Our new mobile creel survey lets anglers report their catch in about a minute – helping shape our stocking program to meet angler preferences.
If you head to Marquart Lake to go fishing, you may spot some temporary signs inviting you to report your catch. Participating in our prototype mobile creel survey will only take a minute and could help make Marquart, and lakes across the province, better places to fish.
How it works
When you finish a day of fishing on Marquart Lake, scan the QR code found on one of the signs posted around the lake to access the survey. For those without smartphones or cellular connection, you can visit the website whenever it’s convenient at ffsbc-mobile-creel.netlify.app. A short form asks a few quick questions: how you were fishing, what you were after, and what you caught – or didn’t. There’s no app to download, no sign-in, and it’s completely anonymous. The survey takes about 60 seconds to complete.
Why your report matters
Angler experience drives effective management of stocked fisheries, which makes your catch information especially valuable. However, collecting accurate data can be difficult.
Traditionally, a surveyor would need to travel to a lake, hope anglers are fishing that day, and wait until they finish before conducting interviews. On smaller lakes, where there may be few or no anglers present, this approach can produce little or no data.
The mobile creel survey makes it easier for any angler, on any day, to share basic but important details about their fishing experience. The more reports we receive, the better we can align stocking recommendations with what the lake – and the people who fish it – actually need.
Why Marquart Lake
The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC Science team is trying to better understand how the various species we stock are suited to different lakes and different fisheries. Marquart Lake is one of the lakes we are more closely monitoring because it is stocked with an exactly even split of rainbow and brook trout at 50% each. We are very curious how different anglers target and catch each of the species relative to the ratio at which they are currently stocked.
In addition, Marquart Lake is highly accessible (about 20 kilometres southeast of Merritt, via Highway 5A/97C and Lundbom Lake Road), and should have a reasonable amount of angling traffic to test the mobile creel survey. If a good number of anglers voluntarily participate as we hope, and without issue, then we can more formally expand this approach to other lakes.
A few things worth knowing
Report even if you got skunked. A slow day tells us just as much as a great one.
One report per group. If you fished together as a party (same boat or vehicle so all people fished the same amount of time), just one person needs to fill it out on behalf of everyone.
It’s for everyone. Whether you’re a die-hard fly angler or out with the kids for the afternoon, your report counts.
Next time you’re at Marquart Lake, please look for the sign, give us 60 seconds, and help shape how we stock lakes. The survey is open from September 2026 through September 2027. Your assistance is appreciated!
Author: Paul Askey, Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC.
Banner Image: Lukas Homolicki