Spiel

....Hope it was a great day Lew and may a great year follow.

....Good stuff guys. I'm still trying to find time to throw a line for steelies this fall.

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Trent River pollution posed no possible risk to humans October 31st, 2008 Jack Evans / Trenton Trentonian Pollution levels will diminish naturally, say reports Scientific studies resulting from the discovery of toxic dioxins and furans in surprisingly high levels around the mouth of the Trent River were exhaustive, said Wayne Herrick, former project manager for the massive investigation. But even that effort left some nagging doubt by members of the Quinte Watershed Cleanup at their annual meeting Tuesday night at the Quinte Conservation board room. Besides being project manager during the three-year intensive study, Herrick was also chairman of the Trent River Mouth Sediment Investigation Steering Committee, and remains a program specialist with the Ministry of the Environment’s Eastern Region office at Kingston. Herrick traced discovery of the abnormally high levels to tests around the Trent River mouth as early as 2000, confirmed in further testings in 2001 and 2004. He said the levels reached as high as 2,000 parts per trillon deep (two feet) into the sediment in some sections of the mouth and 700 on the surface of sediment. The control levels guidelines for Canada are 21.5 parts per trillion, he noted, and all furans are targeted for reduction from the Great Lakes Basin under a Canada-Ontario agreement. Samplings, laboratory tests, analysis and experiments were carried out by eight agencies over a three-year period, he said. Dioxins and furans, apart from being toxic, also tend to be accumulative in their buildup in living things and also long lasting., However, he added, there are various levels of toxicity among the 17 or so types of such substances, normally associated with industrial chemicals. The ones found at Trenton tend to be in the lower hazard area of toxicity, but “There’s no such thing as a good dioxin,” he said. Agencies involved included his own, plus Environment Canada, City of Quinte West, Lower Trent Conservation, Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan, the Hastings-Prince Edward Counties Health Unit and the Ministry of Natural Resources. With such a large team, they had access to extensive backup support for samplings and testing, plus sophisticated, modern laboratory facilities to speed up the work. The final reports showed a five-prong program. The first was assessing risk to human health; second was effect on aquatic life, third was ongoing sources of the contamination, fourth was remedial action required and fifth was to ensure all actions recommended are taken. Assessment of the first concern, human risk, was completed by July of 2006 and showed no possible hazards. Assessments for aquatic life threat were completed a few months later, early in 2007. As suspected, the source was ultimately traced to seepage from the Domtar plant where, with co-operation from the company, improved practices were implemented to further reduce leakage, much of which had already been done in previous years. All of the studies and assessments did result in “some modifications” to the Ministry of Natural Resources sport fish eating guidelines. Otherwise: “The water is safe to drink, to swim in or all other forms of recreation. There have been no adverse effects on the benthic (invertebrates) population and the concentrations, barring further buildup, will continue to diminish naturally. There remains an on-going need for monitoring plus checks on improvements at the former Domtar, now Norampac, site. He figured the entire project cost would approach $1.4 million. He noted that the complete results of two major reports are on line at the Ministry of Environment site. Manfred Koechlin, treasurer of the group, said he was surprised that it took until 2000 for any dioxins or furans to show up. The Watershed Cleanup group had observed signs of cancerous growths on fish and other signs of toxins at least 20 years or more ago. He also complained that the company involved, in his opinion, is “one of the worst corporate citizens,” and said that even their new treatment for toxin treatment is a burning process that now spreads them “all over Eastern Ontario.” Another person complained that the studies presented were not “peer reviewed” by independent, private scientists. Finding the high levels of dioxins and furans at the mouth of the river generated major headlines when they were first presented to Lower Trent Conservation several years ago. In a sparsely attended meeting, Eldon Burchart was returned as president for another term.

Lake Ontario anglers welcome coho back O.F.A.H. and partners work to net anglers more options October 29, 2008 Thanks to the efforts of Ontario's largest conservation organization, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (O.F.A.H.), the Metro East Anglers (M.E.A.), and others, Lake Ontario recreational anglers are enjoying the comeback of the coho salmon. This fall, coho salmon will once again be stocked into Lake Ontario through the O.F.A.H./Toronto Sportsmen's Show Ringwood Fish Culture Station, and work on next year's coho salmon cohort will also get underway. As a result of budget cutbacks, the Ministry of Natural Resources was forced to abandon their Lake Ontario coho stocking program after the 2005 stocking. Coho are a popular game fish targeted by boat and stream anglers, who would have lost this great recreational opportunity, had it not been for the efforts of the O.F.A.H., M.E.A. and Ministry of Natural Resources staff. "We are pleased to be able to revive the coho stocking program through our involvement with Ringwood," said Mike Reader, O.F.A.H. Executive Director. "The partnership has been so successful that it has allowed us to over deliver on the expectations set out for us when we took on the hatchery." M.E.A. President Glenn Anderson is enthusiastic about the renewed coho program in Lake Ontario. "Overall, Coho are great salmon for the pier and stream fisherman. They stay silver and active much longer in the stream than Chinooks, and they are more eager to take baits while in the river." The entire provincial quota of Lake Ontario Coho and Chinook salmon are raised at the O.F.A.H./Toronto Sportsmen's Show Ringwood Fish Culture Station in Stouffville. Rainbow and brown trout, as well as Atlantic salmon, are also produced at the hatchery. Fast Facts: - Ringwood Host club, the Metro East Anglers and other O.F.A.H. member clubs deliver thousands of volunteer hours annually - Ringwood is funded through industry support and O.F.A.H. fundraising - no membership dollars are used - Coho salmon fall yearlings are stocked into the Credit River in October, where they over-winter before migrating to the lake - New hatchery volunteers are always welcome - contact Ringwood at 905-640-6204 With 83,000 members and 655 member clubs, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters is the leading fishing, hunting and conservation organization in Ontario. For more information, visit www.ofah.org.

Revamped fish hatchery doubles capacity Saturday, October 25, 2008 Alana Toulin / The Chronical Journal Consider it a luxury condo for young fish. With $17 million invested into it, the newly reopened Dorion Fish Culture Station has everything a gilled creature needs to thrive as it grows. The recently completed three-year expansion project features upgrades including an enclosed building to protect the fish against predators and the elements, a specialized isolation facility, a waste treatment program for the water discharged from the hatchery and even an energy-efficient geothermal heating system. “This is really a state-of-the-art facility for fish culture,” said station manager Sohail Siddiqui. “It‘s the most modernized fish culture station (in Ontario) right now.” The goal is to produce enough fish to help stock area lakes and restore some of the declining fisheries. With the revamp, production capacity at the Dorion station has doubled. Right now they‘re working mainly with lake trout, but there will be opportunities to produce other species native to the Great Lakes, said Natural Resources Minister Donna Cansfield. “We‘re able to produce about 1.4 million fish and then about 700,000 eggs,” she said. “We‘ll be able to use that to transport to Northwestern Ontario, but also to southern, eastern, and western Ontario because of the size of the station.” The Dorion Fish Culture Station can also be used as a space for research. “If one of our scientists decides they would like to do particular research on a particular fish, then this is where they would come to do it. They have been doing this in other hatcheries so it could happen here as well,” she said. And when work is done to help restock Great Lakes with fish, the effects are felt beyond biodiversity and the environment, Cansfield said. “It gives us an opportunity as well to help with tourism in the north, which is critical. We can stock the lake and it encourages people to come and enjoy Northwestern Ontario,” she said, adding that it‘s important for people to be able to enjoy recreational fishing and fishing for food.

Missing men’s boat found Sunday, October 26, 2008 / The Chronicle-Journal Teams searching for two missing anglers north of Manitouwadge have found the pair‘s boat. The two missing middle-aged men, one from Manitouwadge and the other from southern Ontario, were to have returned Thursday after fishing on White Otter Lake. Divers were called in Friday to help with the search. OPP officials said that searchers on Friday found articles including a life jacket and a boat believed to belong to the missing men. As of Saturday evening the search continues. The missing men have not been identified.

....Ah man you guys is making me extremely jealous. Certainly a kind of day I'd love to share in and having enjoyed the company of both Doug and Cliff I can't see how it'd be a bad day even if the fishing wasn't explosive. Well done guys!

Groundbreaking Ceremony Launches Environmental Restoration Project in Newmarket Creek adjacent to Southlake Regional Health Centre to be restored October 1st, 2008 / www.lsrca.on.ca NEWMARKET – Representatives from the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA), Southlake Regional Health Centre, the Lake Simcoe Conservation Foundation, the Town of Newmarket and the Regional Municipality of York gathered at the Southlake Regional Health Centre campus on Friday September 26th to break ground on the Eastern Creek Naturalization Project. The Eastern Creek Naturalization Project will restore and naturalize a 185-metre long section of Newmarket's Eastern Creek, adjacent to Southlake Regional Health Centre. The project will help improve water quality, reduce erosion, create more habitat for fish and other wildlife, and create a more natural setting for hospital patients, visitors and local residents to enjoy. “The environmental concern at this location is that there are no buffers between the hard urban surfaces and the creek to filter-out contaminants from urban run-off,” said Virginia Hackson, Chair of the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority and Councillor for the Town of East Gwillimbury. “Working together, we will remedy this problem to ensure the long-term health of our environment.” The project will take an estimated four to six weeks to complete and will cost an estimated $225,000. After the creek restoration is complete, the project funding partners and local residents will be invited to plant trees and shrubs on the project site. An area of 1,900 square metres will be planted. “The Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority has shown consistent leadership by helping private landowners and municipalities take-on environmental stewardship projects,” said John Taylor, Regional Councillor for the Town of Newmarket. “This project demonstrates what can be accomplished when organizations partner to make real progress towards a healthier environment.” The project received funding contribution from Southlake Regional Health Centre. Southlake has continually demonstrated its commitment to local environmental issues and is the recipient of the 2008 Sunoco Earth Day Award. Southlake also received special recognition from the Office of Energy Efficiency of Natural Resources for their energy and water saving efforts. “As Southlake Regional Health Centre grows, it is vital that we take into account the state of our local environment and help protect and restore it wherever possible,” said Daniel Carriere, President and CEO of Southlake Regional Health Centre. “Any organization, no matter what size, can partner with the conservation authority to ensure the environmental health of the property they do business on.” The project also received funding contribution from the Lake Simcoe Conservation Foundation, the charitable arm of the LSRCA that represents residents of the Lake Simcoe watershed with a concern for the health of their local environment and Lake Simcoe. “This project would not be possible without the generous contributions of our donors and partner organizations,” said Kimberley MacKenzie, Executive director of the Lake Simcoe Conservation Foundation. “This transformation in the heart of Newmarket will demonstrate to the community what can be achieved when donations are made to help nature heal.” The Eastern Creek Naturalization Project is made possible by a partnership between the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, Southlake Regional Health Centre, the Lake Simcoe Conservation Foundation, the Regional Municipality of York, through the Lake Simcoe Water Quality Improvement Program, the Town of Newmarket, the Government of Canada, through Environment Canada, York Environmental Stewardship, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, York Bassmasters, and the Bogart Creek Restoration Committee. The Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority has worked with private landowners and municipalities to complete over 950 protection and restoration projects under the Lake Simcoe Water Quality Improvement Program since 1989.

$3,000 FINE FOR COMMERCIAL FISHING VIOLATION October 2, 2008 A commercial fishing boat captain and a commercial fishing company have each been fined $1,500 for not reporting accurately a catch of whitefish from Lake Erie. Angelo Coppola, of Leamington, captain of the commercial fishing boat Miss Melissa II, and Saco Fisheries Limited, Wheatley, owner of the commercial fishing licence, were found guilty of violating the conditions of their commercial fishing licence. An investigation by a Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officer found that Coppola had not declared 321 kilograms (707 pounds) of whitefish he caught on November 28, 2007, and landed at Kingsville. Justice of the Peace Maureen Brode heard the federal charges during a trial in the Ontario Court of Justice, Windsor, on April 9, 2008. The penalty was set on October 1, 2008. To report a natural resources violation, call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free any time or contact your local ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). www.ocoa.ca

MARINE PATROLS PROTECTING LAKE NIPIGON FISHERY September 29, 2008 Anglers Fined $4,600 Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officers have been conducting patrols on Lake Nipigon during the summer in an effort to protect this world class brook trout, lake trout and northern pike fishery from over fishing. Fourteen anglers have been fined $4,600 after Nipigon District conservation officers conducted two overnight marine patrols on Lake Nipigon in late June and early July of this year. Allan Height, 36, of Thunder Bay, who pleaded guilty, was fined $750 for giving false information to an officer, $400 for possessing a brook trout less than 56 cm in length and $200 for transporting the undersized brook trout while operating a charter boat on Lake Nipigon. The following anglers were each fined $250 for angling with a barbed hook. -Richard Kydyk, 56, of Hillsburgh, Ontario -Andrew Connell, 50, of Thunder Bay, Ontario -Seppo Bjorn, 62, of Thunder Bay, Ontario -Christopher MacLean, 29, of Thunder Bay, Ontario -Paul Durand, 40, of Star Prairie, Wisconsin -Brett Schiefelbein, 36, of Chicago, Illinois -Allen Schiefelbein, 63, of Hinsdale, Illinois -Richard Below, 48, of Rice Lake, Wisconsin -Louis Barrett, 52, of Atikokan, Ontario -Richard Nichols, 61, of Cameron, Wisconsin -Cory Pacholke, 34, of Cameron, Wisconsin -Jonathon Schultz, 47, of Cameron, Wisconsin -Larry Nichols, 64, of Greenville, Wisconsin The hooks and fish were seized and forfeited to the Crown. The fish were donated to charity. Justice of the Peace Marcel Donio heard the cases in the Ontario Court of Justice, Nipigon, on July 28 and September 22, 2008 respectively. Anglers are reminded that Lake Nipigon is a world class brook trout, lake trout and northern pike fishery. Special size and limit restrictions required anglers to release many fish in order to comply with the regulations, which have been in place since 1997.The use of barbless hooks allows fish to be released easily and quickly. The less a fish is handled and the less it is damaged by hooks, the more likely it is to survive. To report a natural resource violation, call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free any time or contact your ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). www.ocoa.ca

PROMOTING HEALTHY FISHERIES AND A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT October 24, 2008 McGuinty Government Makes Newly Renovated Fish Culture Station A Reality A newly modernized and expanded Dorion Fish Culture Station is now open. The station is the centrepiece of the Ontario government’s efforts to sustain native fish species in the Great Lakes. The $17-million, three-year expansion project doubled Dorion’s production capacity, meaning it can supply up to 1.4 million yearlings for fish stocking and rehabilitating degraded fisheries. Dorion is home to provincially important stocks of fish used for breeding purposes, including lake trout for the Great Lakes. This stocking program means the Great Lakes have hardier stocks of native species like lake trout and Atlantic salmon. Healthier stocks are better able to compete with invasive species and help keep the lakes’ ecosystems in balance. New upgrades at Dorion include an enclosed building for protection from the elements and predators, a specialized isolation facility to reduce health risks to the fish from wild spawn collection, a waste treatment program for the water discharged from the hatchery and an energy-efficient geothermal heating system. QUOTES “Dorion Fish Culture Station is now a state-of-the-art facility that will make an important contribution to fisheries in the northwest for years to come,” said Natural Resources Minister Donna Cansfield. “Fish stocking is key to rehabilitating and restoring fisheries – part of our biodiversity – and to providing more opportunities for anglers.” “The re-opening of the new state-of-the-art Dorion Fish Culture Station is great news for the community, for Northwestern Ontario and for the province,” said Thunder Bay MPP Michael Gravelle. “It will help make sure Northwestern Ontario continues to be renowned for the fantastic fishing it offers and provide an economic boost to the community.” QUICK FACTS • The Ministry of Natural Resources operates nine provincial fish culture stations which produce approximately six to seven million fish for stocking in public waters each year. • Dorion Fish Culture Station is the only ministry hatchery serving the fisheries management needs of the northwest region and western Lake Superior. • Fish from Dorion Fish Culture Station are stocked in waters ranging from the Manitoba border in the west to Manitouwadge in the east, and from Lake Superior in the south to Red Lake in the north. LEARN MORE • Find out more about fish culture and stocking in Ontario (ontario.ca/fishing)

Buoys and booms to be removed from dams Warning buoys and booms to be removed from GRCA dams Warning buoys and booms upstream of 11 GRCA dams will be removed the week of Oct. 15 to prepare for winter. They will be put back in place in May 2009 after the spring runoff. - Wednesday, Oct. 15 Shand Dam - boom - Thursday, Oct. 16 Guelph Dam - boom - Thursday, Oct. 16 Rockwood Dam - boom - Friday, Oct. 17 Conestogo Dam - boom - Monday, Oct. 20 Dunnville Dam and weirs - buoys - Tuesday, Oct. 21 Caledonia Dam - buoys - Tuesday, Oct. 21 Wilkes Dam (Brantford) - buoys - Wednesday, Oct. 22 Parkhill Dam (Cambridge-Galt) - buoys - Wednesday, Oct. 22 New Hamburg Dam - buoys - Thursday, Oct. 23 Bissell Dam (Elora) - buoys - Thursday, Oct. 23 Drimmie Dam (Elora) - boom The schedule is subject to change depending on weather and flow conditions. The buoys and booms are installed each May to provide warning to boaters about the danger of approaching these dams. Boaters should exercise extra caution around the dams after the buoys and booms are removed.

Sure you can make it either spinning or casting if you wish. For spinning, guides on the under side of the spine and casting on the top. Spacing for the casting set up would be a little different though. Just find a guide spacing chart online such as this one.

....Great news, now you're another year older than me.

My thoughts on this exactly. I caught one such "droppy" in Bronte (under the QEW) some years ago, nice fish it was.

.....Oh I remember the day very well. I also remember meeting Gerritt and his wife for the first time at the funeral home with an amazing amount of mail the good members off this board sent to me so that I may be the messenger. For that I'll be forever grateful as it has allowed me to get to to know Gerritt well and allow me the opportunity to call him "friend". God bless you all.

....Well that's still a lot less clothing than the last time I saw you in person. Good job on all those wee fishies!

NVCA accepting conservation award nominations Sep 30, 2008 The Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA) is inviting the public to nominate 'Conservation Champions' who've made a significant contribution to the health of the watershed. "Some individuals go above and beyond their part in helping the environment and we want to recognize their inspiring efforts, time, skill and enthusiasm," Shannon Stephens, healthy waters program coordinator, says. According to the NVCA, Conservation Champions can be individuals, community groups, businesses and partners of agencies. There is also a Young Conservation Champion category, open to youth age 18 or under, the NVCA said. The authority noted it will accept self-nominations. Eligible projects include environmental restoration projects, tree planting and forest management, environmental publications, environmental education, donation of conservation land or easement, financial contributions towards the purchase of land, implementation of environmental policies or advocacy for the NVCA to stakeholders and decision makers. The NVCA said it will recognize recipients in November. Application forms can be found at http://www.nvca.on.ca./ws_par/groups/publi...spar_012641.pdf Nominations are due Fri., Oct. 17. They should be sent to the attention of Shannon Stephens at [email protected]; by fax to 705-424-2115 or by mail to 8195 8th Line, Utopia, Ont., LOM 1TO.

Lake Simcoe Protection Act moves closer to approval Sep 29, 2008 John Slykhuis / www.simcoe.com The Lake Simcoe Protection Act, Bill 99, got second reading in the provincial legislature last week prompting cheers from groups like the Ladies of the Lake who were responsible for raising the issue of the lake's deteriorating health. "It was amazing. It was like this love-in for Lake Simcoe," LOL co-founder Annabel Slaight said. After watching the proceedings she said, "The Ladies of the Lake were applauded no less than 10 times as the prime movers bringing attention to Lake Simcoe, which resulted in the birth of this act and plan." She noted other groups like the Lake Simcoe Coalition and Campaign Lake Simcoe all got kudos from the MPPs debating the second reading. "I feel very positive. I actually feel that we're getting to the point where this lake is going to be saved. I wouldn't have said that months ago," she said. The act now goes to committee and public meetings later this fall. Slaight said the final draft of the act must be "tough and decisive. It's got to show real progress. Obviously the funding is of concern". Slaight, who was on the Lake Simcoe stakeholders' advisory committee said they worked hard "to bring community, business and government together. It was interesting to see all those groups come together. Everyone was in high gear. It was just great." She warned if the act "gets watered down, it won't work. It means some people may have to make some sacrifices, I mean everyone will have to step up to the plate." Slaight said she hopes there will be the funding provided beyond the $30 million committed by the federal government and the $20 million committed by the province thusfar. "There are lots of innovative ways to get the money that's needed," she said. The goal is to ensure "something really amazing happens in 10 years" for the health of the lake. Slaight said that when she and LOL co-founder Jane Meredith first started their campaign to bring attention to the state of the lake five years ago, the issue wasn't on any elected representative's radar. "We were told, no, it's not an issue. Well look at it now." The bill was introduced for second reading by Environment Minister John Gerretsen, who noted the Huron name for Lake Simcoe was "Beautiful Water...It is still a beautiful water, there is no doubt about that, but sadly it has not always been treated with the respect it deserves". Gerretsen said "Lake Simcoe is a vital resource, important to the strength of our people and of our province, yet it is not in good health. The lake is under stress and under increasing pressure from urban as well as rural development, population growth, pollutants and invasive species, as well as climate change. These pressures have affected the shoreline, the water quality of the lake and the general ecological health of the surrounding area as well." ‘ He added, the McGuinty government "is absolutely committed to protecting Lake Simcoe and restoring the natural balance of the ecosystem". Liberal MPP Mike Colle said he recalled going to the De La Salle Camp as young boy, noting the radial railway would bring families up to the lake. "So it has always been a lake where ordinary people could go and spend a weekend...because it's also very close, the problem is that there has been a byproduct of urban sprawl...subsequently a lot of feeder streams and springs that go into Lake Simcoe have been paved over". Colle also warned about "megacottages" being built. "If you come to a lake, you don't have to replicate what you have in the city". Opposition environment critic Toby Barrett said his party leader John Tory announced last year that a Progressive Conservative government "would move quickly to clean up Lake Simcoe" charging that Primer McGuinty "turned his back on the deteriorating health of this invaluable and recreational resource for the past four years". His colleague MPP Garfield Dunlop (Simcoe North) noted the Ladies of the Lake calendar sale raised about $240,000 and he had just purchased 100 of the latest version to sell in his riding. He also praised the efforts of Gayle Wood, chief administrative officer of the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority. York-Simcoe MPP Julia Munro questioned the government's commitment to fund the bill. "Why do you continue to refuse to fund a cleanup of the lake? Your last budget did not provide any funding, this bill would not provide any, and we have no guarantee you will provide funding in the future," she said. "What is needed is money, not new legislation or more bureaucracy...sadly, this bill that we are debating here does not provide any money for specific projects". The bill has been referred to the standing committee on general government.

....Those are some soweeeeeet trout!

....I had an Olympus D-535, 3.2 megapixel for a few years and it served me very well till I drowned it in lake water (yes another one!) this past Labour day weekend. To replace it I picked up a Canon PowerShot A580. It has 8.0 megapixels and the picture quality and clarity is a vast improvement over the Olympus 3.2 megapixel camera. I might mention that I also purchased it for less money than the Olympus and with my HBC reward points it cost me a whopping $29.00 plus tax. The pictures I've downsized for the board are clearer than ever.

....Like Kickingfrog said...."Priceless".

....All the time I've spent fishing with you and didn't know you had curly hair....LOL

....You seem confident in your ability to do it Lew and I know I'd certainly try and do it myself. What's the worst that could happen if you can't do it, take the disassembled parts to the dealer? You'll have done half the work for them.