Rocky Mtn Hse area lakes update

An interesting note from the fisheries folks in Rocky Mtn House. It lines up with exactly what I've been saying all along on the forums: these lakes are an ongoing work in progress and staff are doing as much as they can with the resources and procedures available to them.
From Rocky Konynenbelt, RMH:
" ...for monitoring Beaver Lake this year, we conducted test-netting in the spring. We wanted a clear picture of fish population status to confirm or refute the suspicion that there was < 5% of trout > 50 cm. The netting results were fairly close to what we’ve documented by angling, confirming that we need to proceed with a regulation change for 2013 in order to reduce trout harvest and to bring Beaver Lake back on track as a Quality Stocked Fishery. With that in mind, please see the information and regulation options at the website below, and to take the online survey:
http://www.mywildalberta.com/Fishing/StockingReports/BeaverLakeQSFSurvey.aspx

The results of that online survey will become part of the public consultation necessary for the selection of which regulation option the majority of anglers support toward the desired fishery objectives. Many of you will know that an angler survey is being done at the three QSF lakes this summer, and that a subsample of anglers at Beaver Lake are being asked the same questions found at the online survey. Those interviews at Beaver Lake will also become part of the public consultation.

We also test-netted Ironside Pond this spring, and while QSF objectives are still being met (11% of trout > 50 cm), fish numbers remain very low in spite of increased stocking to offset the high level of predation. We’re keeping an eye on that fishery to ensure it continues to meet QSF objectives and a reasonable catch rate.
Rocky Konynenbelt
Fisheries Technician
Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development - Clearwater Area
P.O. Box 1720, Rocky Mountain House AB T4T 1B3
Tel: (403) 845-8268, Fax: (403) 845-4750
E-mail: rocklyn.konynenbelt@gov.ab.ca
For more information on Clearwater Fisheries Management, please visit our website at:
http://srd.alberta.ca/FishWildlife/FisheriesManagement/FishManagementZones/Zone1EasternSlopes/WatershedUnitES2.aspx