Jon

I think that all can be explained with this link: http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/LetsFish/2ColumnSubPage/STEL02_165339.html Click on the variation order link and then the variation order for Zone 17. No size limit for crappie in there. Jon

Very timely question as I was going to ask a similar one in a day or two. We finished our deck last year and when we started, it was in similar shape to yours. We used Sico deck cleaner and then power washed it. When dry, we used a Sico semi-transparent stain. Worked well until the snow melted this spring, when we realized that all the stain was peeling off. A rep from Dulux (also makes Sico) suggested that the deck had been previously treated with Thompson's water seal. We're not sure if that was the case but when we moved in, we found a container of Thompson's in the basement. The few people we have talked to since suggest sanding the deck. We might try this but with a smaller section to see what happens. Good luck with your deck! Jon

Watched the Marketplace episode as well. Here is the link: http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/episodes/2013/01/when-the-repairman-knocks-3.html. Short summary - you get what you pay for. If they say it will cost you $100, then you probably get a bad job. I think this is the association mentioned in the episode: http://www.nadca.com/ May be worthwhile to check to see if whomever you are hiring is a member. Jon

Sort of related but the mention of Long Point reminded me of some Federal boating restrictions that I read when I took my Toronto Harbour licence years ago. Googled it and quickly found the Canadian Boating restrictions, which are part of the Canadian Shipping Act. http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/C.R.C.,_c._1407/20070531/P1TT3xt3.html Lengthy, but interesting restrictions on boat motors, and in some cases, complete bans on boating, including an area of Long Point (That part of Long Point Bay of Lake Erie in front of lot 13 of the Twp. of Delhi (Charlotteville) in the Regional Municipality of Haldimand-Norfolk enclosed by the following positions: beginning at a point on shore at approximately 42°41′30.7″N, 80°19′37.2″W, to 42°41′30.2″N, 80°19′35.8″W, to 42°41′21.1″N, 80°19′39.4″W, to another point on shore at approximately 42°41′21.6″N, 80°19′40.8″W - WATERS ON WHICH POWER-DRIVEN VESSELS OR VESSELS DRIVEN BY ELECTRICAL PROPULSION ARE PROHIBITED EXCEPT WITH THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE MINISTER). I'm assuming these are still in force. I would be interested to have someone confirm. Jon

Good questions and not the first time they have been asked. (although I can't find the thread). Here is a link to a legal ruling on the Credit. The dam is in Norval. In short, the river was navigable and the defendants did not own the bed, but the plaintiffs did not have a right of portage. Full link is here: http://www.interlog.com/~erhard/credit.htm Jon

Another guess - there is less concern about people snagging Chinooks than other species because Chinooks are stocked as part of a put, grow and take fishery and reproduction isn't a goal? Jon

Here is some more info on the Atlantic Salmon Monitoring in the Credit: http://www.glfc.org/lakecom/loc/mgmt_unit/index.html See Pages 50 - 56 in the 2011 report and Pages 49 - 56 in the 2012 report. Craig - I don't agree that the historic information is irrelevant. Many of the Chinooks showing up every year are wild fish and they wouldn't be around if it wasn't for stocking over the last 30 or 40 years. Jon

Hi all: Just to put the Atlantic stocking numbers into perspective (and I know there is more to it than just numbers), between 1969 and 2009, there were just under 76,000,000 Chinook stocked into Lake Ontario compared to over 5,000,000 Atlantics stocked between 1986 and 2009 (source - Great Lakes Fishery Commission database; all numbers includes NY stocking). I'd have to spend a bit more time to get the Ontario numbers by themselves. Here is the link to the database: http://www.glfc.org/fishstocking/ Jon

Without knowing the details, this appears to be good news. Some of you may have heard that MNR recently cancelled the Community Fish and Wildlife Involvement Program (CFWIP) but I don't recall seeing any press releases on this (surprise, surprise). I am assuming that this new program just replaces CFWIP, with some modifications. CFWIP had a budget of $1,000,000 annually and each District reviewed projects within the District. In my experience, projects were typically funded in the neighbourhood of around $1500. This new program appears to be co-ordinated out of Peterborough and after a very quick check, I didn't see how much is alotted for the new program. It has also increased the amount of funding to up to $20,000. Based on this amount, I am assuming that fewer projects will be funded, however, more substantial projects can be funded. Jon

Terry: What do you use for your monitor on your other camera? Does it have a recording option? Thanks in advance, Jon

Yes and yes. Tough to find crappies in the winter, though. Jon

Great point about the adipose. Could eliminate Smelt really easily if there is no adipose. Another way of telling if the fish is alive and in hand - smell it. If it smells like cucumbers, Rainbow Smelt. My guess would be Emerald Shiner. Jon

A quick Google search should find some. One of the Lake Simcoe boards used to have depth charts on-line as well. Jon

No kill - no. Lower catch and possession limits - Absolutely! Jon

All you need to know can be found here: Freshwater Jellyfish of Canada Jon

What is the invasive creature in the photo? Looks like a lamprey to me. If so, are you sure it wasn't a native Brook Lamprey? Jon

I was chatting with a couple of buddies this morning and we got talking about the anti-reverse switch on a spinning reel. I have never used it in the 30+ years I have been fishing and quite frankly, don't see why they are put on a reel. And for someone starting out fishing, hitting the switch accidently is an easy way to a bird's nest. I was just wondering if anyone uses the switch and if so, in what situations. Jon

The Ontario record Golden Shiner is 9.1 inches and based on the float and roe bag size, this fish appears bigger than that. The Ontario record Rudd is 15 inches so Rudd seems right to me. Golden Shiners also have clear or yellow fins, while these are obviously red. Rudd and Golden Shiners are known to hybridize so that id can be confusing. Jon

I should have been more specific about using size. I think it is ok in this case for two reasons. First of all, the Credit only has two lamprey species - Sea Lamprey and American Brook Lamprey. American Brook Lamprey don't get bigger than 8 or 9 inches so anything larger would be a Sea Lamprey. Secondly, identifying lamprey correctly takes a fair amount of experience and is not something that I think most people could do. The key in Freshwater Fishes of Canada uses some pretty complicated things to id these guys so in this case, size is a pretty simple thing for people to understand. If this was further north or on the west coast where there are other species, size would not be appropriate. As far as their presence upstream of Norval goes, they either got past the Norval dam on their own or they hitched a ride. I know one adult Sea Lamprey was captured yesterday just upstream of Old Derry Road. Jon

Most likely a native, non-parasitic American Brook Lamprey, however, Sea Lamprey were reported upstream of Norval last year. Very tough to tell the juveniles apart but if you catch one over 10" it is a sea lamprey. Jon

For those you of still interested in the id of this fish, an American authority on Redhorses confirms it is a Silver Redhorse. Almost surely a female but very golden/brassy. Jon

Incredible shots! Given the rain we had last Thursday, I'm surprised you were able to find water that clear. I'm shopping around for an underwater camera and was wondering what you are using. Thanks in advance, Jon

As the aquatic biologist in question, I'm going to mostly change my mind about calling it a Greater Redhorse. I sent the link to a few other fish-heads and the majority of responses came back "probably Silver Redhorse but without having it in hand, it is tough to be 100% sure" In terms of rarity, the Silver Redhorse has a pretty wide distribution in Ontario while the Greater Redhorse is found more in southern Ontario in the Great Lakes and lower Ottawa River drainage areas. I always find these reports of non-sport fish to be very interesting. There are a lot more fish out there than what most people think. Good luck this weekend! Jon

Saw this on the Star's web-site. Toronto Star Article First time I have heard of anyone getting busted for fishing from shore at Ontario Place. I wonder if they would do the same if he was in a boat and had a harbour licence? Jon

I have seen this on some other boards and was going to post it on the thread about the Ganaraska fishway but thought it was better to post it as its' own topic. MNR is hosting a series of information sessions on management direction for Lake Ontario. This is your chance to ask questions and provide input into where the management of the lake should be headed. Times and locations cane be found here: Information Session Details Some background information on the status of fish communities in the lake can be found at: Lake Ontario Management Unit Home Page Jon