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The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), with the support of the Lake Simcoe Fisheries Stakeholder Committee, is inviting the public to provide input on proposed changes to fishing regulations for cisco (lake herring) in Lake Simcoe. The cisco population within Lake Simcoe has shown positive trends in recent years. The ministry is considering re-introducing limited harvest opportunities for anglers to support sustainable resource management and promote recreational angling opportunities. Lake Simcoe’s cisco population once provided a major food source for several species of sport fish, as well as a significant recreational fishery. However, in 2001, the fishery was closed following several years of population decline due to a lack of natural reproduction. The decline was largely associated with habitat degradation in the form of low dissolved oxygen content within the deep, coldwater habitat of the lake. Habitat conditions have since improved, and recent population monitoring by MNR has suggested a positive trend as the population continues its recovery. Increased cisco numbers have resulted in cautious optimism by fishery managers and anglers alike. The proposed options include: Limits Option #1: Sport Fishing Licence: 2, Conservation Licence: 1 Option #2: Sport Fishing Licence: 2 (Aggregate Limit with Lake Whitefish), Conservation Licence: 1 (Aggregate Limit with Lake Whitefish) Proposed Season January 1st to March 15th and 2nd Saturday in May to September 30th Recent monitoring data suggest positive trends, including a total of nine year classes present in the population with two strong year classes since 2008. This has supported an increase in relative abundance over the past three years. A very strong year class was also evident in 2004; however, many of these cisco have since died due to natural causes. The proposed regulatory options are not anticipated to negatively impact the cisco population or other fish species in Lake Simcoe. Based on the positive monitoring information, MNR supports a limited cisco fishery that encourages sustainable harvest opportunities. This support recognizes the irrevocable changes in the aquatic ecosystem of Lake Simcoe (such as invasive species) and that the lake will likely not support historical population levels of cisco again. The proposed regulation changes align with the Lake Simcoe Fisheries Community Objectives which aim to manage cisco as a forage base for lake trout, and when sustainable, to re-open a cisco fishery, for harvest opportunities. These proposed changes are endorsed by the Lake Simcoe Fisheries Stakeholder Committee and MNR’s Lake Simcoe Fisheries Management Committee. The proposed regulatory options are not anticipated to increase the number of anglers on Lake Simcoe. However, they could increase the total number of angler hours on Lake Simcoe annually by providing additional recreational opportunities to existing fisheries. Angler reports of incidental catches of cisco have increased in recent years. The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Lake Simcoe Fisheries Stakeholder Committee welcome your input on these proposed changes and all feedback received will inform the decision-making process. You can provide your feedback through email at [email protected]. For more information, you can contact the Aurora District office at 905-713-7398. There is also an Environmental Registry Posting associated with these proposed changes. You can review this posting by going to the Environmental Registry website at http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/ and typing in the registry number 012-1601. All feedback through these avenues must be received by Tuesday May 20th. Additionally, there will be three public open houses occurring around the watershed (see poster attached) including: May 13th, 2014 5 – 6 pm or 7 – 8 pm Orillia Museum of Art and History 30 Peter St S, Orillia, ON May 21st, 2014 5– 6 pm or 7 ‐ 8 pm Southshore Community Center 205 Lakeshore Drive, Barrie, ON May 22nd, 2014 5 – 6 pm or 7 – 8 pm De La Salle Chapel 1940 Metro Rd N, Jacksons Pt., ON The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), with the support of the Lake Simcoe Fisheries Stakeholder Committee, is inviting the public to provide input on proposed changes to fishing regulations for cisco (lake herring) in Lake Simcoe. The cisco population within Lake Simcoe has shown positive trends in recent years. The ministry is considering re-introducing limited harvest opportunities for anglers to support sustainable resource management and promote recreational angling opportunities. Lake Simcoe’s cisco population once provided a major food source for several species of sport fish, as well as a significant recreational fishery. However, in 2001, the fishery was closed following several years of population decline due to a lack of natural reproduction. The decline was largely associated with habitat degradation in the form of low dissolved oxygen content within the deep, coldwater habitat of the lake. Habitat conditions have since improved, and recent population monitoring by MNR has suggested a positive trend as the population continues its recovery. Increased cisco numbers have resulted in cautious optimism by fishery managers and anglers alike. The proposed options include: Limits Option #1: Sport Fishing Licence: 2, Conservation Licence: 1 Option #2: Sport Fishing Licence: 2 (Aggregate Limit with Lake Whitefish), Conservation Licence: 1 (Aggregate Limit with Lake Whitefish) Proposed Season January 1st to March 15th and 2nd Saturday in May to September 30th Recent monitoring data suggest positive trends, including a total of nine year classes present in the population with two strong year classes since 2008. This has supported an increase in relative abundance over the past three years. A very strong year class was also evident in 2004; however, many of these cisco have since died due to natural causes. The proposed regulatory options are not anticipated to negatively impact the cisco population or other fish species in Lake Simcoe. Based on the positive monitoring information, MNR supports a limited cisco fishery that encourages sustainable harvest opportunities. This support recognizes the irrevocable changes in the aquatic ecosystem of Lake Simcoe (such as invasive species) and that the lake will likely not support historical population levels of cisco again. The proposed regulation changes align with the Lake Simcoe Fisheries Community Objectives which aim to manage cisco as a forage base for lake trout, and when sustainable, to re-open a cisco fishery, for harvest opportunities. These proposed changes are endorsed by the Lake Simcoe Fisheries Stakeholder Committee and MNR’s Lake Simcoe Fisheries Management Committee. The proposed regulatory options are not anticipated to increase the number of anglers on Lake Simcoe. However, they could increase the total number of angler hours on Lake Simcoe annually by providing additional recreational opportunities to existing fisheries. Angler reports of incidental catches of cisco have increased in recent years. The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Lake Simcoe Fisheries Stakeholder Committee welcome your input on these proposed changes and all feedback received will inform the decision-making process. You can provide your feedback through email at [email protected]. For more information, you can contact the Aurora District office at 905-713-7398. There is also an Environmental Registry Posting associated with these proposed changes. You can review this posting by going to the Environmental Registry website at http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/ and typing in the registry number 012-1601. All feedback through these avenues must be received by Tuesday May 20th. Additionally, there will be three public open houses occurring around the watershed (see poster attached) including: May 13th, 2014 5 – 6 pm or 7 – 8 pm Orillia Museum of Art and History 30 Peter St S, Orillia, ON May 21st, 2014 5 – 6 pm or 7 ‐ 8 pm Southshore Community Center 205 Lakeshore Drive, Barrie, ON May 22nd, 2014 5 – 6 pm or 7 – 8 pm De La Salle Chapel 1940 Metro Rd N, Jacksons Pt., ON

Yup... thats about the right ratio. Gibsons for the bottom of the batch... Crown for the good stuff.. lol

Hopefully we will have a few more runs!

LOL.. thats a great ad. "Rotund Friends" hahahahahaha

FINALLY!!!! http://howtomakemaplesyrup.com/maplesyrupjournal/2014/04/15/first-run-woot/

Nice haul... finally... it has started to run here still two feet of snow in the bush, AND RAIN TODAY, BUT YESTERDAY WE COLLECTED 600 LITRES. http://howtomakemaplesyrup.com/maplesyrupjournal/2014/04/09/all-good-things-come-to-those-who-wait/

Thats crazy.. your gonna be done before I even really get started!!

Put in a few litres of sap on sat..its just starting... still 2-3 feet of snow in the bush, but the weather looks pretty good, looks like by the end of the week, il, be busy.

Thats impressive!

Where do you live???. Florida?? LOL

Thats what I figured... but even still... theres MONSTERS up north..

LOL.. Great title... To bad so sad.. http://mnrwatch.com/minnesota-angler-pleads-guilty-loses-potential-world-record-lake/ I keep wondering why they are saying world record.. i could see Ontario record, but surely someone has caught something bigger say in the NWT??

Started VERY slow yesterday, for the first time. http://howtomakemaplesyrup.com/maplesyrupjournal/2014/03/30/run-forrest-run/ I've got a total of 340 maybe even 350 tapped... now im scared its gonna run... hahahaha

You peeps are awesome, thanks sooo much!!

Abandoning the slot size amongst others.. http://mnrwatch.com/lake-nipissing-fisheries-management-plan/

Yup.. right now im interested in muskie pictures.

Yes she could!!

Im sprucing up some of my sites and need some good Ontario Fishing Pictures?? If ya got any I can use post them here, ill give ya photo credit and some great karma.

Nothing running yet here.. but im almost done tapping... should have 325 trees tapped by the time im done.. looks like it will start to run next weekend or so. http://howtomakemaplesyrup.com/maplesyrupjournal/2014/03/23/flakes-and-saps/

Gahh... today.... still another week till it runs.. http://howtomakemaplesyrup.com/maplesyrupjournal/2014/03/22/patience/

What is this springtime you speak of??

gahhhhhh were still not even close.... I had to clean the driveway again today!!!

Yup.. its about 8k from my camp. Owners are great, and the river fishing on thier end is good as well.. theres also a ton of back lakes they have boats on.

I tap 10 spickets at a time and write down how many i use. LOL.. Ive lived here for 30 years.. I know them all personally. Im very interested to see how the tubing, on a limited scale, will work for me.

Buckets, but im almost out of them.. I just ordered some taps and tube. I think anywhere where i can run three or more taps on the same tree stand Im gonna switch over to taps running into a water jug, so i can move those buckets to singular trees down the road.. id really like to get my 300 this year.