Fish of Basket Lake
Basket Lake, like most deep lakes in Northwestern Ontario, is classified as a cold water lake. Cold water lakes are a unique part of the boreal forest, home to fish that survived in refugia during the most recent glaciation and fish that spread north after the glaciers retreated.
Basket Lake is home to a variety of fish, including a few species prized for sport fishing. Northern pike, walleye, and lake trout are the most common sport fish caught, but there are also a wide variety of smaller fish that populate the lake. These include a number of colourful shiners, the Iowa darter, rock bass, yellow and trout perch.
Together, these large and small fish are part of a delicate ecosystem that we rarely see, but nevertheless has a magic all its own.
Basket Lake is home to a variety of fish, including a few species prized for sport fishing. Northern pike, walleye, and lake trout are the most common sport fish caught, but there are also a wide variety of smaller fish that populate the lake. These include a number of colourful shiners, the Iowa darter, rock bass, yellow and trout perch.
Together, these large and small fish are part of a delicate ecosystem that we rarely see, but nevertheless has a magic all its own.
Threats
Threats to aquatic fauna originate from two human sources on the lake: sport fishing, and potential environmental impacts from forestry.
With a popular fishing lodge on Basket Lake, the concerns associated with recreational angling are more immediate. Research on recreational fishing is a growing field, but we already know that fish can experience physiological stress as a result of angling. These effects can sometimes be fatal, even if the fish are released shortly after being caught. They originate from a variety of angling-related stressors, including barbed hooks, the amount of time spent out of the water, and handling.
Additionally, the introduction of invasive and foreign-species has become an increasing concern around the Great Lakes. Invasive species can outcompete native species for food, habitat, and other resources, causing the native species population to decrease or even crash. In northwestern Ontario, the round goby, rusty crayfish, and zebra mussel have successfully established themselves and are already having noticeable impacts on aquatic wildlife.
Impacts from forestry are currently low, but Basket Lake is located on federally-owned Crown land, and is part of two different forest management units supervised by the province of Ontario. Research on the impacts of logging aquatic systems is scarce, but there is risk of erosion, changes in hydrology, and shoreline habitat. All of these things can affect not only fish, but the plants and smaller organisms they feed on as well.
It is increasingly likely that Basket Lake will be logged in the future, and we hope to keep the impacts of this activity low.
With a popular fishing lodge on Basket Lake, the concerns associated with recreational angling are more immediate. Research on recreational fishing is a growing field, but we already know that fish can experience physiological stress as a result of angling. These effects can sometimes be fatal, even if the fish are released shortly after being caught. They originate from a variety of angling-related stressors, including barbed hooks, the amount of time spent out of the water, and handling.
Additionally, the introduction of invasive and foreign-species has become an increasing concern around the Great Lakes. Invasive species can outcompete native species for food, habitat, and other resources, causing the native species population to decrease or even crash. In northwestern Ontario, the round goby, rusty crayfish, and zebra mussel have successfully established themselves and are already having noticeable impacts on aquatic wildlife.
Impacts from forestry are currently low, but Basket Lake is located on federally-owned Crown land, and is part of two different forest management units supervised by the province of Ontario. Research on the impacts of logging aquatic systems is scarce, but there is risk of erosion, changes in hydrology, and shoreline habitat. All of these things can affect not only fish, but the plants and smaller organisms they feed on as well.
It is increasingly likely that Basket Lake will be logged in the future, and we hope to keep the impacts of this activity low.
Actions at Basket Lake
At Basket Lake Camp, every attempt is being made to make the sport fishing not only sustainable, but to decrease the amount of stress placed on fish when they are caught in order to maintain a healthy population. Some rules that have been implemented at the lodge include:
- release of any caught Walleye over 18 inches
- release of any caught Northern Pike over 27.7 inches
- to prevent introduction of invasive species, no live bait is allowed to be brought into the area
- all visitors are educated on proper catch and release techniques
- release of any caught Walleye over 18 inches
- release of any caught Northern Pike over 27.7 inches
- to prevent introduction of invasive species, no live bait is allowed to be brought into the area
- all visitors are educated on proper catch and release techniques
Further Reading
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
Catch and Release review with guidelines
Walleye Catch and Release annotated bibliography
Current laws and regulations for angling
United States National Park Service
Catch and release fishing pamphlet
Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters
Tips for catch and release
Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC
Conserving BC's freshwater recreational fisheries
Catch and Release review with guidelines
Walleye Catch and Release annotated bibliography
Current laws and regulations for angling
United States National Park Service
Catch and release fishing pamphlet
Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters
Tips for catch and release
Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC
Conserving BC's freshwater recreational fisheries
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
Round Goby Information Sheet
United States Geological Service
Aquatic Invasive Species
Distribution map: Round Goby
Distribution map: Rusty Crayfish
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Aquatic Invasive Species Framework
Ontario Invasive Species Centre
Aquatic Invasive Species Information
Ontario Invasive Species Awareness
Rusty Crayfish
Round Goby
University of Minnesota
Round Goby Invasion Prevention
Arlinghaus, R., T. Klefoth, S.J. Cooke, A. Gingerich, and C.D. Suski. 2009. A combined laboratory and field study to understand physiological and behavioral disturbance and recovery from catch-and-release recreational angling in northern pike (Esox lucius). Fisheries Research 97: 223-233. Abstract
Cooke, S.J., M.R. Donaldson, C.M. O’Connor, G.D. Raby, R. Arlinghaus, A.J. Danylchuk, K.C. Hanson, S.G. Hinch, T.D. Clark, D.A. Patterson, and C.D. Suski. 2013. The physiological consequences of catch-and-release angling: perspectives on experimental design, interpretation, extrapolation, and relevance to stakeholders. Fisheries Management and Ecology 20:268-287. Abstract
Cooke, S.J., and C.D. Suski. 2005. Do we need species-specific guidelines for catch-and-release recreational angling to conserve diverse fishery resources? Biodiversity and Conservation. 14:1195-1209. Abstract
Killen, S.S., C.D. Suski, S.J. Cooke, D.P. Philipp, and B.L. Tufts. 2006. Factors contributing to the physiological disturbance of walleyes during live-release angling tournaments. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. 135:557-5569. Abstract
Brandner, J., A.F. Cerwenka, U.K. Schliewen, and J. Geist. 2013. Bigger is better: characteristics of round gobies forming an invasion front in the Danube River. PLoS One 8: e73036. Abstract and PDF
Corkum, L.D., M.R. Sapota and K.E. Skora. 2004. The Round Goby, Neogobius melanostomus, a fish invader on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Journal of Great Lakes Research. 6:173-181. Abstract
Round Goby Information Sheet
United States Geological Service
Aquatic Invasive Species
Distribution map: Round Goby
Distribution map: Rusty Crayfish
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Aquatic Invasive Species Framework
Ontario Invasive Species Centre
Aquatic Invasive Species Information
Ontario Invasive Species Awareness
Rusty Crayfish
Round Goby
University of Minnesota
Round Goby Invasion Prevention
Arlinghaus, R., T. Klefoth, S.J. Cooke, A. Gingerich, and C.D. Suski. 2009. A combined laboratory and field study to understand physiological and behavioral disturbance and recovery from catch-and-release recreational angling in northern pike (Esox lucius). Fisheries Research 97: 223-233. Abstract
Cooke, S.J., M.R. Donaldson, C.M. O’Connor, G.D. Raby, R. Arlinghaus, A.J. Danylchuk, K.C. Hanson, S.G. Hinch, T.D. Clark, D.A. Patterson, and C.D. Suski. 2013. The physiological consequences of catch-and-release angling: perspectives on experimental design, interpretation, extrapolation, and relevance to stakeholders. Fisheries Management and Ecology 20:268-287. Abstract
Cooke, S.J., and C.D. Suski. 2005. Do we need species-specific guidelines for catch-and-release recreational angling to conserve diverse fishery resources? Biodiversity and Conservation. 14:1195-1209. Abstract
Killen, S.S., C.D. Suski, S.J. Cooke, D.P. Philipp, and B.L. Tufts. 2006. Factors contributing to the physiological disturbance of walleyes during live-release angling tournaments. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. 135:557-5569. Abstract
Brandner, J., A.F. Cerwenka, U.K. Schliewen, and J. Geist. 2013. Bigger is better: characteristics of round gobies forming an invasion front in the Danube River. PLoS One 8: e73036. Abstract and PDF
Corkum, L.D., M.R. Sapota and K.E. Skora. 2004. The Round Goby, Neogobius melanostomus, a fish invader on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Journal of Great Lakes Research. 6:173-181. Abstract
In the Media
Fish Mortality: Catch and Release - Western Sportsman, 2014
Fish Feel Little Pain -New York Times, 2010
Does Catch and Release Angling Really Work? - The Chronicle Journal, 2010
Ontario anglers face fine for using Round Goby, invasive species, as bait - CBC, 2014
Watch out, here comes the Round Goby: How one fish changed the Danube River - PLOS One, 2013
Fish Feel Little Pain -New York Times, 2010
Does Catch and Release Angling Really Work? - The Chronicle Journal, 2010
Ontario anglers face fine for using Round Goby, invasive species, as bait - CBC, 2014
Watch out, here comes the Round Goby: How one fish changed the Danube River - PLOS One, 2013
