Hirk: I just read through what I posted, and I'm not seeing any half-twisted truths or false claims. Can you please explain specifically what I've said that you feel I've embellished, or twisted, and I'll support what I've said. If you'd rather I pm you personally, then I can do that. Regarding anything that I've said that hasn't been proven by research, I openly BEG you to call the Kawartha Lakes FAU and request a digital copy of the 1998 - 2012 Sturgeon Lake NSCIN index data. Also ask for the three FWIN (Fall Walleye Index Netting) data files, as well as the 12 years of mark-recapture Walleye data that is used to calculate annual mortality and population size. It's all available to you under the PIA (Public Information Act). Run some simple queries on the digital files that they send you, then think about everything I've said or posted, and determine if what I'm saying is fact or fiction. The lake has the longest running NSCIN data set in the province, thanks to the Fish and Wildlife Program at Fleming College. There is no other inland Ontario lake that has been studied more. The data is pretty amazing. With a mere keystroke, you can run queries to track year class strength, year class progression through the established slot, progression to protected spawners, etc., etc. With it starting in 1998, it's really neat to track the impact of the new Black Crappie invasion. You'll see how it's affected fish condition factor, age and size at sexual maturity, etc. Anyone can become a pro, and analyze the lake's history and population status if you play around on the computer for some time.
Regarding my work history, I devoted 13 years of my life to studying this lake , so yes, you are definitely correct - it's pretty tough to say there's not some personal "agenda" for having some concern about how its being managed. My agenda is to not to just sit there chewing on a dogshite sandwich, and saying that it tastes good, when I feel it's worth trying to conserve something that is openly being abused. I've been part of conducting 1324 trap net sets (26,480 "net soak hours"), processed, tagged, and mark-recap spine clipped more than 6300 walleye, and run 6100 meters of gill net over two FWIN surveys, all on this little Kawartha Lake. Anything I've said is based on this.
Sorry about being a little zealous and fanatical about what's left of the fishery!
Dave
PS. No - I don't live on the lake. I can't afford waterfront.