Threatened resources: 

Fish no longer bite; the lakes are emptied every year. A short time ago, an old man showed me some old black and white pictures of 2 grey trout, approximately 3 feet in length that he had caught in the 40’s with his friend on Manouane Lake. The guy is over 6 feet tall and held in each hand, 2 magnificent grey trout. He caught these trout while he was working as a chef on a lumberjack site.  

In the September 2006 issue of the Sentier Chasse & Peche magazine, they were praising the success of the reintroduction of the lake trout in Lake Manouane. First of all, this study confirmed what I have always believed, that Lake Manouane had become an experiment for biology students chosen by the MRNF.  Therefore it has become a laboratory lake for Quebec. I am not against the efforts that are being made to save and revive this species and I admire the efforts deployed by the biologists. After I read the study report, I unfortunately realized that the results were vague and did not insure the success of the reintroduction project of the lake trout.  I think that this study did not look at the possibilities as to why the lake trout have diminished. To begin with, they only took the case of the lake trout because this is the kind of fish that attracts the sports fisherman and therefore pay more to the government for this privilege, but the most important issue is that they’re forgetting the other fish species that are just as important and remain in as much danger as the lake trout.  

The lake trout of Lake Manouane generally spawn around October on clean gritty or rocky bottoms, anywhere from 1 to 45 feet deep. Incubation of fertilized eggs is about 4 to 6 weeks, which brings us to the beginning of December. The problem is that they continue to lower the water levels in December, so think of what this does to the lake trout eggs. When I first started going to Manouane Lake, near the end of the 70’s, grey trout fishing was excellent. 

I had the privilege to catch a few real beauties in the springtime. At that time we use to catch some beautiful wall-eyed pike too. There were great fishing seasons in the 80’s. I used to catch my quota in no time at all, regardless of the weather or what part of summer it was. We didn’t have to try too hard to catch a good supper. 1990 to 1992, we still caught our quota but the wall-eyed pike were a lot smaller and took a while longer to catch our limit. During the hot dry season in July and August, pike didn’t bite much. And as far as the grey trout, fishermen caught a lot less. From 1992 on, the fish were no longer biting and we couldn’t catch our quota. The few wall-eyed pike caught were really small that they were put back into the lake. The grey trout were no longer biting at all, not even one. It’s not funny, apart for the autochthones who fish with nets, the grey trout which is considered the fish of choice by most fishermen, is hard to fish in the south of the 50ième parallel. This fishing takes sophisticated equipment which is not always within our budgets. Therefore, the greys are hardly fished in Lake Manouane. 

So explain to me why the grey trout have almost disappeared from Lake Manouane if they are hardly fished? The situation is a bit better with the pike, however still critical. In 1998 the situation was so critical that biologists were called in by the M.R.N.F. of Quebec to search for answers as to why fishing dramatically dropped in the Manouane Lake and why certain fish species, that was once abundant, are now close to extinction. First of all, grey trout fishing was prohibited on Manouane Lake. At first they thought the fish could no longer swim upstream on certain rivers that overflowed into the Manouane Lake in order to spawn. Therefore they dynamited specific places on a few rivers in the area and rocks were placed at the base of some rapids that they thought were preventing the fish from swimming upstream to spawn. Then we were told that maybe they should lower the water level of Manouane Lake, since the lake is controlled by a dam. They thought by lowering the water level it would help restore some of the fish species, particularly, the grey trout.

We were told that years ago the fish used to spawn when the water level was normal, before the dam was built and possibly because of the dam, it was probably the cause of the decline of certain fish species. My opinion, this is totally bogus because the lake had its dam since World War II and from 1940 to 1990 fishing was excellent therefore lowering the water level is not valid. So they had to look elsewhere for the answers. The biologist told us that it was necessary to lower the water level for at least 5 years in order for the fish to restock naturally. Have you ever seen Lake Manouane when they lower the water 10 feet? It is horrible and ugly to see. It is impossible to even put a boat in the water when the lake is that low. 

They use to lower the lake gradually and only in the winter when the lake would freeze and didn’t affect the other different fish species much. They anticipate lowering the lake again in the beginning of September 2007, for the eighth consecutive year.  I therefore asked the biologists if lowering the lake served the interests of the paper industry and Hydro Quebec, situated along the St-Maurice River between Latuque and Three Rivers, since there had been little rain and the water level of the St-Maurice River was really low. But the biologists said no. 

The problem with lowering the lake in the beginning of September to save the said grey trout is that within three weeks they empty the lake so much that it endangers the other species of fish. These other species cannot adapt to such a drastic and sudden change which is imposed on them and which affects their surroundings and their food. They empty the lake all through winter and by doing so, destroys the grey trout eggs. I think if they lowered the lake gradually up till the middle of winter, this would bring the lake to its lowest, and then the fish would be less affected and would have time to adapt to their new environment.  

Andre Hade wrote in his book “Nos Lacs”/ “Our Lakes”, “Playing with water levels, endangers different aquatic species that live there.”  Whenever I questioned the biologists on the fish situation, on the results of their research, they refuse to answer or ignore me. They turn their backs as if I was too indiscreet. I think the least they could do is to keep us informed on what they are doing on the lake. They never asked our opinion on the lowering of the water level nor did they hold a meeting to explain their reasoning for taking these measures. Everything was done secretly as if we were all dumb in biology because we don’t speak in their scientific and university language. It is illogical, ridiculous and completely stupid in my opinion, to lower the lake to save and restore the fish species. There is something I just can’t seem to understand. In spite of all the crazy studies, they still have no understanding as to why there is a lack of fish.  One thing for sure, constantly playing, a few times a year, with the lake’s level only harms the different fish species.  

It is the Quebec tax payers, who have paid heavily for these biologists every summer for the past 10 years. It’s costing a fortune and for absolutely nothing. I personally have not seen a difference in fishing in Lake Manouane. It’s not better nor is it worse.  The real question is why was fishing so great before 1990 and since then has gone down hill. Without pretending to be an expert on the subject, I think that there are a few factors that influence the different fish species in Lake Manouane. First of all, introducing a different species of fish in a lake, whether intentionally or not has certainly has not helped.  

Since 1988 up till today, the M.R.N.F. has granted more leases without any serious studies on the environmental impact that such a development would have, with the increase in the number of fishermen on the lake. In 1992, there was the new construction of the outfitter, Kanawata, which is situated on a natural sand beach, a place known for the reproduction or spawning area for many fish species, including the grey trout. From 1988 to 1990, a small group of autochthons, narcotic traffickers with little concern for mother earth, barred rivers completely, like the Lortie and Sarto Rivers, removing excessive, phenomenal quantities of fish with their fishing nets. It is not all autochthon that practice this kind of fishing. In the 70’s, the autochthon that practiced fishing with nets were very respectful of mother earth and its resources. These same autochthons would never place the fish species in danger at the Manouane Lake. 

In 1997, there was the opening of the Riviere au Rats road, causing an increase in the growing number of resorts and fishermen on the lake. Also, in 1988, there was little or too much rain. The atmosphere and water were warmer, caused by global warming of the planet. Mixed with increased erosion, caused by the drastic cutting of the forest and with the winters milder and shorter, all have contributed to the deterioration of the water quality in the Manouane Lake area. The grey trout as well as the wall-eyed pike need tranquil areas to spawn. The fact that, the outfitter Kanawata is situated on the natural sandy beach, which was once a spawning area for many fish species, has contributed to the drop in the quality of fish. Not only that but all the boat activity that stirs the water and makes a lot of noise, disrupts the process of spawning. Since this new outfitter, Kanawata, was built on the sandy beaches of Lake Manouane, the grey trout in particular have plummeted.  

Today this sandy beach has an immense pier, which serves more or less as a marina, increasing the coming and going of motor boats with vacationers. It is the same for the natural sandy beaches on the Lortie Lake and River areas that were also favourite spots, for food and spawning, for the fish species. The fish suffer directly because of the increase of chalets on the Lortie Lake and River and from the excessive amounts of fishing and motor-boat action. Completely north of the Manouane Lake, in the Baie des Chiens, on the Sarto River, the fish also suffer from excessive fishing. This corner of the Sarto River is a favourite area for fish to feed. It is not normal to see 10 to 20 boats on this small bay of approximately 150 meters large, all the boat activity, with men frantic to fish, are destroying the resources. 

Studies were never done on the environmental impact that the new outfitter, Kanawata, would have, since it is situated on a natural sandy beach and spawning area. In my opinion this is the main cause for the decline in fishing. It’s not very encouraging and sometimes may seem pessimistic but very realistic. Are there any solutions to these problems? Yes, there is, here are some suggestions: 

1-The fact is, whether short or long term, we cannot modify the amount of rain nor can we control the global warming of the planet. However we can put a stop to the cutting of the forests that causes premature erosion which moderates the temperature of the water. 

2-Stop issuing leases for construction of new chalets immediately. 

3-Prohibit circulation of large motor boats on the Manouane Lake between September to June in order to allow the fish to feed and spawn, in peace and quiet. 

4-Open the fishing season from June 24^th to September 1^st. 

5-Limit the amount of pike to 2 per person per day. 

6-Prohibit fishing the grey trout for at least another 10 years. 

7-Create sanctuaries on Manouane Lake where fishing would be totally prohibited in order to allow the different fish species time to feed and spawn.  This should include the Sarto River at the end of the Baie des Chiens as well as the Lortie Lake and River. 

8-Practice putting back into the water the fish most likely to procreate and therefore encourage the continuity for generations to come. 

9-Stop the unnecessary playing with the water levels which, in my opinion, is more harmful to different fish species. 

10-Maintain the water level of the lake that we have presently. 

11-Work with the local autochthon population in order to find fair solutions to these known problems. 

12-The autochthon should use fishing nets with bigger links so that the smaller fish pass through. 

They too, should practice putting good breeders back into the water. 

Avoid completely barring the rivers with their nets in order to allow the fish to swim upstream and reach the spawning areas and to feed. 

These solutions are not expensive but can be an intelligent way to bring back a respectable quality of fishing for all, while preserving the resources.