{"id":8998,"date":"2023-05-03T18:36:30","date_gmt":"2023-05-03T23:36:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mwf.mb.ca\/?p=8998"},"modified":"2023-05-03T18:37:38","modified_gmt":"2023-05-03T23:37:38","slug":"creel-survey-results","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mwf.mb.ca\/archives\/8998","title":{"rendered":"Creel Survey Results"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

by Chase Dreilich<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the 2021\/22 ice fishing season the Manitoba Wildlife Federation along with the Manitoba Government conducted a creel survey on Lake Winnipeg. And the results are in!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now I\u2019m sure if you haven\u2019t fished Lake Winnipeg yourself you have heard about the major draw to this waterbody, which is the Lake Winnipeg Greenback (Walleye). Over the past 15 years, recreational angling on Lake Winnipeg has greatly increased due to how close it\u2019s located to Winnipeg plus, people can catch a fish of a lifetime. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we rewind to 2018, Probe Research conducted a study on the economic impact that the Lake Winnipeg Recreational Angling Walleye Fishery. They discovered that recreational anglers contributed an estimated $102 million to Manitoba\u2019s GDP over two years from Lake Winnipeg alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond recreational angling, Lake Winnipeg also has a large commercial fishing community and is surrounded by many First Nation Communities that also value walleye tremendously. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This fishery provides enormous value for many people and we need to take care of it best we can. One way we can do this is through data collection. From a recreational anglers perspective, a creel survey is a great method that would increase the data on the current situation of Lake Winnipeg. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The project was funded largely by the Fish and Wildlife Enhancement Fund (FWEF) but there were also significant contributions made by the provincial government, Manitoba Lodges and Outfitters Association, and the Manitoba Wildlife Federation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The official surveying began on January 6th<\/sup>, 2022, with 8 creel clerks that were stationed strategically in pairs at popular access points along Lake Winnipeg\u2019s South Basin. Sandy Bar, Warner Rd, End of Main, Pruden\u2019s Creek and Balsam Bay were the targeted locations. In addition to this, provincial fisheries staff also conducted roving surveys on snowmobiles, and interacted with anglers on the ice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The survey was designed to cover all the days of the week but focused on the times of day when surveyors would get the most interaction with anglers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Information that was gathered from anglers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n