Ontario Steelheaders

Jeez, autumn! A little rain, a little cold weather and it was predictable that the rainbows would be running the Saugeen. As expected, Jessie James and his gang were also back, prowling along the banks of the Saugeen.

Yes I know, Jessie James and his gang have all been dead and buried for more than a hundred years. Still, I like to refer to these present day guys as the James Gang. It seems fitting to me. Both groups broke the law. The guys now buried stole from banks. The guys now living steal from our fishery, but still walk the banks. Really, they’re still nothing more than poachers.

A few years back poachers could be referred to as rippers and runners. They’d rip the fish up and run away with their spoils. Not to say that some aren’t still around. It’s obvious today though that poaching is a little more refined and so are the outlaws. Even with long rods, light lines and float reels some of these clowns can really put a dent in our fishery, especially on the Saugeen. Our biggest problem on this river is the taking of more than the limit.

Tell me you haven’t seen it. Some of these jerks will go down to the river, make a few casts and fill out their limit. They may go home and drop off their catch. Some will head back to their trailer, chill the fish in a cooler and have a beer and a nap. A few might just head back to the trunk of their car and stash their catch in a blanket. Still, they head back to river to start all over again. Hell, it has gotten so sophisticated that last autumn on the Saugeen some of the boys from Metro even had their girlfriends ferrying coolers of fish back and forth from Bruce County to the city! You have to admit, these guys are real outlaws.

Just about everyone on the river is well aware of what is taking place and who the outlaws are. Trust me, Karl hears complaints, the Directors hear complaints. Hell, I can sit in my office down on Lake Erie and I get phone complaints almost daily. There’s no denying poaching and poachers are running rampant. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and especially the enforcement branch are understaffed and overworked. Karl and I have both been in constant communications the supervisors and our local conservation officers. A crackdown has been promised and is presently underway…. These guys (left) didn’t dedicate a lifetime to this fishery to see it poached!

 Now here’s what you can do. Instead of bitching and complaining about poachers, report these outlaws. If you witness infractions, contact the Ministry of Natural Resources at 1-877-TIPS-MNR…..1-877-847-7667. You might even want to take a picture of these clowns carrying out their dirty deeds. A picture of their car and even a license plate photo helps as well.

Again, the Ministry of Natural Resources has promised us a more active presence on the Saugeen this year. Don’t let these people spoil our fishery. Down with the Outlaws!

This summer I was very fortunate to get a call to help complete my bucket list….British Columbia fishing! I was off! …and boy was I impressed with my travelling partner! He set up the whole trip, and all the travel arrangements. I would have had a hell of a time navigating through the ridiculously huge airports in Toronto and Vancouver. My friend also made arrangements for a side trip to visit his friends at Lund on the mainland; another educational experience. We went to his friends’ seafood farm that raises scallops, mussels and oysters. After picking up the choice eating, we went out in another boat and set traps for prawns and crabs. It was the first time I saw anything like that. The experience was great and the catch was our meal. It was awesome, to meet so many new friends and experience their different lifestyles.

The next day we headed for the Island. A couple of ferry rides and some driving brought us to Kyuquot Sound Lodge. Soon after our arrival, we were off with owner Matt Guiguet to our first fishing destination about ten minutes from the Lodge. Down went the baits! It was ridiculous how fast the rods went off. You’d just sit down and off would go another! This went on each day with different guides and lots and lots of fish! We could only keep 4 Chinook and 8 Coho, and the Coho had to be clipped to keep. We likely caught 150 or more but all were wild so had to go back. We also went jigging but after 40 minutes I gave up. Ughhh… It was all work! In that 40 minutes we landed 2 mid-sized halibut, 2 ling cod, 2 red snapper and about 6 or 7 rock fish. UN-REAL! Fishing like this was hard work!

Thanks to everyone in the Lodge, from owners, cooks, guides and my favorite guide and friend that helped me through all the obstacles and all the fun. Thanks Darryl “the Cronz!” It was a great time. Two more things on my bucket list…. Want to go?

…Cronzy’s reply:

“It was fun helping you fill out your Bucket List you Old Fart. It’s just too bad you left out a few of the fun things that took place out on the coast. I guess what happens in B.C. stays in B.C., but the combination of fish, scenery and that special B.C. medication sure kept you on your toes and in action the entire trip. As for helping you continue on with filling out that list, give me about six months. Since that last outing I’m whipped! A kid like me has a hard time keeping up with an Old Fart like you.”….

 

 

 

It was great to see members of the Ontario Steelheaders attend the Underwood “State of Lake Huron” meeting organized by the Lake Huron Fishing Club in May. It was also nice to have even more Steelheaders attend our member fish-fry in June. These events, of course, followed up from a cheque presentation to the Lake Huron Fishing Club from the Ontario Steelheaders in early May and a very successful day of stocking rainbow trout yearlings from our Kincardine Trout hatchery in April. Each year the Ontario Steelheaders and the Lake Huron Fishing Club become more closely entwined. This is a good thing! We have other sister clubs in Southwestern Ontario. The Bruce Penninsula Sportsmen’s Association in Wiarton, Barrow Bay and District Sports Fishing Association in Lions Head, Sydenham Sportsmen’s Association in Owen Sound, Georgian Triangle Anglers Association in Collingwood, Maitland Valley Anglers in Goderich, Bayfield Anglers in Bayfield, Bluewater Anglers in Sarnia, Thames River Anglers in London. I mention these specific clubs, although there are even more local organizations, because we are the ones that are actively involved with fish culture and fish stocking.

“It is absolutely essential that we all work together, share resources and information and present a common unified front against those forces that will try to undo all of the good fisheries enhancement and management work that we do.”

Some of this opposition comes from government personnel that are ill-informed, misguided or resentful. Some of the obstructiveness comes

from other groups with their own agendas. At one time the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters had the mandate to unify various sportsmen’s organizations such as ours but unfortunately a change in their internal policies has made them exclusionary instead of inclusive. It is up to us to band together. We have the same passion for the sport of fishing, the same respect for the resource, the same concern about the future of the sport for our children, the same willingness to commit our time and energy. While it is not necessary for us to agree on everything, our similarities vastly outnumber our differences.

Al Wilkins
Past President Lake Huron Fishing Club

…as it is to be situated near Many Headwaters Producing Steelhead in Ontario!

What is expected to be the second largest aggregate quarry in North America is to be located in Melancthon Township. The Highlands Companies is seeking permission to open a 2,300 acre (937 hectare) quarry just north of Shelburne. The company wants to mine up to 1.102 billion tons (I billion tonnes) of a high quality limestone called Amabel dolostone. This proposed quarry will sit on the Amabel-Lockport-Guelph aquifer. The proposed mega quarry is to be situated near the headwaters of many Ontario rivers – Pine, Noisy, Nottawasaga, Boyne, Mad, Saugeen and Grand Rivers. The proposed pit will be 200 feet (60 metres) in depth which is well below the water table in this area. The quarry operators will be required to pump an estimated 131.98 million gallons (600 million litres) of water from the pit each day. To put this figure into perspective, that is the equivalent of the amount of water used by 2.7 million Ontarians per day! This is the estimated amount of water that would seep into the pit since the pit will be below the water table. The company has said it will pump the water back into the aquifer. The concern is – in what condition!

Melancthon Township is located within Dufferin County. This county is the highest plateau immediately west of Georgian Bay. Because of the county’s geographic location and topography, the county forms the watershed for Lakes Huron, Simcoe, Ontario and Erie. Also the Nottawasaga, Saugeen, Grand and Credit Rivers commence here and then each system drains throughout the county. This area is one of the largest catchment areas in southwestern Ontario. This is a very important landscape in Ontario.

The Highlands Companies is made up of several numbered companies, set up in Nova Scotia. This was done as the province of Nova Scotia offers tax breaks for American investors. The company has purchased approximately 6,500 acres (2,630 hectares) in total. Most of this land is in Melancthon Township – 5,600 acres (2,266 hectares). The balance, 900 acres (364 hectares) lies in Mulmur Township. Currently the Highlands Companies grow and harvests 100 million pounds (45.4 million kilograms) of potatoes annually.

Under The Environmental Bill of Rights, EBR Registry Number 011-2864, the proponent 3191574 Nova Scotia Company applied for a Class “A” Licence Quarry Below Water to excavate more than 20,000 tonnes of aggregate annually. The Highlands Companies have proposed it will mine over 50 to 100 years excavating in sections of 300 acres (121 hectares) at a time. The section would be returned to farmland by “re-laying” soil after the mining process is completed.

The Highlands Company has filed twenty consultant reports totaling 3,100 pages. The consultants assert that the proposed project will have no negative impacts on fish habitat and will allow for improvement in the diversity, connectivity and function of the natural heritage systems in the area including linkages between natural heritage features, surface water features and groundwater features and long term increase in the quality and diversity of wildlife habitat associated with the agricultural landscape (see Page 10.2 – Net Impacts).

Many areas of the Stantec report leave one pondering their conclusions. There is certainly a lack of information in regards to the consultant’s “Fish Habitat Assessment”. In the spring, summer and fall of 2008, as well as the summer of 2009, “Aquatic Field Studies were carried out in the study area. The report fails to provide much detail in regards to the type of studies completed as well as when and where these studies were conducted. The studies carried out on the main stem of the Pine River, a tributary of the Nottawasaga River, are very troublesome.

One of the confusing items in the Stantec report is in regards to the assessment of the value of the Pine River Headwaters Wetland Complex. The Stantec report states that background fish community data from the Nottawasaga valley Conservation Authority’s (NVCA) 2007 Pine River Sub Watershed Report Card shows the Headwater Wetland Complex supports warm water baitfish only. This is not the case. In fact the report card does not refer to “warm” or “baitfish”. The NVCA report does state, “groundwater discharge from other wetlands – such as the Pine River headwaters – maintains cold stream flows that support trout”. A further document, NVCA Groundwater Management Plan (DRAFT) Version 5, dated November 3, 2009, says, “These headwater areas generally support a significant groundwater recharge/discharge cycle and supports coldwater fisheries habitats supporting native brook trout”.

The Ontario Ministry of the Environment also has some concerns with the reports prepared for the Highlands Companies. On September 1, 2011 the proponent, 3191574 Nova Scotia Company, is regulated to undergo an Environmental Assessment (EA) under the Environmental Assessment Act for the project. Mega-quarries do not require an EA in the province of Ontario. So this is a huge step. The first step will be to prepare the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the EA. Both the ToR and the EA will involve government review and a public consultation process. Once fisheries issues are raised, this could also involve the federal government’s review as well, as fisheries falls under federal jurisdiction. The process could take several years to resolve.

Issues surrounding water management, environmental damage, the degradation of groundwater and transportation are also serious concerns of this proposed quarry development. The truck traffic will greatly increase. The Highlands Company proposes to finance road improvements if its requirements exceed 150 40-tonne trucks per hour, 24 hours a day, every day except statutory holidays. That is 3,600 40 tonne trucks per day. That is staggering! As well, this quarry is proposed to operate for 50 to 100 years.

Another issue to be faced by the Highlands Company deals with some of the animals that could/are found in the area within the pit to be mined. There are indications of the presence of the Henslow’s Sparrow and the Bobolink. These species are included in either the provincial or federal Species at Risk Acts. For further information regarding the Highland Companies visit http://www.highlandcompanies.ca/ I did not discuss the impact on agriculture in this article. If you are interested in this, go to: http://highlandcompanies.ca/images/uploads/pdf/application/12_Agricultural_Impact_Assessment.pdf. This study was also prepared by Stantec.

There have been numerous township meetings held to discuss the proposed quarry. On October 16, 2011 “Foodstock” was held. This was organized by the Canadian Chef’s Congress. An estimated 28,000 people attended the one day event held on a farm near Shelbourne, Ontario. “Foodstock’ featured home-style food prepared by several of Ontario’s famous chefs along with entertainment provided by musical artists such as Ron Sexsmith, Susan Harmer and Jim Cuddy. The event was organized to raise public awareness in regards to the threat of southern Ontario’s agricultural lands, in this case, specifically the farms in Melancthon Township.

Many organizations are involved in protecting these valuable farm lands and rivers. These include, not only the Canadian Chefs’ Congress, but the Ontario Sierra Club, David Suzuki Foundation, Turtle Clan Mohawk Nation, Township of Melancthon, North Dufferin Agricultural Task Force, to name a few, as well as many, many residents.

As a wrap up, there are two processes in the works. The one is the Aggregate Resources Act (ARA). At this time, the Highland Companies must address the issues raised from this application process. The second is the Environmental Assessment Act. There are opportunities for you to voice your opinion. There are many developments and proposals that are going to impact on the state of the steelhead in the province of Ontario. Right now there is a subdivision proposal within the City of Brantford which could have a great impact on the natural steelhead population within the Grand River system. This area is a highly environmental sensitive area.

Please get involved throughout this province. You may not stop development, but you could have a positive influence on the many proposals and ultimately the environment in which migrating rainbow trout live in Ontario!

It has been an incredible late winter-early spring season in southern Ontario.

Temperature records were broken across the province. Highs in the mid-20s and bright sunshine have the turkeys gobbling and the trees in local forests starting to sprout foliage.

This warm weather has also sent the steelhead populations into spring migration overdrive. While the forecasters are discussing record temperatures, another benchmark has been shattered — the returning number of spawning steelhead to the Saugeen River in Southampton has been the greatest on record, as well as one of the earliest in recent memory.

In one of my recent articles I discussed the efforts of two regional clubs and organizations to create a great steelhead fishery on the Saugeen River through intensive stocking programs. What I may have failed to mention was that many of these people stay involved with the fish they stock as smolts right through into their adulthood when they return to the river to spawn. Helping healthy adults to move farther upriver is an ongoing support for the fishery that ensures that the populations stay strong.

Let me explain.

Members of the Ontario Steelheaders, with help from the MNR and Lake Huron Fishing Club, have committed their volunteer effort to a very large and very time consuming endeavour for nearly the last 25 years. Each spring, involved club members trap adult steelhead at Denny’s Dam on the Saugeen River in order to transport them up river to productive spawning tributaries. These transport projects ensure that a good number of spawning steelhead will make it to the pristine gravel beds that a select number of productive tributary streams provide. The journey moves fish almost a hundred kilometres upriver and helps the fish bypass a number of dams on the main Saugeen, which are otherwise difficult for the fish to navigate. With a little help from the club members, these transported steelhead will spawn and add to the wild population of fish that enter the river each year.

This project has been a focal point of Ontario Steelheader projects for a very long time. For the past decade or so, averages of 200 to 300 adult trout have been transported annually. During the past few seasons, this number has increased to 1,000 spring steelhead getting an extra lift.

The past two years have seen an additional number of fish transported during the early fall when a percentage of the annual steelhead run begins to migrate. This extra number of fish has added to the composition of wild steelhead returning to the river. In addition to the fish lifts and transports, the Ontario Steelheaders and LHFC have undertaken a stocking program that has seen 60,000 yearling steelhead raised and released into the Saugeen each year for the last five years. These fish carry adipose fin clips and make up an incredible 40% plus of the annual run.

Just over a week ago, I took part in the volunteer effort to move some of these incredible adult fish up the river. The fish ladder at Denny’s Dam has been constructed to accommodate a removable trap in the top step. The trap, which effectively works like a holding pen, is lowered down with the aid of a mechanical lift into the fishway. Usually the trap is lowered overnight and lifted in the morning to collect a good number of fish. Each steelhead in the trap is removed and “sampled” — a process that includes taking measurements and sex identification, as well as performing a visual check for fin clips and lamprey scarring. Two tankers, made of steel and equipped with oxygen tanks and aerators, are filled with water and hitched to volunteers’ trucks. Each of these tankers is then carefully loaded with about 45 adult fish for the 80-kilometre journey up river. Each round trip to load and release the fish takes about three hours.
I wasn’t just amazed by the volunteer dedication.

As far as the fish themselves were concerned, the lift that took place just over a week ago was one for the record books. The trap was set overnight on a Wednesday. The following morning, volunteers were greeted by an astonishing 300-plus steelhead in the trap. Between the two tankers, close to 100 fish were loaded for transport and the remaining fish in the trap were released above Denny’s Damn to continue their journey.

The trap was promptly set back into the ladder and lifted again at 2 p.m. Despite an even shorter amount of time in the fishway, this second lift revealed more than 500 fish in the trap. Once again the tankers were loaded with the allowable number of adults and the remaining fish were released above the damn. The following day the trap was set for just over an hour. In that time the trap collected more than 550 adult steelhead. For those who have been volunteering their time at the ladder over two decades, this was an all-time high. This pattern continued for the next two days with an average of more than 400 fish per 1.5 hour trap-set. The Ontario Steelheaders reached their 1,000 adult steelhead transfer quota in no time.
I was scrambling to compute the figures in my head! If you were to do the math, over the four days that the lift took place, with an average of 350 fish moving through the ladder every 1.5 hours, the run was exceeding 30,000 adult steelhead in less than a week!

For those who are interested in steelhead runs, the biology of migrating fish or fisheries across the province, this information will be of special interest to you. The steelhead run on the Saugeen River is most likely the largest in Ontario. More than 30,000 fish migrating in less than a week during the spring does not constitute the entire run. Water temperatures dictate steelhead migration through fish ladders. The temperatures leading up to the transports on March 8 were likely too cold for fish to use the ladder in any great numbers; however, with the sharp rise in temperature, fish have definitely been passing the Denny’s fishway every day since!

A large number of steelhead migrate during the late fall as well. Estimates based on fall fish lifts and observations at Denny’s suggest that the fall run was close to 15,000 fish. Considering temperatures and water levels in October and November were some of the best on record for an autumn season, that 15,000 estimate errs on the low side. Add the estimates of the fall migrations to the numbers volunteers witnessed passing through the trap during those four days as well as the remaining spring run and the numbers become impressive. The Saugeen has a record setting run of steelhead from Lake Huron, pushing the numbers above 45,000 fish.

This incredible run of trout has produced the best steelhead fishing in the province over the past couple of seasons. This pattern of huge returns only suggests that the fishing will continue to be amazing in the near future.

Although the fish and their tenacity definitely deserve some credit, none of this would have been a possibility without the dedicated efforts of the Ontario Steelheaders, LHFC and MNR. Through stocking and fish-lift projects they have a very real hand in the prosperity of this fishery. Here is a huge pat on the back for those involved. Thank you specifically to those who have an added influence to this project: Karl Redin, Rod Jones and Darryl Choronzey from the Ontario Steelheaders; Al Wilkins and Grant McAlpine from the LHFC; and Shawn Carey and Jody Scheifley from the local MNR. Collectively these three groups have created the most outstanding steelhead fishery in Ontario. May this be a lesson learned, sometimes all that work actually does pay off!