Spiel

Fisheries manager discusses changes March 22, 2009 Will Elliott / buffalonews.com What happens in Lake Ontario fisheries circles stays somewhere between science and stakeholders’ selections. This balance between pure scientific analysis of Great Lakes fisheries and the wide range of expectations from anglers, business people, and others interested in the outdoors and aquatic outcomes made the annual “Future of Lake Ontario Fisheries” (State of Lake Ontario) public-input meeting interesting. Lively discussions and thought-provoking remarks were shared before and after professionals gave their presentations on Wednesday. Paul McKeown, Department of Environmental Conservation Region 9 fisheries manager, began the program with reference to one major change proposed for future fishing regulations. The proposal, beginning Oct. 1, 2010, will not allow anglers to fillet those fish with measurement requirements while aboard a boat. McKeown noted that rainbow/steelhead trout are the key target of this regs change. Starting in 2006, a 21-inch minimum size limit was imposed for steelies caught in the lower Niagara River and all of Lake Ontario and its tributaries. The filleting proposal met with no opposition from the floor. McKeown answered one question about gutting fish. “Fish could still be gutted and gills removed when caught. The main concern is that they [conservation officers] can measure the lengths of fish brought to shore in a boat,” he replied. Jana Lantry, a DEC aquatic biologist, began with a general overview of Ontario’s prominence. Without mentioning high gas prices during the 2008 fishing season, Lantry noted the lake’s fishery generated $114 million in income last year, despite an 11 percent drop in boat trips taken for fishing. For good news, she noted part of that economic upturn was for catching Chinook (king) salmon, a fishery which peaked in 2008 and has been on a five-year abundance high since 2003. Rainbow/ steelhead trout also showed record numbers, with the best catches in 2008 and highest total numbers in 24 years of surveying. On the down side, brown trout totals dipped in ’08 and lake trout tallies continued their serious slide. She later reported the Allegany Hatchery, source for many Lake Ontario lakers, should reopen in 2010 and resume previous production by 2012. That facility was closed due to infectious contaminants in 2005. Sea lamprey, devastating mainly to lake trout, had record sightings and reportings in 2007. Lake-wide treatment efforts in 2008 and more scheduled in 2009 should reduce lamprey wounding this coming season. Maureen Walsh, a research fisheries biologist with the U. S. Geological Survey, explained how shifts in forage fish affect game-fish numbers and sizes. Alewife populations, high in 2008, led to good Chinook results. Harsh conditions during the 2008-09 winter season could lower the ’09 year-class. Rainbow smelt presence has been weak since 2003, Walsh reports. But invading round gobies have yet to peak. “Their numbers nearly doubled in 2007-08,” she noted, adding they now serve as the main menu for smallmouth bass in Lake Ontario. She concluded with an appeal to fishermen who see another newly arrived invader—bloody-red shrimp. She asked anglers to report sighting locations to the Lower Great Lakes office in Amherst (691-5456). Dan Bishop, DEC Region 7 fisheries manager, showed the newly completed salmon project at the Salmon River Hatchery. A fully computerized fin-clipping program in which all Chinook passing through the facility are shunted into lanes that record each fish by size, remove the adipose (top, back) fin, and return each fish to the river system. “They [six computerized stations] process all fish without a human hand touching them and without the use of anesthetics,” Bishop said. He added the survey system may soon be applied to rainbows and coho salmon. Steve LaPan, Lake Ontario unit leader at the Cape Vincent Station, summed up overall objectives and programs, citing Chinook (king) salmon as the leading angler target. LaPan pointed to the Ontario program helping to produce the largest adult kings among all five Great Lakes. To sustain good salmon sizes and numbers, programmers have to maintain a controlled balance of adult fish with available forage (bait) fish. He admitted this balance cannot be considered pure science. Much of the assessment is based on input from professional and recreational anglers, such as those attending this Lockport gathering Wednesday evening. Anyone who would like to submit comments on the Lake Ontario fishery should e-mail, write, or call the fishery station at: [email protected] ; NYSDEC Cape Vincent Fisheries Station, P. O. Box 292, Cape Vincent, NY 13618; (315) 654-2147. Submissions must be made by April 10. To view all proposals for changes in fishing regulations, make a visit to the following site: ny.gov/regulations

How about the one I wouldn't want to relive. It was back in the mid 80's when small boat trolling off the Hamilton Beach Strip was in it's hay day. A co-worker (Wayne) who fished very little wanted to try and catch his first salmon/trout so I offered to take him out on the big lake. So early one morning we dragged the little 12' tinny over the beach the lake was like glass and the fog was thick! I had a feeling the fishing would be hot and it was. We had caught a mixed bag of fish and all was going well till I hooked a decent spring king. Fought it out and got her boatside when Wayne went for the net, I said "no no don't net it, I'm releasing it and the lures free trebles (chartreuse J-13) will just entangle the net". So I lean over the gunnel and procede to try and twist out the one tail hook that holds her from freedom. Thats when she bolted upward impaling one of the free hooks deep into the flesh of my upper left thumb...... Now Wayne is panicking, he's asking me what should he do? Well, I have a 15lb king attached to my thumb via a hook and all it wants to do is get to the bottom of the lake, so obviously I'm also thinking what the hell am I going to do? I tell Wayne don't net it! I'm sure that having it twist around in the net is just begging for more pain so I have him retrieve the small billy for me. Once I have the billy in hand I lift the big girl from the water by the hook imbedded in my thumb and procede to bash the poor girls skull into oblivion in order to stop the thrashing which is causing me considerable pain. Wayne is now near as white as Casper (puppy) but he nearly faints when I pull the hook straight out of my thumb with the pliers, bandage it up, start the motor and begin trolling again. The fish were hot that day and I wasn't about to leave. I can honestly say I never, never want to be attached to a large lively spring king by a hook ever again.

I used to fish it quite a bit from the late 70's to the late 80's and the target was rainbows with the occasionall brown. The rainbows were stocked and the browns were native. Never did I see or hear of any speckles (brook trout) being stocked. There may still be remnants of the native specks that inhabit(ed) the upper Sixteen Mile Creek but I doubt you'd find them in the resevoir. I believe the stocking ended some time ago. Yes of course assorted panfish are there and the only bass we encountered were smallmouth which for the most part were quite hefty.

(is this week a record?) Not yet.....

Take five, smokem if you gottem.

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."