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It’s time to lift ban on keeping Sylvan Lake’s northern pike

Re: “Poachers fined $2,000 for illegally fishing walleye from Sylvan Lake,” Feb. 4.
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Re: “Poachers fined $2,000 for illegally fishing walleye from Sylvan Lake,” Feb. 4.

The article includes a comment by Alberta Fish & Wildlife saying that Sylvan Lake has a zero limit for northern pike and walleye because both species need time to recover.

That is likely true as far as the northern pike are concerned, but I don’t believe for one second it’s true about the walleye, since anglers haven’t been allowed to keep even one walleye per day for more than 25 years.

So unless they have been killed off by some parasite over the past few years, about the only thing they need to recover from is overpopulation.

I think it’s time that Fish and Wildlife explained why they have been protecting the walleye for more than a quarter of a century.

Gord Fraser, Red Deer