordsyU]

Thanks Rodney,

I don’t think there is anything they can do. I believe it is very unethical to target Chinook in knee-deep water, and fish for them via bottom bouncing but not illegal. With the small run size, it just makes me think DFO wants to minimize the numbers of Chinook.

[Rodney]

Phone it in for sure. DFO cannot be aware of the problem unless people in the field inform them. Once fishery officers take a look at the situation, they will bring this up to the fisheries manager who would discuss it with the local SFAC if it is indeed a problem that needs to be taken care of.

[speycaster]

Rodney by the time it goes through all the levels of management and to the SFAC hell will have frozen over and all the springs will be in freezers. Unless the snaggers go to hell then there will be no need for freezers.

[UFC]

This river isn't big enough to accomodate the masses that will surely accompanying the change to the regs (i.e. opening it up for chinook) so I'm surprised as well. There used to be a very good run of steelhead in the mid-eighties with retention allowed, and the crowds that resulted made the river almost impossible to enjoy. DFO started making appearances back then checking for licences, barbs, etc. and it did have a bit of a deterring effect, so I'd encourage you to make the call. Even if they don't solve the problem immediately, at least if they begin to make appearances at the right spots, people will get nervous and may limit their bad habits.

[JordsyU]

Ok thanks,

I'll make the call asap

[JordsyU]

So I made the call, and the COs are aware of the problem. However, talking to some educated people, the Chinook that were re introduced to the system were Harrison whites and are much to big for the river. The numbers were climbing and could be detrimental to the Coho due to the size of the Chinook reds. I guess this is a good way to keep only a few pairs of Chinook in the Alouette.

[UFC]

Good that you made the call.
In the meantime, I guess the river will be stuck with extra pressure, with many fishing the 'wrong' way.
As mentioned earlier in the 80's the river went through a period with huge crowds. Once the fish numbers, and retention for them, were reduced, the crowds stopped coming.