Spiel

May 12, 2008 THREE MISSISSAGI FIRST NATION MEN RECEIVE FISHING PROHIBITIONS Three men received a four-year fishing prohibition on the Mississagi River for illegally selling lake sturgeon to a local fish market. Randy Cada, 55, and Ray Morningstar, 53, both received a lake sturgeon fishing prohibition for the Mississagi River and within one kilometre of the mouth of the Mississagi River on the northshore of Lake Huron. Gerry Jackpine, 62, received a lake sturgeon fishing prohibition for commercially fishing in the same waters. Court heard that in June and July of 2005, the men sold lake sturgeon that were caught in the Mississagi River to a local fish market. The Mississagi First Nation is the holder of an Aboriginal Communal Fishing Licence and is permitted to fish commercially on the northshore of Lake Huron, but not in the Mississagi River. The ministry was able to undertake the investigation with the help of the Mississagi First Nation, who wished to ensure the protection of the resource. Justice of the Peace James Bubba heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Blind River, on April 28, 2008. The court expressed concerns over the fishing of lake sturgeon on the Mississagi River during sturgeon spawning season. 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

....You persevered under adverse conditions and it payed off, good on you.

....Welcome aboard matey, ehhh, I mean Captain Pete! Congratulations on a fine first outing.

....I'm waitng for TJ to design some with white lettering.

....Well I'll be, that close and never got a chance to say hello. The guy fishing with me is also on the board, Fish Farmer. Next time we'll know your boat and yes it was a great day to be out there. Hoping I'll be back out again next week.

....Okay okay, I've met Big Cliff and Sue and Cliff and Bly, all great people. But I'm gonna have to meet that little cutie they call Sydney.

....Then you must have seen me pull ot, white GMC van and the black Lund?

New zones, sturgeon conservation highlight changes to fishing rules May 17, 2008 Chelsey Romain / timminspress.com Just in time for the May Run weekend, fishing season is officially open. Anglers in and around the Timmins area need to brush up on new fishing regulations before their hooks hit the water this season. The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) has released the 2008-2009 recreational fishing regulations summary. There are changes to limits, slot sizes and seasons. MNR regional biologist Greg Deyne said while not a lot has changed, the biggest difference is in the way the province is split up into new Fisheries Management Zones. "Last year, there were 36 fishing divisions," Deyne said. "Now, there's only 20." Both Deyne and MNR information officer Ben Legouffe said the new boundaries will make it easier on both conservation officers and anglers. "The new way is more ecologically sound," Legouffe said. "It's less complicated for the anglers and easier for us to manage different species of fish." "Last year, there were 36 fishing divisions. Now, there's only 20." MNR regional biologist Greg Deyne With the new land boundaries, Legouffe said Timmins falls under Zone 8, while many would even travel south to Zone 10, which falls south of Highway 560. Zone 8 encompasses the area from Moosonee down to the Quebec border to New Liskeard, west past Gogama to Chapleau and up to Mattice. In Zone 8, there are little changes to the fishing regulations for most species, but one that is seeing a difference is sturgeon. Although not the most popular fish among anglers, Deyne said Zone 8 has the biggest population of sturgeon in the entire province. But that is not saying much. "For several reasons, sturgeons haven't been doing very well," he said. Deyne added that female sturgeon only mature at age 20 and then only spawn every four to five years. "We've decided to take a more conservative approach." This year's sturgeon season will be starting two weeks later than last year, on July 1. With the first long weekend upon us, anglers across the North are preparing for the beginning of walleye (commonly called pickerel) season, which begins today and runs to the end of the year. Included with the summary package are exceptions. Deyne said it's important to read the exceptions avoid fishing in sanctuaries. "When species such as walleye spawn, they are very vulnerable and for that reason, we close the season down," Deyne said. "Often the fish will stay in the concentrated area before and after the spawn, so the sanctuaries do not open at the same time as the regular season. "And it's illegal to fish in these areas." Legouffe said it has taken the MNR nearly two years to come up with the new zones. While all the rules are outlined in the summary, not all sanctuaries are marked with signage. Anglers unsure about a specific area should call the local ministry office. "The new summary has much better maps, with tables for each zone that are simple to follow," Deyne said. Other changes expected to impact anglers in the Timmins area occur in Zone 10, and include changes to the brown trout, sturgeon and walleye (commonly referred to as pickerel) season, as well as to the limits to perch, rainbow trout and whitefish. Anglers in Zone 8 are now limited to the number of perch, which used to have no limit. Perch now have a a sportfishing limit of 50 and a conservation limit of 25. Limits for sportfishing of whitefish have been lowered from 25 in both zones to 12. More information on the new regulations and management zones can be found at the local ministry office or by logging onto www.mnr.gov.on.ca. Hard copies of the regulations are available at most outfitting stores.

Go fishing this weekend thepost.on.ca Durham; What better way to spend these early spring days than on the water with your family? Children of all ages are getting their fishing tackle ready for fun at The Varney Pond Fishing Derby this weekend. Open to children 14 and under and hosted by the Durham Activity Centre. This will take place on Varney Pond this Saturday and Sunday (May 17-18) from 8 am to 1 pm. There is a registration fee of $8 which will place each participant in the running for various prizes including a Nintendo Wii game on Saturday and an ipod on Sunday. Adults and older youth can participate if they are accompanying an angler under 14 but are not eligible for any prizes. Families should plan to bring their own rods and reels to try their luck with over 500 stocked rainbow trout ranging from 1 to 5 lbs. The Varney Pond Fishing Derby is part of an exciting grassroots program to encourage youngsters to enjoy the benefits of recreational fishing. It is sponsored by The Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority, CIBC, Durham Legion, Henderson Paddon & Associates Engineering, Hanover Rotary Club, Co-operators, Bass Pro Shop, McDonalds Restaurants, Durham Activity Centre, Fishing Forever, Kids Cops and Canadian Tire Fishing days, the West Grey Police Service, Canadian Tire, the Police Association of Ontario and many other local regional businesses. According to Real Fishing's Bob Izumi, spokesperson for Fishing Forever, it makes sense that West Grey Police Officers are involved with such an event. "Children look up to those in uniform and in turn the officers spend their entire career teaching and protecting children," states Izumi. "The Varney Pond Derby is a perfect way for kids to learn that these dedicated men and women care about them as individuals." Bob Izumi is continuing his late father Joe's tradition of using recreational fishing as a way to bring families closer and teach important life lessons to children.

Dad, son saved on Bass Lake May 17, 2008 / thebarrieexaminer.com Barrie OPP rescued a father and son after their canoe flipped over on Bass Lake, yesterday. OPP say the two, a 39-year old father and his 11-year old son, of Beachville, east of London, had been fishing when the canoe turned over. Fortunately, OPP say the pair were wearing personal floatation devices, and, with the assistance of other boaters in the area, were rescued and transported to Soldiers' Memorial Hospital in Orillia by paramedics for the treatment of non-life threatening injuries. The water temperature was cold and without the assistance of the boaters, the outcome could have been tragic, police said. Boaters are being reminded that water temperatures in a lake of any size is still extremely cold, and without a proper flotation suit, hypothermia can set in within minutes. All boaters are urged to exercise safety when out boating this long weekend.

New boat buoys police; More people need help out on the water May 17, 2008 BOB BRUTON / thebarrieexaminer.com Kempenfelt Bay, and all who sail and play in her waters, will be a little safer this summer. Barrie city police has a brand spanking new, 27-foot patrol boat that can be used in all kinds of weather and marine conditions. It begins patrols this Victoria Day weekend and, with the existing police vessel, means a police boat can be on the water 10 hours a day, seven days a week. Barrie police Chief Wayne Frechette said the new craft's main function is search and rescue, and in the worst weather if needed. "When we are really in demand is when it's not fit for man or beast (on the water)," he said. "But we have to go out." Frechette mentioned a day last summer when a sudden thunderstorm stranded boaters on the bay, and dumped windsurfers, kayakers and canoeists into it. Officers had a difficult time getting to everyone who needed help because their boat, on long-term loan from the RCMP, is more like a pleasure craft than a rescue boat. That won't be a problem with the new police boat. From Barrie Marina it should be able to respond to most calls in 15 minutes. Being able to reach speeds of 55-65 km/h won't hurt either. The new boat also has a hoist for lifting stretchers, a heated cabin and side doors to better load and unload equipment. Frechette noted that while the OPP has a boat, city police must be on the water, as well. The regulations changed a half-dozen years ago. "Waterways within a municipality's boundaries are the responsibility of the local police," he said. "We inherited Kempenfelt Bay." City police also have an inflatable craft, and last summer used two personal watercraft donated by a local company, a deal police hope to have this summer too. These vessels allow officers to go ashore quickly, if needed. Sgt. Dave Goodbrand said the new boat will have other uses besides search and rescue on the bay. Boats can be checked to ensure they have all the required safety equipment, including life-jackets, and that liquor laws are enforced. "It's no different on the water than on the roads," he said. "All these steps have to be taken so that Kempenfelt Bay is safe." The new police vessel was custom made by Stanley Boats in Parry Sound, and cost $132,000 full-loaded with equipment such as radar, sonar, a global positioning system and radios. Adding taxes and a trailer brings the total to $150,000. The money came from a police surplus, money saved on salaries when police officers - or their spouses - take maternity or paternity leave. Frechette said normal maintenance on the boat can be done by police employees, in-house, and that the vessel easily has a life span of 20 years. It has twin Honda 150-horsepower outboard engines, which Frechette says are easy to maintain or replace. The boat will employ officers from the schools unit, who are away from those duties in June, July and August.

Saugeen Browns; Stocking Stopped May 17, 2008 doug edgar / owensoundsuntimes.com The Owen Sound Ministry of Natural Resources office has turned down a proposal to stock brown trout in a stretch of the Saugeen River between Hanover and Durham. Enough concerns were raised about the proposal to warrant the decision, said MNR biologist Andy McKee. "There is potential for harming what's there already," he said. The Big River Group and the Upper Saugeen Habitat Restoration Association, volunteer angling and conservation groups, proposed to stock the section of river with fish from stock taken from the upper Sydenham River. Opponents argued such a move would be detrimental to the wild trout already in the river and urged more work to allow the fish there now to thrive. An MNR letter sent to those with an interest in the proposal said the ministry will work with others to gather information "which will help to move to a healthy, sustainable fishery in this portion of the Saugeen River."

Lamprey busters coming to Sauble River May 17, 2008 doug edgar / owensoundsuntimes.com Canada's sea lamprey busters plan to treat a section of the Sauble River during the first week of June. They are also monitoring lamprey runs on the Beaver River, which enters Georgian Bay at Thornbury, and on the Bighead, which enters the bay at Meaford. Also, a metal plate will be added to the top of Denny's Dam as added insurance that the parasitic jawless fish - although they're often called eels, technically they're not - don't get into the vast Saugeen system, which has extensive areas suitable for lamprey spawning. The drive to reproduce is so strong that lampreys will attach themselves to a dam or other obstacle and work their way over the top if the drop is small enough, said Paul Sullivan, section head, control, with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Sea Lamprey Control Centre in Sault Ste. Marie. "It's remarkable the tenacity they have," he said. The drop at Denny's Dam is great enough to stop them, but the plate, which will form a horizontal lip over the crest of the dam, will make the structure better. "It's just an added safety measure," Sullivan said. The Saugeen was treated with lampricide once, in 1970, when Denny's Dam was put to use as a barrier, Sullivan said. It was the most expensive treatment to that point and would cost $700,000 to do today. The local work is part of efforts on both sides of the border to control sea lampreys, an invasive species that is believed to have entered the upper Great Lakes through the Welland Canal in the early 20th century. They helped decimate lake trout and other large predatory fish. The Sauble River will be treated from the Jewel Bridge Road downstream, Sullivan said. That area, a short distance east of Bruce Road 13, which is the main north-south route along the Huron shore, is as far upstream as larval sea lampreys have been found. The Sauble has been periodically treated with lampricide since 1970, Sullivan said. The chemical, which kills the larval stage of the lamprey but doesn't affect other aquatic organisms under normal conditions when used in the correct concentration, will be pumped into the river for 12 to 14 hours. A trap at the fish ladder in the Beaver River is also regularly checked during the lamprey spawning run, which lasts from early April through the end of June. The Bighead River was treated last year and it will be checked this year to see how effective those efforts have been, said Sullivan. The Bighead has no barrier to stop sea lampreys from reaching spawning areas, he said. The river is treated with lampricide every four years, since that's the minimum time it takes the larvae in the river to reach the point they change into adults and head for the lake. Larval lampreys are filter feeders that live in the bottom of the stream before they enter their parasitic stage, while adult sea lampreys have a ring of sharp teeth that they use to scrape a hole in a fish. They then suck out the fish's blood and bodily juices. Sullivan said there is evidence that adult lampreys find their way to spawning sites - gravel areas with clean, well oxygenated water, roughly what is suitable for rainbow trout - because they are attracted by pheromones produced by the larvae. To complicate the matter, there is also evidence that sea lampreys are attracted to pheromones produced by the larvae of native lampreys that live in some local river systems, including the Saugeen. That means that even if sea lampreys aren't present in a watershed, adults could be drawn to spawn. The native lampreys include the non-parasitic northern brook lamprey, which is under consideration for partial protection under the federal Species at Risk Act. Once sea lampreys reach a suitable spawning area, they make crescent shaped nests by moving gravel around with their mouths. They die after spawning. Officials are also evaluating a program in which sterilized male lampreys are released in the St. Marys River. The idea is that they spawn with females and produce non-viable eggs. The DFO control centre will help the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service release 25,000 such lampreys this year.

City discharging raw sewage into Georgian Bay; MOE keeping closer eye on outflow from sewage treatment plant after finding deficiencies in waste water system: report May 17, 2008 DENIS LANGLOIS / owensoundsuntimes.com Millions of litres of raw sewage can flow into Owen Sound bay when heavy rain or spring thaws push the city's waste water system beyond capacity. The information is part of a Ministry of the Environment report, which points to numerous "deficiencies" with Owen Sound's sewage treatment plant and collection systems. The ministry report also noted occasions when the plant's effluent, which the city pumps into Georgian Bay, contained high concentrations of E. coli, suspended solid particles and ammonia. In response, the ministry updated the treatment plant's certificate of approval May 5 to impose stricter requirements. The city must now provide the MOE with more frequent and timely samples of the plant's discharge and a plan on how it will measure the effluent's impact on the bay, said local MOE supervisor Shawn Carey. "We're keeping a close eye on them through new monitoring reporting and stricter effluent levels," he said in an interview Thursday. Owen Sound is the last city on Georgian Bay to treat its waste water only at the primary level and one of the last in Ontario with just a primary sewage treatment plant. City council recently approved a 10-year timeline to upgrade the plant to secondary. The estimated $43 million cost would make the project the most costly in the city's history and beyond Owen Sound's financial reach without federal and provincial help. Liat Podolsky, a research scientist with Ecojustice Canada, said both the federal and provincial governments must pony up more money to help cash-strapped municipalities upgrade their sewage treatment plants to the secondary level. "And to upgrade all aging wastewater infrastructure in the Great Lakes region, which is badly in need of repair," she said Friday. Ecojustice, a Canadian non-profit of lawyers and scientists devoted to protecting the environment, also believes the government should help fund measures which control stormwater at the source and reduce the volume and frequency of combined overflows and bypasses, she said. Those measures could include green roofs, permeable pavements and rain gardens - a planted depression designed to absorb rainwater runoff. Raw sewage contains a cocktail of disease-causing bacteria and viruses and hundreds of toxic chemicals, she said. "Untreated sewage in water results in contamination, which poses serious health threats and makes the water unsafe for swimming and fishing," she said. The city's 36-year-old sewage treatment plant performs a basic process of screening, settlement, scum removal and some reduction in phosphorus and bacteria levels. High levels of chlorine are then added to the waste to kill some bacteria before the effluent is discharged into the bay, said public works manager Mike Crone. Environment Canada has said chlorine will no longer be allowed in effluent after December 2009. Secondary treatment, a requirement for new plants since 1982, uses chemical and biological methods to break down and remove biodegradable organic material and suspended solids and remove phosphorus. The MOE inspected the city's treatment facility earlier this year. In a report it presented to the city in March, it noted the monthly sampling of E. coli concentration in the plant's effluent exceeded provincial guidelines of 200 parts per 100 millilitres five times last year. The January sampling contained 25,600 parts per 100 ml. Crone said most sewage treatment plants do not disinfect in winter because the water is too cold for bacteria to replicate. Chlorine is also not as effective in the cold. The MOE also noted high concentrations of suspended solid particles, one reading almost triple the provincial limit. At times, concentrations of ammonia, suspended solids and organic materials would have likely failed toxicity tests, the report said. Coun. Bill Twaddle, the city's environmental and waste advisory committee chairman, said the report reinforces the city's need to upgrade the sewage treatment plant. The ministry report also noted concerns with the city's sewage collection system and raw sewage overflows. "When you get a heavy rain, the volume flowing into the waste water treatment plant is often greater than the plant can accept. What that means is it then has to bypass," Twaddle said. In those instances the water is not treated at all before it enters the bay. "These combined sewer overflows may contain an untreated mixture of floatables, pathogenic micro-organisms, suspended solids, oxygen demanding organic compounds, nutrients, oil and grease, toxic contaminants and other pollutants," the report said. Coun. Jim McManaman, operations advisory committee vice-chair, said an upgrade to secondary treatment is necessary, but the city must go through a lengthy approval process before work can begin. "It's not a question of if, it's a question of when," he said in an interview Friday. Twaddle said the city has spent "millions of dollars" to reduce such occurrences but that sewage and storm water still flow through the same pipe in some parts of the city. The city now separates the two systems any time underground services are replaced. Crone said since the city began monitoring bypasses and overflows in 1998, infrastructure upgrades have caused a continuous drop in incidents. Ten bypasses were recorded in 2007 but "I hope sometime in the not-so-distant future they will be a thing of the past," he said. Upgrading to a secondary treatment facility will in itself not eliminate the bypass problems, Crone said. That will still require separating the storm water and waste water systems.

....Congrats, I too was there yesterday (Friday) and can honestly say I was disgusted with the number of anglers intentionaly snagging. I mean most weren't even try to hook them legally, disgusting! I did manage a couple on badboyz and a couple on a 1/2oz crippled herring. Mike was that you on the dock with the MNR guy around 2:15?

Angler bags 92 lb Bighead Carp while bowfishing Sat, May. 17, 2008 Belleville News-Democrat Provided to the BND / Darin Opel, of Worden, has bowfished for 25 years, but this giant Asian carp is his biggest catch by far. Opel bagged the fish Sunday in a backwater on the Mississippi River near Alton. While bowfishing for gar from the shore in backwater above the Melvin Price Lock and Dam No. 26 on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River near Alton, Darin Opel shot a 92.8 lb bighead carp with a compound bow and arrow. After fighting the behemoth for 10 minutes, Opel jumped into the muddy water, bearhugged the beast and inched him to the shore. "It was real heavy, like lifting a refrigerator," said Opel, who ripped his jeans on the arrow sticking from the back of the carp's head during the ruckus. "Once he got out of the water, he started fighting hard. He beat me up pretty good. He definitely got a few licks in." Opel won the fight -- and the admiration of anglers everywhere who fantasize about landing a monster fish such as his trophy. Weighed on a certified scale at Worden Food Market in Worden, the huge Asian carp had a 30-inch girth and measured 62" long. It obliterated the previous Illinois bowfishing record for bighead carp of 35.5 lbs set by John Borgers on June 8, 2006. According to Duane Chapman, a fish biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey who specializes in carp studies, Opel's catch is the largest on record by a recreational fisherman in the Western Hemisphere. Chapman said there are only two bigger bighead carp on record in the world. A 93-pounder was captured in a reservoir in northern Texas a few years ago, but it was not caught by an angler and not weighed on a certified scale. Chapman said a commercial fisherman in Pakistan landed a bighead carp that weighed more than 100 pounds several years ago. The fish now hangs in a museum in that country, where carp are revered. "Both of those were kind of oddballs," Chapman said. "Other than that, I don't know of any fish that are bigger than his that have been captured anywhere." Tissue and bone samples are being sent to Chapman to be tested for age and origin. Chapman said he won't hazard a guess on the age of the record fish. "Any time you get something that's a contender for a world record, it's wild," said Opel, who has been bowfishing for 25 years. "A buddy told me I was just in the perfect place at the perfect time. Everything just came together.

Trent-Severn opens for 88th season of boating May 16, 2008 Ernest Kuglin / Trenton Trentonian Locks along the 386-kilometre Trent Severn Waterway opened for navigation Friday morning. It’s the 88th opening of the waterway that stretches from the mouth of the Trent River in Trenton to Georgian Bay. The May long weekend is the traditional opening of the system. With recent flooding and extremely high water levels of reservoir lakes in Haliburton and Kawartha regions, Trent Severn officials were initially concerned the traditional opening date would be delayed. “But mother nature has been extremely kind to us in the past several weeks,’’ said Mike Jamieson, assistant director of canal operations. Trent Severn officials will be keeping a close eye on weather conditions of the long weekend and the coming weeks. Jamieson said reservoir lakes are filled to capacity and do not have much storage capacity. Flow rates have been reduced along the entire system and the Trent River section of the waterway. “We’re fine tuning the system and we are urging mariners to use caution because water levels are still high,’’ said Jamieson. Due to high water levels and fast lows generated by a deep snow pack and heavy spring rains, maintenance crews have been unable to locate the position and placement of floating navigational aids across the entire system. Jamieson said Parks Canada maintenance crews will be working throughout the weekend and the next several weeks to get channel markers and other navigational aids back in place. Jamieson said areas above and below water control dams should be avoided due to strong currents. Navigational buoys, he said, may be out of position or partially submerged. “We asking mariners to report any hazards in the navigation channel or aids that are out of charted position to Parks Canada or to the Canadian Coast Guard Traffic Centre in Sarnia,’’ said Jamieson. Otherwise the waterway is in good shape for the new boating season. “It’s taken a lot of work since the major flooding along the system to get the waterway in shape for the opening weekend,’’ said Jamieson. “We’re always very excited about the opening weekend. It’s a tradition in Central Ontario and there are a lot of businesses along the waterway that depend on the Trent Severn.’’ The Murray Canal, meanwhile, will remain closed until the end of June due to continuing reconstruction work on the Carrying Place swing bridge, on Loyalist Parkway, Hwy. 33. The canal, also operated by Parks Canada, connects Lake Ontario with the Bay of Quinte, The 2008 boating season marks the 175th anniversary of the waterway. The first lock was constructed near the town of Bobcaygeon in 1833. Special events will be held June 6-8. For more information on the celebrations go to www.tswborninbobcaygeon.org

....I'm very interested in attending one or two of the "Toonie Tournaments" but it won't be this one. Best O luck to all who do attend.

"Blue Walleyes, Have U caught any?" ....Yep, many.

....Hmmmmm, might be the same pond I threw the occasional cast into as well.

....Well now, good folk dining with good folk. Perfect.

....Good stuff! I'll be out there tomorrow and hope to do as well.

....Thanks for the help guys, I think I got it. A pocket full of coins to get me in and a lake full of fish, should be, could be good. I'll be after whities and then hopefully find some perch TEP.

....I'm heading up to Simcoe in the wee hours of the morning and was wondering if access is available into the park and launch area or is it gated? If I recall you need loonies to pay for the lauch, is that correct?

SWISS GOVERNMENT TO BAN ‘CATCH AND RELEASE’ FISHING