Fishing Season Kicks off at Blood Indian Reservoir
May long weekend is traditionally a busy one at Blood Indian Park, and Parks staff are busy getting ready to welcome visitors. For the 2022 season Blood Indian will have 38 serviced sites operating on a first-come, first-serve basis. These sites are in addition to the 250+ unserviced shoreline campsites located around the reservoir. To help get ready the reservoir ready for the 2022 season, local anglers volunteered to help unload Rainbow, Tiger, and Brown Trout fish stock earlier this month. Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP) fisheries stocked Blood Indian Reservoir this spring with over 72,200 fish ranging in size from 12.6 cm to 65 cm.
Blood Indian Reservoir is one of many waterbodies throughout the province stocked through the Alberta Provincial Stocking program. This program supplies approximately 240 waterbodies with hatchery-reared trout to provide recreational angling opportunities, reduce angling pressure on natural fish populations, and maintain or enhance fish populations. There are four species of trout stocked at Blood Indian: Rainbow, Brook, Brown, and Tiger. Tiger trout is a sterile hybrid species created using Brown and Brook Trout.
Staff from AEP will return to Blood Indian this summer to continue field research into impacts of Prussian Carp. The team will complete a netting and seining program, removing as many Prussian Carp as possible while also evaluating the growth and survival of the trout species stocked by AEP into the waterbody.
“We have been closely working with AEP staff for many years to try to understand what the Carp mean for Blood Indian. Having Craig’s team come back this summer will continue to develop a full picture of the negative impacts Carp are having. I really appreciate the time and work AEP is putting in at Blood Indian, as well as our positive working relationship.”
John Armstrong, Parks Supervisor- Special Areas Board
You can learn more about camping at Blood Indian Park at www.specialareas.ab.ca/visit/parks-campground/blood-indian-park/.
PHOTOS COURTESY SPECIAL AREAS
Local anglers helping unload fish stock at Blood Indian Reservoir earlier this month.
