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Rodney Jones Receives Canada Recreational Fisheries Award

As the News and Media Director of the Ontario Steelheaders, it gives me great pleasure to announce that Rodney (ROD) Jones one of our longest and dedicated members, will be presented with the “Canada’s Recreational Fisheries Award.”

The Award recognizes his outstanding contributions to promote the interests of recreational fishing in Ontario and improve recreational fisheries on the Saugeen River watershed. His leadership has made a significant contribution to recreational fishing and fisheries conservation in Canada. The Award ceremony place and time will be announced at a later date.

A letter is attached for all to read signed by the Honourable Gail Shea, P.C., M.P., Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada.

Best Regards,

David Allen

rodney jones canada fisheries award letter
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Add Someone To Our Memorial Plaque

As you may recall, a Memorial Plaque was affixed to the main rafter centered in the Rod Jones Pavilion and then officially dedicated last November. The inscription is to remember someone who has been a part of our park family in one way or another. Now you may place a small memorial plaque of a family member, friend or acquaintance that you wish to add to the main plaque rafter.

The park management together with the board of directors is asking that we initiate a standard for the mini plaques which will be no larger than 3 inches by 5 inches.

The plaque will be a black background with white lettering. The cost of each plaque will be $13.00 which includes the HST.

To oversee this process, you can forward the name(s) to:

David Allen
6434 Bellevue Street,
Niagara Falls, ON L2E1Z1

Please include a check or money order made payable: Dave Allen

You can also use our contact page to contact Dave Allen directly via email.

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A Reminder & Christmas Wishes

As 2014 draws to a close, we tend to forget something very important to us, our outdoor card and 2015 fishing license. So take a moment and look at your outdoor cards expiry date as the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry does not send out reminders that your card is about to expire – so don’t get caught in that situation. Don’t forget to purchase your new 2015 fishing license before you step out and cast a line.

Finally, to all our members and their families, have a very Merry Christmas and the best for the New Year !!! And a BIG Thank You for your support making us a world class fishing organization.

Your Board of Directors

Karl Redin, Madeline Walker, Scott Redin, Kirk Lund, Bob Pfaff and David Allen

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Egg Chumming: Legal or Not?

Regarding Chumming Eggs

A while ago, the Ontario Steelheaders introduced a new program for all to use titled “Ask The Game Warden.”

EggsA question has been put forward to the Ministry of Natural Resource and Forestry and an appropriate response has been received – legal or not to Thank you for your inquiry regarding the use of roe as chum, initially posed to Conservation Officer Hart Hill, Owen Sound Area  in October.  Seeing as this inquiry relates to fisheries policy, your question was forwarded to me and I’m pleased to respond.

Under the Ontario Fishery Regulations 2007 (section 28),  (http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2007-237/FullText.html) individuals are prohibited from emptying  bait, live baitfish or other contents of a bait bucket or other movable container into or within 30m of any waters.  Given that the roe has been transported in a container of some sort it would be unlawful under this provision to dump it into the water for use as chum.

These regulations are in place to reduce the introduction and establishment of invasive species or pathogens that can be transported with bait following misidentification or as a fellow-traveller in bait buckets.

Thank you again for your inquiry.

Matt Garvin
Fisheries Program Biologist
Fisheries Policy Section
Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry

If you have a question to submit to our Ask the Warden series, please Contact Us

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Dennys Dam Park Closed to Vehicle Access Dec 1 – Apr 1

Please be advised that Denny’s Dam Park will be closed to motor vehicle traffic from December 1st to April 1st. The Ontario Steelheaders (OSH) in cooperation with Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority (SVCA) has had to take upon the expense of having a gate built and installed at the entrance turn to prevent any motor vehicle from entering the park to avoid further damage to the grounds.

Unfortunately, last year someone snow plowed through the park during the winter months and created an extensive amount of damage. This was an expensive repair to the property. Direction from the SVCA was recommended and approved.

The park is owned by to the SVCA and the OSH manages this property for all to enjoy. Remember, we are blessed with some premiere steelhead fishing in Ontario. To ensure that we continue to have access to this property we must we maintain the grounds, as well as, our ongoing work with the fisheries.

The installation of the gate doesn’t mean that people can’t fish here during this time frame; it just means that you cannot drive a motor vehicle into the park area.

Anyone found damaging the park property including the gate will be reported to the Ontario Provincial Police / Local Police Authorities and the SVCA. Charges will be laid under the Criminal Code of Canada and the Conservation Authorities Act of Ontario.

Respectfully,
Ontario Steelheaders – Board of Directors
Saugeen Conservation Authority

Any questions, please Contact Us

No Vehicle Winter Access
No Vehicle Winter Access
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Fall Update Bulletin

The executive of Ontario Steelheaders (OSH) is pleased to announce to our members, the new equipment SWAP PAGE located on the OSH website. Now members will be able to post and sell those old fishing related items that have been stored in the basement, garage, shed, etc., for all those years !! This is a free service to our members so please use it and post your items and encourage family and friends to join the OSH and utilize all the benefits we offer. (A special Thank You to Scott Kidwell, our website manager for his excellent work on this project).

Simple to use: All members interested in using the service need to LOGIN on our website using your email address and password to post a new classified ad. If you have never logged into your account or forgotten your password, you can use the password reset utility to reset your password. When creating a classified ad, please enter all title, description and contact details and you may include up to six photos. You will receive a special code by email which will allow you to go back in and edit and remove your post.

This coming Saturday Oct 11th, there will be a potluck supper at the Rod Jones Pavilion starting a 6:00pm. Everyone wishing to attend, please bring a food item of your choice. Shortly after our meal, a new plaque will be unveiled to honour and remember “Those Who Have Blessed Our Lives and Graced Our Park”. In tribute, we are asking members would like to display a plaque of a loved one or friend of whom was a past member to follow a couple of simple rules. Plaque will a maximum of 3″ x 5″ and display the person’s name only – NO DATES or IN MEMORY OF. The cost of the plaque will the responsibility of each individual.

Hope to see you all there !!!!

David Allen, Media & News Director

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Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame Announces 2015 Class of Inductees

Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame – Hayward, Wisconsin (Released on September 15th, 2014)

The Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame (The Hall) is the international headquarters for education, recognition and promotion of fresh water sportfishing. Each year The Hall recognizes individuals, groups and organizations for their impact benefiting fresh water angling. Individuals and organizations are honored for outstanding achievements in fishing accomplishments regarding career success and innovation in competition, invention, science, education, conservation, communications, technology or other areas related to fresh water sportfishing. Recently the awards committee enshrined their 2015 class, seventeen individuals and one organization, to join the elite fraternity that currently occupies a place at The Hall.

Selection Committee:
Wade Bourne – Tennessee; Clem Dippel – Wisconsin; Dr. Michael Dombeck – Wisconsin; Dr. James Gammon – Indiana; Elmer Guerri – Indiana; Dr. Todd Larson – Ohio; Tim Lesmeister – Minnesota; David Rainer – Alabama; Sharon Rushton – Missouri; Wendy Williamson – Wisconsin; Gregg Wollner – Wisconsin and Forrest Wood – Arkansas.

Darryl Choronzey – (inductee) Canada
Darryl Choronzey started his outdoor writing career in the early 1970’s freelance writing for the cross-Canada Globe and Mail newspaper, the Toronto Sun and Ontario’s syndicated Inland Publishing Group. For more than 20 years Choronzey published and edited Ontario Fisherman Magazine during the 1980’s and ’90’s. A little more than a decade ago Choronzey approached the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources with a plan to improve and enhance the fishing opportunities on the Lake Huron River for steelhead. Twelve months after that meeting 50,000 eight-inch yearlings were stocked approximately 50 miles upstream of the Saugeen River for perfect imprinting. This program has been operating for the last 10 consecutive years. In 2002, Choronzey was awarded the highly coveted CANADA’S RECREATIONAL FISHERIES AWARD in recognition of improving, protecting and promoting sport fishing in Canada.

Congratulations Darryl – Great Work – proud your part of the Ontario Steelheaders organization !!

Also, two other Canadians were inducted into the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame.

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A Day Trip to the Geen

Last Saturday, Sept. 6th, these two young lads did a day trip to the Saugeen for some centerpin fishing and with success. Chase Mooder (13) (L) and Jackson Dupre (14)(R) from the Elmira area spent the day fishing from the dam down to flat rock and yes, Chase caught and landed a female steelhead in the 4lb to 5lb mark. The boys were extremely happy with their catch. I had the opportunity to speak with the boys and we talk a lot about the Ontario Steelheaders and further explained to them on what the club does in the spring and fall to have a strong fishery for all to enjoy. Both were more than impressed.

Chase Mooder and Jackson Dupre Saugeen Trip
Chase Mooder (13) (L) and Jackson Dupre (14) (R)

Also the boys were informed about our fall 2014 derby and the junior category – well their eyes lit up and both said they would be on the river to fish for the trophy. Good luck to you Chase and Jackson. And a special thanks to Jackson’s dad for driving them up to the Saugeen. A pleasure to meet and talk to two young enthusiastic fishing lads. I encouraged them to join the club and become junior members to help strengthen the club and keep the Saugeen River world class fishery status for our future generations.

-David Allen