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King of the Drift Spring Tourny a Success

The King of the Drift tournament took place this past weekend. Lots of fish lost, sunburn and above average temperatures. Tom Barry from Hamilton took first place this year. From the proceeds, King of the drift donated a whopping 5126.00 to the Ontario Steelheaders for this event which will surely help power up our efforts on the Saugeen River. We want to extend the utmost gratitude to KOTD and welcome the event back in the fall.

We also want to take a minute and extend a special shout out to Ben Lam, Mike Snow and all volunteers and participants who made this a successful event. Watch for KOTD coming again this fall.

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King of the Drift: Call for Volunteers

The next King of the Drift is set for Saturday April 16, 2016. The coordinators are looking for volunteers to help with the event. These guys have stepped up and given continuous support and donations to the Ontario Steelheaders. FOr more information on how you can be involved, please contact Ben Lam (226) 978-5775 or Mike Snow (647) 654-1414.

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30K Steelhead Rainbow Trout Sorted and Clipped

On Saturday, Feb 20, 30k Saugeen River bound steelhead rainbow trout were sorted and clipped in the Kincardine hatchery set for release in the Saugeen River later this year. President Karl Redin wants to acknowledge and thank all of the Ontario Steelheaders volunteers who came out this past Saturday to clip our yearling rainbows in the LHFC hatchery. They even set a new record for clipping of 30K rainbow yearlings in one day!

Its an uphill battle for us to sustain the Saugeen River steelhead rainbow trout fishery so its important we continue sustain programs and volunteers. I think we can all agree on the fact we all need to volunteer a bit more if we want the fishery to continue to exist. With climate change, politics and other obstacles its going to be a struggle. The entire steelhead population could collapse in a decade if stocking efforts are not sustained. Imagine our next generation may be catching the odd rainbow trout in an entire season.

I likely speak for all of the anglers who come and go from the Saugeen River with stories to tell, we greatly appreciate the effort these men and women who show dedication to ensure we have Saugeen steelhead year after year into the future.

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Annual Steelhead Sorting & Clipping

We are going to start sorting and counting our rainbows On February 8th. I am giving a schedule below of times that I will definitely be there to work and to demonstrate to others how to do the work. When someone knows what needs to be done they can come anytime they wish with whoever else wants to work. Following the sorting and counting we will move right into the finclipping.

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I have included that schedule as well up until February 20th. Depending how much work is left I will give some more dates for after the 20th. Please try to come out for a couple of work sessions. This is work that has to be done and it is not fair to only leave it up to a few individuals. It is not complicated or particularly hard work. You will definitely never get any more “hands on work” with the fish. Feel free to invite other family members or friends to help as well.

Al Wilkins
Trout Hatchery Manager
519-396-9764

Time/Dates for fish sorting and counting

Monday Feb 8 – 8:30 am to 11:00 am
Tuesday Feb 9 – 8:30 am to 11:00 am
Friday Feb 12 – 8:30 am to 11:00 am
Saturday Feb 13 – 8:30 am to 11:00 am

Time/Dates for finclipping

Monday Feb 15 – 8:30 to 11:00 am
Wednesday Feb 17 – 8:30 to 11:00
Friday Feb 19 – 8:30 am to 11:00 am
Saturday Feb 20 – 8:30 to 11:00 am

*If you choose to participate, please contact Al Wilkens prior to date for scheduling purposes.

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Great Lakes Water Level Research

The Graham Sustainability Institute and Michigan Office of the Great Lakes are providing approximately $50,000 to each of four U.S. and Canadian research teams to identify and evaluate adaptive responses to changing Great Lakes water levels. During the 18-month Integrated Assessment project, the teams will work with shoreline communities to assess localized solutions and to provide insights for the Great Lakes basin more broadly.

More information: http://bit.ly/22lzuRU

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Rabies Suspected in Southern Ontario

Just an update to the rabies situation that is taking place right now in the Hamilton area. 5 cases have been determined positive by the Wildlife Research and Monitoring Section (WRMS) and Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) as of right now. Additional testing is ongoing and it is possible we will have additional positive cases. Attached is the most recent mapping from WRMS of the cases and how they are managing the situation.

We have not had a positive case of raccoon strain rabies in Ontario since 2005.

Right now we are outside of the surveillance perimeter but that could change if additional cases start to encroach the lower portions of Grey Bruce.

Mitigation that is taking place is the distributing of the ONRAB oral vaccine by hand baiting within urban areas and flying the twin otter over the rural areas. This has been a very productive approach in Quebec to eliminate rabies, hopefully that will be the case in this situation as well.

Southern Ontario Suspected Rabies

Suspected rabies MNRF Protocol PDF
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King of the Drift: Fall 2015

Hey Folks,

The King of the Drift derby was hosted at the Dennys Dam Park on the Saugeen River earlier this fall on November 7, 2015. Ben Lam was one of the primary organizers and the event proved to be a success.

The derby was focused on combined fish length. Each entrant could enter two steelhead trout and use the combined length of the two fish as a total length. There were 3 entrants who tied for first place. The winner holding the trophy was the longest fish that was caught on artificial bait.

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More KOTD Photos

Much Gratitude:
KOTD Donated $1,483.85 to Ontario Steelheaders!
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Top Standings

1st

  • Length: 53.75″
  • Prize: $1550
  • Winner: Steve Maragos / Lorenzo Pellizzari / Paul Sousa

2nd

  • Length: 53.5″
  • Prize: $300
  • Winner: Paul Ferri

3rd

  • Length: 53″
  • Prize: $85 + rod
  • Winner: Chad Weir

Other Winners

4th

  • Length: 52.75″
  • Winner: Eric Russian

5th

  • Length: 52.5″
  • Winner: Ryan William

6th

  • Length: 51.75″
  • Winner: Xays Xays

7th

  • Length: 51.50″
  • Winner: Matthew Wichlacz

8th

  • Length: 51.25″
  • Winner: Domenic Ciullo / Greg Allen


King of the Drift host events on other Ontario rivers as well. For more information on the next King of the Drift event, please contact Ben Lam.

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Hepworth Anglers Club Spring Creek Aeration Project

Utilizing a Department of Fisheries and Oceans “Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program Grant”, the are implementing an aeration project on Spring Creek to enhance migratory and resident fish populations.

Spring Creek Aeration Project

800 meters of electrical wire was buried to provide power to an oxygen generator to be housed in the shed, currently under construction. The oxygen generator will provide and maintain optimum levels of dissolved oxygen to three of the major springs on Spring Creek, as studies have revealed insufficient levels of dissolved oxygen to sustain fish in the upper portion of Spring Creek, during the summer/early fall. Local contractors Tom MacDonald, Kelsey Lamont and Jim Gulliver are assisting with the project.

Best Regards,

Bill Nafziger

Stream Improvement
Hepworth Anglers Club