Spiel

Actually I've witnessed the trend move steadily away from light leaders. Thirty years back long rods/float rods were buggy whips and boiled spaghetti wands and were designed to handle very light leaders for trout/salmon and guys would regularly use very light leads. Todays long rods are much better designed and for the most part (not always) are rated for heavier lines thus heavier leads (this is good for the fish). I seldom drop below a 4lb. lead these days but there are occasions when gun shy trout will shy away from anything but the thinnest of leads.

Ditto.

I'm surprised you don't have half of the OFC members camped out on your doorstep Ben.

Seems this on has gone off the tracks.

Happy Birthday Norm

Damn, seems I'm a little late with my "best wishes" Wayne. I see you had a good time anyway.

Hello Kevin, good to see you've come out of another hibernation safely.

Signs of spring.... The bashing, flogging and flaming of fellow anglers. We should all be so perfect.

I had moderate success using the packaged ones last year for walleye. Definitely something I'll keep on hand. Don't know that I'll ever buy the tub version.

Anyone like to buy a helmut?

Okay, that makes sense. Very conservation minded of you Glen or perhaps it's selfishness? Are you hoping to eat all the offspring once harvestable.

I gotta ask, what color does he prefer for road trips....

Did Brook Trout once inhabit these waters? March 6, 2009 BOB LIDDYCOAT / ww.dunnvillechronicle.com It may not be the Loch Ness Monster or Bigfoot but the search is on to find proof of a creature, now the mere subject of fishing lore, which once swam in Mill Creek just west of Cayuga. Habitat Haldimand is looking for anyone who has documented evidence the increasingly rare Brook Trout did indeed once occupy the cold water tributary that feeds the Grand River. In the 1960s the stream was dammed up to create an interpretive centre known as Taquanyah. That created a shallow warm lake, which is not a favourable environment for Brook Trout. Eventually, Taquanyah was all but abandoned until members of Habitat Haldimand decided to reverse the neglect and restore the natural and environmental educational opportunities that exist there. Wade Dowling, chair of Habitat Haldimand, told the Chronicle they began a partnership with the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) back in 1999 to reopen the centre. "Since then, a lot of work has been done at the Taquanyah Centre. We began by cleaning up the trails and planting trees and opening it for use as a nature centre to students," he said. "All students from various school boards and Six Nations are welcome." But Bill Christmas, president of the Ted Knott Chapter of Trout Unlimited Canada, saw a new opportunity. "When I moved to the area about six years ago I noticed the possibility that Mill Creek would be a good trout stream. When they dammed the stream back in the 1960s it was one of the classic errors they often made 30 or 40 years ago," Christmas told the Chronicle. He explained that, by doing so, they created a wetland but also destroyed the ecosystem that was already in place. "They liked to dam up streams and make interpretive centres back then," he said. "But by the time I came along, Habitat Haldimand was already in the process of taking out the dam. I discovered Mill Creek is a natural cold stream and thought it might be perfect for Brook Trout." No Trout are present now but about four years ago he worked along with Habitat Haldimand and many volunteers to reestablish the natural channel and get the stream flowing again eliminating the shallow lake which had been created. Now they want to introduce Brook Trout into the stream as it has potential to be a perfect habitat for them in terms of constant cool temperatures and natural gravel bottom for spawning. But the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) will not allow that to happen unless a complete environmental assessment is done to prove there is a great potential for success. However, the Ministry will speed up the process if documented proof can be presented that Trout flourished there previously. Such evidence could eliminate the need for a lengthy and expensive study. "There are stories of people catching Brook Trout (or Speckled Trout) before the dam was built but nothing that can be considered documented proof has surfaced so far," said Christmas. "There are lots of stories of people who say dad, or granddad caught trout there but we haven't been able to document it at the libraries or museums or newspapers. People like Mike Pettigrew at Caledonia Bait and Tackle tell us they've heard the stories." Now Habitat Haldimand is trying to get the word out to residents or former anglers in the area to come forward with anything they might consider proof that Brook Trout once flourished in the stream. Christmas is convinced the stream will be perfect. "Mill Creek is spring-fed so keeps a constant cool temperature, at around eight or nine degrees Celsius, and it flows all year round and there are natural spawning habitats already there," he explained. "The MNR and GRCA were surprised by the amount of water coming from the stream," he added. "Brook Trout are like the canary in a coal mine. If you have them, you know you have a healthy stream because they require clean, cold water, oxygen and no pollution. They are the first to die off when anything goes wrong," he said. "They die off when the water becomes stagnant and warm and you get carp and other bottom-feeders instead." "And, said Christmas, "They proliferate quickly, stay in the area, are easy to catch and put up a good fight. Fishermen love them. Of course, it will be a catch and release area." Christmas explained the Brook Trout are a self-producing species. "You don't have to stock them anymore. They thrive at a very low cost. All you need is a little common sense and a lot of volunteer labour. By comparison, hatchery fish have a 90 per cent mortality rate so you have to stock every year. But if you take fish, like Brook Trout, from a wild environment, they reproduce on their own." The work done by Habitat Haldimand has also created a buffer zone from contaminants. They built fences along the stream to keep cattle out and stabilized the banks to prevent erosion. And four years ago they dug out the channel to allow the cold stream to flow along its natural course. Wildlife existing in the shallow lake was moved into the Grand River so nothing was destroyed. Habitat Haldimand has planted more than 1,000 trees that will also provide shade to the stream. "The neighbours have been fantastic. They were on board right away and helped with the work, fencing and bank stabilization," said Dowling. "They were into it right away. They knew what we were talking about." Christmas agreed. "I have been doing this kind of work for many years and these are the best landowners I've ever encountered," he said. In fact, among other projects, he has worked on 22 streams across the northern part of Lake Ontario in re-introducing Atlantic Salmon to the area. "They've been gone for over 100 years but the program has been a huge success," he said. Some of those projects were very large and expensive. At Mill Creek, volunteers have been doing the work, "So it isn't expensive at all," Christmas noted. "For example," Christmas said, "The 4H Club is now involved. They're really dedicated to helping with the stream." The Caledonia Hunters and Anglers and students from Niagara College have also been involved. "We've got an amazing network of young, local, educated people who are helping. The younger generation has latched on to this and are trying to undo the damage we've done to Mother Nature over the years," offered Christmas. "Right now, we've got all the stuff in place to get trout into the stream. And I think you will see Steelhead and Rainbow Trout migrating to the stream as well," he speculated. The Ministry will have final say if stocking of the stream goes ahead. But Christmas and Dowling are certain that documented proof of Brook Trout once populating the stream will go a long way to speeding up the approval process. "Without proof we will be looking at least another year before getting permission to move ahead," said Christmas. "With proof we could be stocking the stream by September." Christmas added, "Our (the TUC) mission statement is to preserve and protect clearwater streams in Canada and if there ever was an example of it, it would be to take this stream, which had been destroyed 40 years ago, and wind back the environmental clock." Anyone who can provide proof that Brook Trout (Speckled Trout) once swam in the waters of Mill Creek can contact Bill Christmas at 905-765-2720.

Ah the all in a day fishless tour. Saugeen, Sauble, Wiarton, Oxendon, Balmy Beach, Owen Sound, Leith, Meaford, Thornbury, Craigleith and home.....been there done that. LMAO

Ah man, you throw back crappie, that's just not right. I'd love a mess the size of those beauties! Filet 'em, flash freeze 'em and express ship them to me.

Navy blue for a coat I'll wear fishing.....ah no! Camo....

What color do you paint them Cliff?

Good golly Miss Joey we're going to look good driving around in that!

Perch, pickerel, bass return to Cootes after carp leave March 18, 2009 Eric McGuinness The Hamilton Spectator Ron Albertson, the Hamilton Spectator The burly, bronze-coloured carp thrashed strongly as Melissa Fuller displayed it to a crowd of spring break walkers at the Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) fishway separating Cootes Paradise from the open water of Hamilton Harbour. "It's basically a big bulldozer that goes through the marsh and wrecks everything," the conservation intern explained as she dumped the carp into a sluice leading back to the harbour. Fish heading from the harbour to Cootes to spawn swim into large underwater baskets that are raised at least once most days, allowing staff to let bass, pickerel, perch, pike and other native species swim into the marsh while diverting unwanted carp and goldfish back to the bay. Only about 50 fish were intercepted in the first three days of this year's operation, but the numbers will increase as spring advances. Aquatic ecologist Tys Theysmeyer says one of the biggest successes of the RBG's Project Paradise marsh restoration project is the resurgence of yellow perch, a popular Great Lakes sport and commercial fish, famous in Port Dover where it's deep-fried and served on platters. "Last year was a really good year for yellow perch, the species we're most interested in because it's a foundation species that has the biggest role to play in restoration of the fishery. It will return to being the most common animal in the RBG and the harbour. "In the fishway's first year (12 years ago), we saw only six. Now we see more than six in each cage lift, and had more than half a million last year, but I won't be happy 'til there are 10 million." Theysmeyer is also pleased to report that, "We've re-established spawning runs of all bass species -- rock, smallmouth, largemouth and white, though there are not a lot of them yet." Low water late in 2007 let RBG staff chase all but a few carp out of the marsh, though a few managed to swim back and more were swept downstream from Christie Lake in meltwater last spring. Fuller told curious onlookers this week that fewer and fewer carp are caught at the fishway each year. "We used to see a lot," she said, "but now it's 75 per cent native species."

Saving a dam March 19, 2009 Eric McGuinness / The Hamilton Spectator Gary Yokoyama, the Hamilton Spectator GREENSVILLE Ken Blackwell, who's lived near Crooks Hollow for 31 years, was surprised to read in The Spectator that the Hamilton Conservation Authority planned to rip out the crumbling, 96-year-old Crooks Hollow Dam on Spencer Creek. "It's an eight-minute walk from my house, my kids grew up playing near the dam and ever since the Optimist Trail was built three years ago, I've come to appreciate the hollow more than ever. It's an unmanaged area, quite a contrast to Webster's Falls Park, which is groomed." Blackwell says he and his neighbours enjoy seeing the dam and the 600-metre long reservoir that attracts geese and ducks, is popular for fishing and serves as an emergency source of firefighting water, though it hasn't been needed for that for many years. "There's a huge disconnect between the points of view in the plan for getting rid of the dam and reservoir and what people around here feel about the place," he says. More than 550 people have signed a save-the-dam petition circulated by Blackwell and artist Renate Intini. Blackwell has also created a Facebook page that's attracted 260 supporters, and west Flamborough Councillor Robert Pasuta has convinced the authority board to ask staff for a new report on the planned demolition next month. "I'm touched to find kids I coached in ball and hockey 25 years ago joining the group," Blackwell says. "The hollow and what we're used to there is part of everyone's background. You go down there frazzled and after about five minutes you become calm." Repair costs, originally thought to run from $2 million to $3 million, are now estimated at $1,236,000, which includes major maintenance again around 2040. Demolition, dredging of sediment and rehabilitation of the streambed is put at $945,000. There have been mills and dams in the hollow since the early 1800s, when it was home to the first paper mill in Upper Canada. The present dam was built to supply drinking water to Dundas. Since the Christie Dam was built upstream in 1972, the Crooks Hollow Dam does little to provide flood control, and consultants say the creek would revert to a more natural state without it. Blackwell says he's pleased the authority board "is showing flexibility in its willingness to take another look."

Will steel slump hurt reef cleanup? March 18, 2009 Eric McGuinness / The Hamilton Spectator U.S. Steel Canada says it will honour an obligation made by Stelco to supply steel for the cleanup of toxic coal tar around Randle Reef in Hamilton Harbour. But the impending, indefinite shutdown of both the Hamilton and Lake Erie plants raises a question about whether the company will be making steel in Canada in time for the planned start of construction next year. Agencies involved in the harbour restoration have not revealed that the former Stelco made a commitment before being acquired by U.S. Steel. They continue to say they only hope for a cash or in-kind contribution from the new owner. The promise is revealed in a February 2008 U.S. Steel filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. It says: "The Canadian and Ontario governments have each made commitments for the environmental remediation of Randall (sic) Reef in Hamilton Harbour. Stelco had committed to supply steel necessary for this project. USSC (United States Steel Canada) has inherited this commitment and has accrued a liability equal to the estimated cost of supplying such steel. "It is possible that additional commitments may be sought or imposed on USSC, but the nature and extent thereof cannot be estimated at this time." Environment Canada and the Ontario Environment Ministry have each pledged $30 million to the $90-million plan to build a double-walled steel structure around the most heavily contaminated sediment, then to dredge up less-toxic mud and put it inside the walls before adding a cap of clean fill. Part of the resulting peninsula would be landscaped, part would become a Hamilton Port Authority pier. The authority hired former federal Liberal cabinet minister Tony Valeri last year to find the $30-million local share. Brent Kinnaird, the authority's market development manager, would not comment on how much has been raised or on the commitment by Stelco. Trevor Harris, speaking for U.S. Steel Canada, said the company realizes the importance of the cleanup and the SEC filing speaks for itself in terms of the company's obligation. Beyond that, he said: "We intend to be a good neighbour in Hamilton and do all we can to help this community thrive for a long time to come. Over the course of the last year and a half, we have demonstrated that environmental stewardship is a core principle of our business." Environment Canada's Tracy Lacroix-Wilson sent an e-mail saying U.S. Steel had "indicated a willingness" to address the coal-tar issue and, "We have received no indication that recently announced changes to the operation of the U.S. Steel plant in Hamilton in any way alter that position. "We will be following up with all parties engaged in the Randle Reef project over the coming months to confirm funding and participation through development of formal agreements. "We anticipate that U.S. Steel will join the governments of Canada and Ontario, the City of Hamilton, the Hamilton Port Authority and potentially other parties in confirming their contributions to the project at that time." Jennifer Hall, on behalf of the Environment Ministry, said: "U.S. Steel recognizes the need to contribute to the project and we are very encouraged with recent discussions about their commitment to help fund Randle Reef with in-kind steel contribution. "The shutdown has had no impact on these discussions and we remain very positive that an agreement will be reached."

Agreed! And remember if you have respect for someone nor matter how little you don't refer to 'em "Turd Boy".

Good job Carole. I am however having a difficult time believing Cliff caught the one in the picture he posted.

GRCA plans to shore up Drimmie Dam to protect river users in Elora Gorge March 09, 2009 / GRCA The Drimmie Dam on the Grand River in Elora is in such poor shape that there is a risk of a sudden failure, which could send a wave of water roaring through the Elora Gorge. Flows could jump to 12 times normal levels in just 15 minutes. A two-metre (six foot) wave would endanger anglers and kayakers at the foot of the Elora Falls. About 300 metres downstream the wave would still be about 0.8 metres (2.5 feet) high and would be a threat to all river users, including hikers and tubers. To reduce the risk, the Grand River Conservation Authority plans to shore up the dam by placing rock fill on either side of the structure. The work would be done this spring and the cost would be about $100,000. Care would be taken to minimize any impact on the environment. This is an interim measure to protect public safety. The long-term future of the dam would be considered by an Environmental Assessment later this year which would examine alternatives ranging from permanent removal to replacement. An Environmental Assessment is a public process that would involve all levels of government and other agencies, as well as local residents. Tentative approval for the plan was given by the GRCA’s general membership in a committee of the whole meeting on Monday, March 9. A final decision will be made by the board at a meeting on March 27. A staff recommendation that the dam be breached to lower water levels behind the dam was rejected by the board in favor of the plan to shore it up. Drimmie Dam straddles the Grand River in downtown Elora, about 65 metres upstream of the Elora Falls. It is known as a “run of the river” or “low-head” dam. It was built in the late 1800s to power mills. It was acquired by the GRCA in 1984 from the Elora Mill Inn and some remedial work was done at the time to allow the mill to operate a hydroelectric generator using water from the “head pond” created by the dam. However, the dam has significantly deteriorated in recent years, according to a report by Sanchez Engineering Inc. The company was hired by the GRCA in 2007 to do a dam safety assessment. “Visual examination of the dam in the fall of 2007 and June 2008 confirmed that the dam is in very poor condition,” said the Sanchez report. “On the north section, pieces of the concrete have been lost along the top of the dam, which presents a jagged surface. The concrete in the south section is severely broken and water is flowing through the dam itself.” “If nothing is done to repair or replace the dam, its deterioration will continue with time, the dam will fail,” said the report. The report said the dam meets the conditions to be classified as a “significant hazard dam” under the draft Ontario Dam Safety Guidelines. The dam is in such poor condition that there is a risk of what is known as a “sunny day” failure. That would occur when there are no unusual stresses on the dam, such as high flows or pressure from moving ice. In a “sunny day” failure, flows would rise to 65 cubic metres per second (cm/s) compared to 5 cm/s on most summer days. There is also a risk of dam failure associated with the spring melt, but that would not have pose as much of a safety threat because flows are already high. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Further information: Cameron Linwood, GRCA Communications Co-ordinator Phone: (519) 621-2763, Ext. 2251 Fax: (519) 621-4844 E-mail: [email protected]

Now that's a sweet report Wayne, the casualties are just part of the game. Hell I wouldn't mind going fishless and being called Terry, it's better than not getting out!