Spiel

....This Admin will tell you straight up, "I have know idea why it don't work."

....Just looking around for a new reel to sit atop my new heavy casting rod (walleye/pike) and was wondering if anyone has used/heard or know of these..... TICA Caiman DJ Series Round Baitcasting Reels

....You can do it MoiraRiverMan, stay positive and stay focused. After 32 years I'm off them cold turkey for the last four months. I feel better, way better and the money I've saved, well it buys a lot of nice things including new fishing stuff.

End of the line for hatchery grant; Fish hatchery hard-pressed to find $25,000 a year May 20, 2008 Greg Hoekstra / haliburtonecho.ca The future of the Haliburton Fish Hatchery could be in jeopardy unless the Ministry of Natural Resources comes to the table and renews its funding commitment. This June, members of the Haliburton Highlands Outdoors Association (which runs the hatchery) will see the end of its four-year $100,000 trust fund from the province, and as yet there is still no word on whether the fund will be replenished. President Keith Hodgson says that while his organization has been unable to arrange a meeting with the Minister of Natural Resources Donna Cansfield, he’s still crossing his fingers that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. “It may be hopeless, we don’t know, but we’re still hoping,” says Hodgson. “We’re still trying to get a meeting so we can reiterate our values to [the Minister].” In a typical year, Hodgson estimates the hatchery operates on a budget of roughly $75,000, which means the province’s $25,000 a year pays for one third of the overall expenses. “We do need that money,” said Hodgson. “Without that $25,000 it’s going to be very tough.” In 2003, when the trust fund was first announced by the Ernie Eves Conservative government, MNR officials said the money was for “base funding” to help “keep the lights on, water running, and fish fed.” And while it’s estimated there is enough money in reserves to keep the hatchery afloat for another year, HHOA Treasurer John Ball says that without the MNR’s trust fund the hatchery will have trouble keeping its head above water after that. “We really need that $25,000. That’s a lot of money,” says Ball. “Where are you supposed to make that kind of money back? How on earth do we make up for that?” Ball says the HHOA already fundraises $30,000 to $40,000 every year – half of the hatchery’s budget – so turning to the community for even more simply isn’t an option. “Fundraising is a constant struggle,” says Ball. “We have tremendous support here in Haliburton, but we can’t be expected to suddenly raise $25,000 more, on top of what we already do.” If the fish hatchery were to disappear tomorrow, Ball says the effect on local lakes would be devastating. “Fishing would deteriorate in Haliburton, no question,” he says. “The Ministry has said they would raise fish elsewhere and continue to stock the lakes, but that would come at an even greater cost to them.” This year Ball says the hatchery raised between 40,000 to 50,000 walleye, 25,000 rainbow trout, and 5,000 lake trout. They also raised approximately 8,000 Haliburton gold trout, a unique strain found only in the Highlands. By stocking area lakes, as well as those in the Bancroft area, Ball says the hatchery helps bring in tourists that benefit the county’s economy. Dysart Reeve Murray Fearrey agrees that the work of the hatchery is invaluable when it comes to attracting tourism dollars. “Fishing is a lot bigger industry than people know about, and if we don’t have good fishing then that’s a big loss,” he says. “[The hatchery] has filled a void that no one else was prepared to do, so I’m just hopeful that the Ministry will come through and support them.” This year Fearrey said the county has pledged $10,000 toward the ongoing operation of the hatchery, and they have also sent a letter to Minister Cansfield outlining the work that the hatchery has done and asking her to continue to support the HHOA’s efforts. Calls to Cansfield’s office by the Echo were not returned. While there is still more than a month before the fund officially runs dry, Hodgson says his organization is already looking at contingency plans to help fill the void. In the future, Hodgson says it’s possible that the hatchery might have to start raising eggs for other areas in Ontario as a way to generate income. However, Hodgson also says that solution is far from ideal, since it would detract from the group’s commitment to Haliburton County, which is why so many volunteer in the first place. “Raising eggs is maybe the way we’re going to have to do business, but we would need a full house to make it pay, and then there is a capacity problem,” he says. “We still want to do things for our county too, and we need money to do them too. “There’s a great deal of community value to the hatchery, but I think that’s sometimes hard to get across to people,” he adds. “It’s not just the act of raising fish. It’s about the history behind it, the science, and, maybe most importantly, it’s about a place for volunteers to go and be part of something special.”

Anglers say walleye opener was best ever May 17, 2008 Terry Curtis / northumberlandtoday.com Can you say "walleye," as in "lots of walleye"? For many anglers who dared dangle a line in Rice Lake this past weekend, that was the scenario. Many lure tossers reported this season's walleye opener on this lake as being the best one they can ever recall, with fish caught from one end to the other. Right from Bewdley on down to the Hastings area, reports were nothing but good news. And, to think only four or five years ago, we were wondering where all the walleye had gone. They were still there, we just didn't adapt our methods for fishing them, as I've stated before. When the zebra mussels moved in everything changed, except for the way we fished for walleye. We still stubbornly fished the same areas with the same methods and lures we always did, then hit the panic mode when we couldn't catch walleye as we always had in previous years. Well, here's the good news. For those few years we couldn't find the fish as we had in years before, it may have been a blessing in disguise. The fish we weren't catching had a chance to feed and re-populate as they never had before in the history of walleye in Rice Lake. And now it seems to be paying off huge dividends for the diehards who never gave up on them, as well as any newcomers who have tossed a bait in the past few days or nights. Fishing from big boats, small boats, drifting, trolling or fishing from shore (in the evenings or after dark), it doesn't seem to matter. Walleye are hot to trot! Of course, there are some things to keep in mind, and here are a few "tips" to put you on track. The majority of daytime walleye are being caught in depths of nine to 11 feet of water, either on the edges of weedlines, or just off them towards deeper water. Mud bottom bays with feeder creeks or small rivers are holding fish in really good numbers (Here's a no-brainer - look at a good map of Rice Lake - not many places like this, are there?) Also, check mud flats that are surrounded by deeper water, even if the change of depth around the flat is one foot or less. The walleye are sitting on the mud flats, resting up before they really hit the peak of their post-spawning feeding frenzy. Here's a word of advice for those guys who have told me the walleye have already recuperated from the spawning cycle and are already in their prime. WRONG! Lots of walleye haven't even spawned yet, due to the high water levels and colder than normal water and air temperatures. Yes, we've been blessed with an amazing early season bite. But, we haven't seen the peak yet. Wait until the lilac trees bloom. They just started to bud this week, and will hit their peak in the next week or so. As will the walleye. Mark my words. Hot bite this week? Bucktail jigs, perch hue crankbaits or plastic finesse baits. The trick is to switch them up fast once one bite dies off. The walleye are changing feeding patterns fast and with no rhyme or reason. Mixing up your lures pays off. One minute they want a fast-moving target, the next they want a slowly hopped or twitched lure. Best lure I've tossed yet? The new Rapala X-SHAD in perch colour. And, spare me the sagas about me mentioning them because Rapala sponsors me. I couldn't care less. I throw what catches the fish, whether I'm sponsored by that company or not. If it works, it works. If it don't, it don't. The walleye know and so do I. That's what counts! The proof is in the livewell!

M.N.R. Minister Cansfield to join celebration of one million Atlantic salmon stocked into Lake Ontario May 21, 2008 For Immediate Release M.N.R. Minister Cansfield to join celebration of one million Atlantic salmon stocked into Lake Ontario Huge milestone reached for one of North America's largest freshwater conservation projects Thanks to the efforts of the Lake Ontario Atlantic Salmon Restoration Program (L.O.A.S.R.P.), the Atlantic salmon is making a comeback in Lake Ontario, after an absence of more than one hundred years. On May 28, the L.O.A.S.R.P. will celebrate stocking ONE MILLION Atlantic salmon into Lake Ontario. The celebration and stocking will take place on the banks of the Credit River at the Belfountain Conservation Area in Belfountain. The Honourable Donna Cansfield, Minister of Natural Resources, will attend and will assist in the release of salmon fry into the Credit River. The release of a million fish is a key milestone, made possible through the support of the major sponsor, Australia's Banrock Station Wines, which has committed $1.25 million dollars to the project, their largest contribution to any conservation project outside Australia. More than 30 partners and sponsors are taking part in the L.O.A.S.R.P. In addition to Banrock Station Wines, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, Liquor Control Board of Ontario, Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association, Fishing Forever Foundation, Fleming College, Trout Unlimited Canada, as well as conservation authorities, local community groups and private landowners are providing support to the program. The L.O.A.S.R.P. is one of the largest freshwater conservation projects in North America. The program includes fish production and stocking; habitat restoration and water quality enhancement; research and monitoring; and education and outreach. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Event: ONE MILLION Atlantic salmon stocked in a Lake Ontario tributary Date: May 28, 10:30 am Attending: Honourable Donna Cansfield, Minister of Natural Resources Location: Belfountain Conservation Area, 10 Credit Street, Belfountain (Caledon) Map: creditvalleycons.com

.....Nice stuff. Man I love laker fishing in the north, praps I best make arrangments to go see Wayne.

.....Dang, I missed another good one by the looks of it. Cold wet and windy is a good time, isn't it? I'm going to have to school Gerritt in the art of never driving in weekend traffic.

....Sad, very sad.

Late spawn proceeds walleye opener Friday May 16, 2008 Garett Williams / Miner and News The third Saturday of May is upon us a little earlier in the calendar year and a cooler spring has also helped pushed back the walleye spawn, leaving Ministry of Natural Resources specialists guessing how well the fishing will be this weekend. “This is a cooler than normal spring, but it’s in the range of spring weather that we get in this area,” Norm Hissa, an MNR fish and wildlife technical specialist, said. “Because there’s quite a variance, walleye are well adapted to spawn earlier or later, they’ve been doing it for thousands of years, so it’s not that unusual. It’s just that for us, we fix a date, but they go by water temperature. The water is a little cooler, the fish are running and they’re spawning now, so it’s hard to say if the fishing will be great or what it will be.” The spawning process is strenuous on the fish, which puts a damper on fishing immediately afterwords, Hissa said. This Saturday may be opening day for walleye in the Kenora District, but the Ministry of Natural Resources wants anglers to be aware that some areas are off limits to any fishing, at least until the end of the month. These areas are MNR-sanctioned fish sanctuaries where all fishing is strictly prohibited. Some of the fish sanctuaries in and around Kenora local anglers must avoid include Sabaskong Bay on Lake of the Woods, Laclu (Belle) Creek in Pellatt Township and the Winnipeg River from the Norman Dam to the westerly tip of Tunnel Island. There is no fishing allowed in these areas from April 1 to May 31 to allow enough time for fish to move in, congregate and spawn. Fish sanctuaries are vital to the local fisheries and the MNR will be monitoring these areas closely until the end of the month. If anglers were allowed to fish in these areas this early in the season, it could disturb the spawn and upset the delicate balance of this aquatic ecosystem. Responsible anglers should fish clear of all spawning sites and throw back the bigger, spawning fish, Hissa said. After all, two fish can make hundreds to put back into the ecosystem. “Sportsmen would probably feel that they should release those big fish or not fish in spawning areas, but it’s hard to say whether they’ll do that,” he said. “Everybody wants to catch a large fish, the biggest fish and some years it’s a little easier than others because of water temperature or how late or early the spring is.” Licensing and regulations There are two licensing options available – a sport fishing licence is $23.79 for Ontario residents, $44.06 for Canadian residents and $66.40 for non-residents; or a reduced limit conservation licence costing $13.87, $26.63 or $40.64 depending on residency status. Single day licences for residents and eight day licences for non-residents are also available. Lake of the Woods anglers with a sport fishing licence have a limit of four walleye, not more than one greater than 46 centimetres. Conservation licence holders have a limit of two, not more than one greater than 46 centimetres. Anglers on the Winnipeg River to the Manitoba corder can catch the same number of walleye. However, the fish must fall between 35-45 centimetres or not more than one greater than 70 centimetres. There have been no regulation changes in the Lake of the Woods area, which lands in Fisheries Management Zone 5, Hissa said, but he recommended all anglers familiarize themselves with the 2008-2009 Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary, which also includes where any sanctuaries are located. Fish sanctuaries are noted in the section titled ‘Exceptions to the Regulations’ that follows each fishing zone’s seasons and limits regulations. Changes to the MNR’s new ecological framework for recreational fisheries management in Ontario were delayed one year to the beginning of 2008. The framework is based on managing fisheries on a zone basis rather than on an individual lake basis and replacing 37 fishing divisions with 20 fisheries management zones. “Everybody should review the regulations anyways, to see if there are any changes,” he said. “Don’t just take it for granted that everything is the same.” The summary is available from the Ministry of Natural Resources district offices, licence issuers and on the ministry’s website at www.mnr.gov.on.ca. Call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free any time to report a natural resources violation or contact your local ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Invasion Of The Spiny Water Fleas: Drying Anchor Lines Can Help Contain Spread May 13, 2008 / ScienceDaily Reducing the spread of some invasive species into our lakes could be as simple as asking boaters and fishers to dry out their equipment, says Queen’s Biology professor Shelley Arnott. When anchor rope, fishing line and the boats themselves are thoroughly dried, the invasive species and their eggs will die, rather than spreading to another location, she explains. “It’s such a simple thing for the general public to do, and yet it could make a big difference in the way that our lake ecosystems function.” Dr. Arnott’s current research focuses on the spiny water flea, a small invertebrate predator that has invaded more than 100 North American lakes since the early 1980s, after being transported from Eurasia in the ballast water of ships. With graduate student Angela Strecker, she compared the levels of zooplankton – microscopic, free-floating animals that live on algae and are in turn eaten by small fish – in Ontario lakes invaded by water fleas. They discovered that production of zooplankton in the warm, upper layer of water in invaded lakes was reduced by almost 70 per cent, compared to lakes that are not invaded. “This reduction in productivity was likely caused by the direct consumption of zooplankton by the fleas,” says Dr. Arnott, an expert in aquatic ecology. Another explanation for this dramatic reduction is that zooplankton may have migrated to colder, darker waters, where they would be less visible to predators, she adds. As a result there is less available food for the small fish that forage in surface waters, such as lake herring, which are in turn are eaten by larger fish, such as lake trout. Biology Master’s student, Leah James, is now studying herring growth in lakes invaded by the spiny water fleas. “What’s really concerning is that the introduction of water fleas is having a huge impact on the flow of energy in these lake ecosystems,” says Dr. Arnott. “It shows how an invasive species can disrupt the food webs of freshwater lakes by diverting energy and nutrients away from native organisms.” An additional worry is the effect of invasive species like water fleas on lakes that are only now recovering from acid rain, she continues. “When spiny fleas come in, it seems to hit the recovering lakes harder. They’re just getting their zooplankton back and the fleas tend to hammer them!” The combination of environmental stressors – acidification due to sulphur emissions, invasive species and climate change – can have a profound, negative impact on lake ecosystems. But the good news is that some of these effects, particularly from acidification, have been shown to be reversible. And in the case of invasive species, the researcher notes, one simple method of prevention is to avoid transporting them on our boats and fishing equipment.

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.