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wil wegman

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About wil wegman

  • Birthday 11/22/1959

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    Near Lake Simcoe
  • Interests
    - Love fishing of course. Also enjoy writing about it, teaching it and conserving the resource. <br />

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  1. I just found out the launch at the park will be undergoing some renovation and they have no choice but to close it off during this period. Many anglers still practice out of here for the BPS Open ... and it's a popular spot for recreational bass anglers and those chasing perch as well. I wanted to be sure to give all a heads up so you can plan your fall fishing accordingly. There really is no ideal time to get this done .. low water levels are best from a work perspective though. The following notice has been prepared: Wil Attention Lake Simcoe Anglers and Boaters: Please be advised that the boat launch area at Sibbald Point Provincial Park on Lake Simcoe near Sutton ON will be closed for maintenance from Oct 4th to Oct 31st 2010. During this time no boats will be permitted to launch at the park. We regret the inconvenience this may cause but are certain the improved launching facilities will be a welcome improvement for all who like to launch at Sibbald Point Provincial Park. Thank you for your understanding. Greg Walsh, Park Superintendent Sibbald Point Provincial Park
  2. Even getting to Snake Island with your small boat and old motor can be an ordeal ... with minimal wind and that's rarely the case on Simcoe. The Holland or Pefferlaw Rivers can both be productive with the same perch techniques supplied in another post. You can launch right in Bradford - or at Hwy 48 and the Pefferlaw River. If you have not used your boat a lot - and are still learning about fishing ... it's strongly recommended that you try a river system or much smaller lake first... Please! Thanks Wil
  3. As the fall season and lots of great fishing is upon us ... please be on the look out for any tagged bass from Simcoe or Cooch. There should be two tags- between the dorsal fins. Look closely at each bass you catch... PLEASE NOTE: Tags will have two numbers each ... an MNR phone number on one side and a unique tag # on the other. There will likely be algae covering the tags and unless you scrape away with pen knife- you won't be able to read the numbers. Suggest you don't use a fllet knife for this ... results in severe trauma and costly therapy for bass (and we have no money for this part of the research project) Please bring pencil and paper to record all numbers from both tags - as well as size, approx location (eg northeast side of lake) date caught, condition of fish and if released. Although we had lots of tag returns for year 2 and 3 - recap numbers have dropped off of late - despite the fact that there's over 1,000 bass tagged out there. This is the 5th year of the Aurora Bassmasters Lake Simcoe Bass tagging Research project and the more recaps we can get, the more will be learned about this great fishery. Even better of course if you release the bass after recording the data ... so the fish can continue to be part of this project. Thanks Wil Wegman
  4. Just a freindly reminder for all to be on the look-out for any tagged bass from Simcoe or Cooch. The Aurora Bassmasters are now in their 5th year of this tagging project - supported thru MNR's Community Fisheries Wildlife Involvement Program. Over 1,000 bass have been sampled at bass tournaments around the lakes. They are double tagged (right behind the dorsal fin) a scale and spine are taken for ageing and then they're released. Look carefully for the tags - they could be covered in algae - which is normal ... but scrape it away and the tag numbers and MNR's phone number will magically appear. Please record numbers on paper in boat, as well as size of fish, date caught general location (no GPS spots required) and overall condition of fish. Then don't forget to call in with that important information. Please release any tagged bass so they can continue to contribute to this important research project. Some tagged bass have already been caught a few times! Thanks for your help, Wil Wegman
  5. Just a reminder of the pike tournament on canal lake this coming Sunday May 2nd. The Aurora Bassmasters are pleased to announce their inaugural Canal Lake early season pike tournament on Sunday May 2nd , 2010 out of Sunset Cove Marina near Bolsover Ontario. The attached entry form can be used by anglers to register for this unprecedented early season pike fishing competition. “In January 2010 the Ministry of Natural Resources opened up Fisheries Management Zone 17 in the Kawartha Lakes for year-round pike fishing,” explained Herb Quan president of the Aurora Bassmasters. One of the prime reasons to allow for this increased fishing opportunity centred around the fact that northern pike are not native to the Kawartha Lakes and their presence is known to result in declines within the native muskie population. “Canal Lake was the first lake within the Kawartha chain to see northern pike and ever since their numbers have flourished there while muskie have plummeted. Anglers who participate in this early season pike tournament can expect some incredible action and a chance to fish competitively before the traditional pike opener in southern Ontario a week later on the 2nd Saturday in May”, concluded Quan. The event will start at 7am and all waters from the host site of Sunset Cove Marina up through Canal Lake will be open for competitors. Entry fees are $110 – including a separate BIG FISH pot. 80% Paybacks to the anglers will apply. You can register and pay the morning of the event (beginning at 6am). Although the Aurora Bassmasters are proud members of the Ontario BASS Federation Nation, this is an “Open Event” meaning entry is not limited just to those belonging to this grass roots organization. The club will use proceeds to further their conservation initiatives which in 2010 will include: The award winning Lake Simcoe Bass Tagging Research Project, the Earth Week Roadside Clean-Up Day, the Keffers Shoreline Rehabilitation Project, the Pefferlaw and Beaver Rivers Fisheries Monitoring Project, The Fairy Lake Pike Transfer Project, and the Lake Simcoe Bass Nesting Enhancement Project. “For the past several years, the Aurora Bassmasters have been proud to host Canada’s premier one day bass fishing tournament – the Bass Pro Shops Lake Simcoe Open at the end of October. With this new pike venture, we are starting off small just like we did with that bass tournament but hope that by offering one of the earliest tournaments of the season on a premier pike fishery like Canal Lake, that we can quickly grow this event”, concluded Dave Meadows the tournament director for the club. - 30 - For more information please contact: Dave Meadows [email protected] Or visit: www.aurorabass.com
  6. Yes - it would be interesting to confirm that the Rice lake in question is indeed the same one most southern/central ontario anglers are most familiar with - in the Kawartha's? Wil
  7. Hey ... thanks for this interesting topic ... The very first magazine I ever subscribed to was Outdoor Life - way back when I was 12 and my dad bought it as a gift "IF I promised I'd read it", well I did for the next 30 plus years ... but will finally let my subsription slide ... there's just too much hunting stuff in it the last couple of years and although I am a hunter ... I'd just prefer to see more fishing related stuff. Bassmaster, BASS Times, In Fish, and of course great traditional Cnd mags like Outdoor Canada and OOD are regular staples. I must admit though that I am kind of partial to BassMan - and was pleased to see so many here who like it as well! I would love to see some input from members of OFC on our last issue ... still looking for some additional Letters to the Editor. Thanks Wil Wegman Editor BassMan Magazine [email protected]
  8. Re: Thanks! Im targetting brookies and walleye with no shelter,im thinking of just buying some windproof tipups instead of going thru all the frustration and time on making them,im still open to some ideas on makin' them. IF I were in your shoes ... that's exactly what i would do as well. HT Makes the Windlass Tip Ups that keep your bait moving with even the slightest breeze and these are great. When the temps get way too frigid (likely quite often in TBay) you'll appreciate the no-freeze qualities of their Polar Tip's. I don't know of any homemade jobs that can match the features of either and they're well worth the money. Wil
  9. Gorgeous bass for sure ... were they released in good shape? Seems most smallmouth bass caught from deep water in the fall that are put into a livewell - require fizzing or some other treatment to releive pressure in their extended air bladders. If these bass are caught and immediately live released - they swim down fine ... but held for awhile in a well - this is not always the case and they could have trouble 'gettin-down'. Wil
  10. Tagged Bass! Thanks to those individuals who are calling in with tagged bass from Simcoe. Without those recaps being called in the program would be nowhere ... and in the long run it will benefit all of us die hard bass anglers. A voicemail to the MNR number from someone catching a tagged bass and reporting it - was left over the weekend. First, thanks to that person for doing so ... The only problem is that the caller left a tag number and the general location but no further details. Please guys ... for this program to be a success we need to know the following: Date of Catch Size: (even approximate - most of you here are good estimators) Angler: One tag or two - both have unique numbers Tag numbers Tag Color Condition of fish Released or kept: Please try and get in the habit of bringing a pen and paper with you incase you're lucky enough to catch a tagged bass - and remember if the tag is covered in algae scrape it away with a pen knife until the number magically appears! Thanks for your help! Wil
  11. Curious how many OFC readers will be attending one of these sessions? Ministry of Ministère des Natural Resources Richesses naturelles Dear Community Partner, Subject: Invitation to Public Discussions about the Management of Lake Simcoe’s Recreational Fisheries The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) would like to invite you or any other interested party to one of three upcoming public discussion sessions to learn more about the following fisheries management initiatives on Lake Simcoe: 1) The Lake Simcoe Fisheries Stakeholder Committee 2) Lake Simcoe Protection Plan policies related to fisheries 3) Coldwater fish populations and related fishing trends 4) Recent evidence of natural reproduction of coldwater fish 5) Proposed changes to stocking program 6) Restoration initiatives and other fisheries management projects The dates, locations and times are as follows: Georgina: Monday September 21, 2009 (6:30 pm to 9:30 pm,) Kin Hall, 1 Fairpark Lane, Sutton Orillia: Thursday September 24, 2009 (6:30 pm to 9:30 pm,) Odas Park Banquet Hall, 4500 Fairgrounds Rd, Orillia Barrie: Saturday September 26, 2009 (9:00 am to 12 pm,) Victoria Village Activity Centre, 146 Toronto St., Barrie Lake Simcoe has a long history of degraded water quality and phosphorus related issues (please see http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/water/lakesimc...t-watershed.pdf for more details). A key indicator of ecosystem health for Lake Simcoe, is its lake trout population, along with other cold water fish species. Given their sensitivity to water quality changes it is like a “canary in the coalmine”. The 1960’s and 70’s saw dramatic declines and recruitment failure of important coldwater species, first lake trout, then lake whitefish. This was due to low oxygen levels in the deep coldwater habitat caused by excess loading of phosphorus to the lake. In response to these recruitment failures, MNR started large scale rehabilitative stocking efforts in 1966 for lake trout and in 1982 for whitefish. These stocking programs have been successful in maintaining these native stocks while at the same time providing the benefits of a sport fishery. Until recently, the coldwater fishery was essentially comprised of stocked fish with no production of wild lake trout and only a small number of old natural lake whitefish and a few wild recruits. Results from our monitoring programs have now documented the presence of naturally produced (wild) adult lake trout, something we haven’t seen for over 20 years. The number of wild lake trout, lake whitefish and even lake herring (cisco) have all increased in angler’s catches and our monitoring programs in the last few years. This is a positive sign that Lake Simcoe has the potential to recover, and there is more action being taken to improve the overall health of the Lake. As part of the Provincial Government’s overall strategy to protect and restore the ecological health of the Lake Simcoe watershed, the Lake Simcoe Protection Act was passed in December of 2008 giving authority to develop the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan which was approved and released in June 2009. The Plan will implement a number of actions to reduce phosphorus inputs to the Lake and improve overall water quality in order to meet one of its main objectives of restoring a self-sustaining coldwater fish community to Lake Simcoe. The Plan also has a number of fisheries related policies which will guide MNR’s activities on the Lake for the next several years such as the development of Fish Community Objectives. Given the intensity and economic impact of Lake Simcoe’s fishery, managing its valuable resources has always been a priority for MNR. To further strengthen our management and improve community partner input into the decision making process, the MNR formed the Lake Simcoe Fisheries Stakeholder Committee in June of 2007. Membership on the Fisheries Stakeholder Committee represents the diverse interests in the fisheries resources of Lake Simcoe. One of the initiatives that this Committee has been working on is the review of Lake Simcoe’s cold water stocking programs as directed by the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan. The lake trout and whitefish stocking programs have accomplished their objective of maintaining the native populations while ecosystem restoration initiatives were implemented to improve water quality and habitat conditions required for future successful natural reproduction and survival of these species. We have now documented significant natural reproduction and survival of wild lake trout. Given this recent development and the lake trout’s role as top predator, the MNR is proposing to decrease the number of lake trout stocked annually for the next five years. This proposal has been reviewed by MNR’s scientists and biologists as well as thoroughly evaluated by the Lake Simcoe Fisheries Stakeholder Committee to ensure appropriate precautionary measures have been taken to maintain the quality of Lake Simcoe’s coldwater fishery. It has also been proposed that no change to the present whitefish stocking program occur at this time. Please come out and join us to learn more about these and other exciting initiatives (e.g., Lake Simcoe Muskellunge Restoration Project and the Bass Tagging Research Project) underway in order to better manage Lake Simcoe’s valuable fisheries resources. These meetings are open to the public, so please feel free to invite interested family, friends and neighbours. For more information please call Jason Borwick at 905-713-7404. Thank You, Debbie Pella Keen and Mark Shoreman Aurora District Manager Midhurst District Manager
  12. Simply because because bass in some lakes have either more forage or a source of food that pours the fat on more. Sometimes genetics plays a role as well ... you get some fish that are invariably long and thin from one lake and short and fat from another. Fish from some some lakes also grow faster than in others - often based on mean water temperatures perhaps as much forage. I love the short and fat type of bass personally ...but yours sure was a beauty - especially from Sparrow where nice fish like the one you caught aren't as plentiful as they once were - in part perhaps because they didn't make the same wise choice you did - to release her to not only give another angler the same thrill you had - but also to continue reproducing ... and those bigger bass are oh so good at that! Thanks Wil
  13. Way to go Steve ... man that's an outstanding weight for Cooch. Did any club members get any tagged bass? I heard there were a couple of other club tournies on Cooch over the weekend and rumors of tagged fish caught ... but other than one report (where the angler didn't supply numbers because he said they were covered in green algae - although he could read the phone number on the oher side) nothing has come in. Please remember guys - for all those fishing Cooch and Simcoe this fall ... there are afew undred tagged bass out there waiting to be caught AND REPORTED ... WITH NUMBERS! You will very liekely see hard green algae overtop the tags, (2 placed beside the dorsal fin up top) but this can be scraped away with a pen knife. I'd say use a fillet knife ... but you're likely to scare the bee-jeebers out of the poor bass if you get one of those too close! And ... of course in order for that fish to continue being part of this important research project ... we stronly encourage catch and release. To routinely carry a pen and paper to record the phone number and tag #'s and important details - size, condition, tag color, general location (eg north end of Cooch) is also a good idea. Thanks and once again congratt's Steve ... you have established a enviable record on Cooch. Wil
  14. Hi Everyone, As a follow up to my post on this topic at the end of July - I'd just like to thank all those who have kept their eyes open for any tagged bass on either Simcoe or Cooch. Since I posted that notice - we have had 3 recaps from the sampling event from the Bassmaster Eastern Divisionals in Orillia July 22-24th. Those bass were all found in Lake Couchiching. One was eaten - the other two released. Interestingly enough - one small largemouth was caught by an old friend of mine who took my bass course at Georgian College in Orillia about 15 years ago! He had moved off to BC (where he enjoyed some great bass fishing) and has since moved back to Ontario and the Orillia area. We were able to touch base and had a good long chat - thanks to that little ol tagged largemouth he called in! Anyway - one guy posted a great question awhile back about measuring the bass - and how we would like that done. The easiest measurment is "total length" as opposed to fork length - and yes you can squeeze the tail gently and get the measurment from the tip of the tale to the tip of the nose. Fork length - although we take it during the sampling, is not needed - but basically measures from the inside V of that caudil or tail fin. Someone else remarked that they caught a bass that looked like it may have been sampled, because it appeared as if the 3rd spine of the dorsal has been removed... but that there were no tags! Ah yes - this can indeed happen. One reason we double tag, is to increase our chances of identifying recaps ... but bass can loose their tags and some evidence shows that other bass can actually pull the tags off their fellow bass! That 3rd spine is removed for aging purposes - along with a couple of scales. We really can't do much without a tag number though ... but it's good to know you noticed that missing spine and yes, it was likely a tagged bass at one time. So - please keep on the look-out everyone and we appreciate what members of this board can do to spread the news about this important research. Wil Wegman Ontario BASS Federation Nation Conservation and Media Director.
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