Summary of Activities
Date: December, 2018
To: Ian Kitch
Sustainable Development – Fisheries
Branch
cc. Jonathan Stephens, SVSFE Board
Location: Pine River - Duck Mountains and Pine River Area, Manitoba
Objective: A fisheries inventory assessment was conducted on the Pine River
between October 1st and 4th, 2018. The objective was simple; to determine trout
presence and absence at different reaches of the river. The data acquired from
the survey would then be used to promote the fishery. Acquired data, entry/
exit points, and access information would be summarized in an aesthetic
document that would become available online for the angling community.
Background Information: The Pine River has been stocked intermittently dating
back to 1955. Plantings have been dominated by both brook trout and rainbow
trout with a few random plantings of walleye fry. See historical stocking
records from 1955-2018 on page 2.
The Pine River has a rich angling history. The fishery has been a popular brook
and rainbow fishery since the early plantings which has continued until today.
There are many entry/exit points and access trails throughout the system, along
with many popular pools that produce trout year after year. In recent years,
Pine River locals state that the lower reaches haven’t been producing trout.
The same cannot be said for the middle and upper reaches.
In 1990, SVSFE raised funds to create more trout habitat in the middle reaches
of the North Pine River. The design of the pools, riffles, and meanders were
acquired from known trout sites in the lower reaches of the North Pine River.
The meanders were constructed at “Second Crossing” in November 1990. A summary
of the work can be located in “Stream Analysis and Fish Habitat Design – A
Field Manual (1993)” by Robert Newbury and Marc Gaboury - pages 149-162.
A habitat inventory of the North Pine River was conducted by North-South
Consultants in 1995. A portion of this survey included five different
electrofishing transects at different reaches of the river. Brook and rainbow
trout were found at two locations. The fist (NP-4), found 27 brook trout and 19
rainbow trout which is located north of the Pine River gravel pit. The second
(NP-3), yielded 88 brook trout and 8 rainbow trout in clearwater creek, a
tributary of the North Pine River. Of the trout catch, juveniles of both
species were located including young-of-the-year rainbow trout.
From: Brock Koutecky, Holly Urban, Megan
Paterson, Swan Valley Sport Fishing
Technical Staff
Contact: [email protected]
Subject: 2018 Pine River Trout Survey
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Summary of Activities
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Subject: 2018 Pine River Trout Survey
Pine River Stocking History (1955-2018)
Year Species Number Life Stage
1955 Brook Trout 28,000 Fingerling
1955 Rainbow Trout 24,000 Fingerling
1956 Brook Trout 12,500 Fingerling
1956 Rainbow Trout 12,500 Fingerling
1957 Brook Trout 25,900 1+
1957 Brook Trout 2,500 Fry
1957 Rainbow Trout 7,000 Fingerling
1958 Brook Trout 10,000 Fingerling
1958 Rainbow Trout 29,000 Fingerling
1959 Brook Trout 10,000 Fingerling
1959 Rainbow Trout 12,500 Fingerling
1960 Brook Trout 7,000 Fingerling
1962 Brook Trout 500 1+
1963 Brook Trout 5,000 Fingerling
1964 Brook Trout 16,650 Fingerling
1964 Rainbow Trout 3,000 Fingerling
1965 Brook Trout 1,000 1+
1965 Rainbow Trout 3,300 1+
1966 Brook Trout 3,000 1+
1966 Rainbow Trout 4,000 1+
1967 Brook Trout 1,000 1+
1968 Brook Trout 1,000 1+
1969 Brook Trout 1,000 1+
1970 Brook Trout 2,000 1+
1972 Rainbow Trout 2,000 1+
1972 Brook Trout 1,500 1+
1973 Rainbow Trout 2,000 1+
1973 Brook Trout 2,000 2+
1978 Rainbow Trout 4,000 1+
1978 Walleye 1,000,000 Fry
1979 Rainbow Trout 5,514 2+
1980 Rainbow Trout 5,000 1+
1981 Rainbow Trout 2,500 1+
1982 Brook Trout 5,000 1+
1983 Rainbow Trout 2,000 1+
1984 Brook Trout 2,000 Yearling
1984 Rainbow Trout 2,500 0+
1985 Rainbow Trout 1,000 1+
1987 Brook Trout 10,000 Fingerling
1987 Walleye 100,000 Fry
1988 Brook Trout 3,000 1+
1988 Brook Trout 1,000 Fingerling
1988 Rainbow Trout 5,500 Fingerling
1990 Rainbow Trout 2,000 2+
1992 Rainbow Trout 5,000 1+
1993 Brook Trout 11,500 Fingerling
1994 Rainbow Trout 5,000 12-15cm
1994 Rainbow Trout 5,000 18+cm
1996 Rainbow Trout 5,000 12-15cm
1996 Brook Trout 7,500 Fingerling
1998 Brook Trout 2,500 12-15cm
2000 Rainbow Trout 5,000 12-15cm
2002 Brook Trout 5,000 12-15cm
2003 Brook Trout 3,000 12-15cm
2004 Brook Trout 5,000 Fingerling
2005 Brook Trout 6,000 Fingerling
2006 Brook Trout 6,000 Fingerling
2007 Brook Trout 6,000 Fingerling
2007 Brook Trout 2,000 12-15cm
2008 Brook Trout 4,000 18+cm
2015 Brook Trout 7,500 12-15cm
2018 Brook Trout 6,000 12-15cm
Summary of Activities
Methods: Fish capture methods included (1) backpack electrofisher, and (2)
angling. Backpack sites were sampled in areas accessible by either truck or
ATV, and angling occurred in pools that were too deep to sample with the
backpack. Shocking occurred by travelling upstream often traversing from bank
to bank sampling the best looking habitat in the process. On occasion, A+
habitat was spot shocked to avoid fish freight. Two dip-netters would follow
the backpack operator, dip any stunned fish, and place them in the portable 2
gallon live-well. Target for each transect was ~600 seconds, however final
transect effort was decided by the captain/operator and would often continue
until the live-well became full or the habitat changed drastically. All large
bodied fish were measured, while all small bodied fish were counted. Trout
captured were measured, and age structures (scales) were taken for lab
analysis. A total of sixteen transects were completed with five in the lower
reaches, three in the middle reaches, and eight in the upper reaches. Effort
maps can be viewed on pages 3-5.
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Subject: 2018 Pine River Trout Survey
Pine River Effort Map (1) Lower Reaches (1-5)
Summary of Activities
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Subject: 2018 Pine River Trout Survey
Pine River Effort Map (2) Middle Reaches (6, 15, 16)
Pine River Effort Map (3) Upper Reaches (7,8)
Summary of Activities
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Subject: 2018 Pine River Trout Survey
Pine River Effort Map (4) Upper Reaches (9-13)
Pine River Effort Map (5) Upper Reaches (14)
Summary of Activities
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Subject: 2018 Pine River Trout Survey
Results: Trout were located at 8/16 sites. Trout were not found in the extreme
upper reaches or any of the lower reaches. A total of 40 brook trout were
captured which ranged from 70-315mm (FL) with an average length of 152mm.
Figures on the brook trout length and age frequencies can be viewed on page
10. A total of two rainbow trout were captured which measured in at 145 (age
2) and 135mm(FL). Other species captured included white sucker, blacknose
dace, brook stickleback, common shiner, creek chub, fathead minnow, finescale
dace, iowa darter, johnny darter, longnose dace, mottled sculpin, and pearl
dace. A summary on catch per transect can be viewed on pages 7-9, whereas a
total catch composition table can be viewed below.
2018 Pine River Composition Summary
Species Count CPUE/HR Composition
Brook Trout 40 10.8 11%
Rainbow Trout 2 0.5 1%
White Sucker 23 6.2 7%
Blacknose Dace 213 57.5 61%
Brook Stickleback 3 0.8 1%
Common Shiner 1 0.3 0%
Creek Chub 3 0.8 1%
Fathead Minnow 32 8.6 9%
Finescale Dace 15 4.1 4%
Iowa Darter 1 0.3 0%
Johnny Darter 3 0.8 1%
Longnose Dace 6 1.6 2%
Mottled Sculpin 3 0.8 1%
Pearl Dace 3 0.8 1%
Total 348 94.0 100%
Summary of Activities
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Subject: 2018 Pine River Trout Survey
Summary of Activities
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Subject: 2018 Pine River Trout Survey
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Subject: 2018 Pine River Trout Survey
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Subject: 2018 Pine River Trout Survey
22%
56%
17%
6%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
1 2 3 4
Age (years)
Brook Trout Age Frequency of Occurence
n=18
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
51-100 101-150 151-200 201-250 251-300 301-350 351-400
Fork Length(mm)
Brook Trout Fork Length(mm)
Frequency of Occurencen=40
Summary of Activities
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Subject: 2018 Pine River Trout Survey
Discussion: The North Pine River provides a unique angling opportunity in the
Duck Mountains. The fishery offers opportunities for elders and children at
the more accessible angling sites; the thrill seeking long distance “rock
hopping” type angler; and even for fly fishers as there are arguably a few
areas that provide enough space to effectively fly cast.
The primary objective was to survey access information for promotional
purposes. It was realised very quickly that some access trails used back in
the 1990s are now grown in and no longer passable. There are still many access
points that provide great opportunities for anglers. In the near future SVSFE
will be taking this information and creating maps for the angling public. The
final product will become available online through the SVSFE website. These
maps will show trails, entry/exit points, popular pools, distances, etc. SVSFE
may also look into reopening some of these old trails if permitted and found
beneficial to the angling community. It would be ideal if ATV use down the old
Pine River Road was permitted in the future. The road is the main connection
to mid and upper reaches. Because the trail runs through the Provincial Park,
there are additional factors to consider.
The observations made on the state of the 1990 enhancement work should be
noted in this summary. In 2018, the most productive transects were within the
enhanced area. Juvenile brook trout appeared to be utilizing the riffle
habitats, while beaver activity has created flooding of overwintering pools
which were found to be homing mature brookies. Based on findings, 28 years
following the enhancement, this initiative is a definite success.
Trout were found in all reaches between the second and third crossings. This
does not mean that the trout population exists exclusively between these two
access points. Angling reports state trout are often caught both downstream
and upstream of this large stretch of river. Also, there is without a doubt
some productive pools far from access points that were not sampled during the
2018 surveys. Brook trout were found at multiple age classes including young-
of-year individuals that were naturally recruited in the system; especially
near Clearwater Creek. Two rainbow trout were located as well. Since the most
recent documented planting of rainbows occurred in 2000, this suggests that
the fishery hosts a naturally reproducing population of rainbow trout as well.
Because the system is showing evidence of natural recruitment and the
potential for a self-sustaining population, it is recommended that the
stocking program be reviewed to avoid age class suppression. In summary, the
Pine River is an extremely special fishery, with the opportunity for anglers
to target brook and rainbow trout in a unique stream setting.
Site and fish pictures can be found in the following pages of this report
(Pages 12-16).
Summary of Activities
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Subject: 2018 Pine River Trout Survey
PR-BS-18-001 (Hay Field) PR-BS-18-002 (Kushnerek’s)
PR-BS-18-003 (Grid Road Bridge) PR-BS-18-004 (SnoMan Crossing)
PR-BS-18-005 (HWY 10 Bridge) PR-BS-18-006 (Third Crossing)
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Subject: 2018 Pine River Trout Survey
PR-BS-18-007 (North Trail Crossing) PR-BS-18-008 (Good Bend West)
PR-BS-18-009 (Near Clearwater Creek) PR-BS-18-010 (Enhanced Area 1)
PR-BS-18-011 (Enhanced Area 2)PR-BS-18-012 (2nd Crossing Upstream)
Summary of Activities
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Subject: 2018 Pine River Trout Survey
PR-BS-18-013 (2nd Crossing Upstream 2) PR-BS-18-014 (1st Crossing)
PR-BS-18-015 (Sclater Cut) PR-BS-18-016 (Campsite)
Brookie Near Third Crossing Dam Upstream of Third Crossing
Summary of Activities
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Subject: 2018 Pine River Trout Survey
Mottled Sculpin near Pine River Trail Brookie near enhanced area
Live-well of brook troutJuvenile (young-of-year) brookie
Brookie in Enhanced Area Brookie in Enhanced Area
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Subject: 2018 Pine River Trout Survey
Rainbow upstream enhanced area (age 2+)Brookie near good Clearwater Creek
Female near Slater Cut (age 3+) Male near Slater Cut (age 3+)
Brookie near old campsite (Age 2+) Rainbow near old campsite
Summary of Activities
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Subject: 2018 Pine River Trout Survey
Acknowledgements: The Pine River Trout Survey would not be possible without
our committed partners and supporters. Thank you to the Fish & Wildlife
Enhancement Fund for financial support to this and many other initiatives.
Thank you to Fisheries Branch for your continued support. The branch supplied
the backpack electrofisher, other gear and background information pertinent to
the project. Big shout out to Don Stokotelny with Intermountain Sport Fishing
for assisting with the project and supplying equipment to transport gear.
Lastly, great thanks to all the individuals who provided background and access
information on the river. There is always time for fishing stories!