Well it’s that time of the year again to let you know what’s new, and up-and-coming with the Ontario Steelheaders. It’s been a relativity quiet winter for most of us as Mother Nature didn’t allow us to get out on our usual hard water hot spots unless you ventured up to Nipissing or beyond. The Saugeen was good all winter for those brave souls who did get up here to give the winter Steelies a go. As most of you know we did our planting of the advanced fall fingerlings in November and they are all doing well in the Beatty Saugeen. Thanks to the group that helped out at the Port Elgin LHFC Hatchery over two weekends starting Oct 28-29 and finishing them the following weekend, 60,000 plus advanced fall fingerlings were clipped.
The weekend of Jan 28-29 a group of volunteers made up of Josh Choronzey, Tom Hamilton, Will Stewardson, Scott Redin, Travis Forester, myself and Anthony Zadwordi clipped 20,000 plus fish that by this spring, will be some very good sized yearlings. The LHFC took to the task of clipping the remainder and they got all of them done but 5,000 which Josh Choronzey, Dan Gravel, Scott Redin, Erica King and I finished off March 11/12. So a big thank you to the people who helped and also to LHFC for their assistance not only for the clipping but the fine job of raising these little guys destined for Saugeen later this spring. If you have never seen the LHFC Hatchery, go see it! It is a thing of beauty, and you can tell the guys from LHFC take great pride in their Hatchery and also in the great work they do there. We have to give them a big thank you for their assistance in getting the Saugeen’s steelhead runs where they today without it, it would have been an even tougher task than it has been; so thanks to Al Wilkins and his great group of guys at the LHFC. Just think, if the groups in the Georgian Bay area could work together like LHFC and the OS how much could be accomplished.
There are some very interesting things to tell you about that came out of a meeting called by the MNR and inviting the LHFC, Ontario Steelheaders, Sydenham Sportsman Assoc. and a few other clubs form the Georgian Bay area. Rod Jones, Josh Choronzey and I attended the meeting the weekend of Mar 3 /12 on our behalf. Rod and I got snow bound till 1:00am due to an actual snow storm. Good thing Rod and I have gotten older, cause if it was back in the day; Owen Sound may not have survived! The big take from the meeting is that MNR is going to put a lot of focus on the Saugeen River system for the next few years. They will be doing upgrades and repairs to Denny’s Dam staring in July of this year. They will be installing monitoring cameras not only Denny’s, but also at Walkerton, and two cameras at Maple Hill’s fishways for research purposes. Very soon there will be a live site available for you all to look at and see what’s going on as far as water temp and condition as well if any fish are moving at Denny’s. They are also going to do studies of smolt movement and spawning sites. They have a study on the go for the Dundalk Plateau which is the headwaters for a lot of rivers like our beloved Saugeen, the Bighead, the Grand and a number of others. The study is targeted at Wetlands degradation from the time of pre-settlement, and to see what damaging effects are being placed on the wetlands and what can be done to preserve them, as they are a very integral part of the watershed. They also informed the group that they will be doing a lampricide treatment of the Bighead and Nottawasaga river systems this year. We also had an opportunity to speak to Rich Henry and Hart Hill; the two CO’s for the Bruce Peninsula. We addressed our concerns about the issues that we are having on the Saugeen River and they have assured us that it will be addressed and they reviewed with us, the information they need when we call the MNR Hotline. They need vehicle license plate number, type and make of vehicle and a description of the individual or individuals. They have also indicated that they will be doing periodic enforcement campaigns on the river. You will see some new signage this year at various locations on the river regarding poaching, fish limits etc. Spring came very early this year and with that in mind our Fishery guy Darryl Choronzey made sure that we had permits from the MNR for March 1/12 so when the fish ran early, the Steelheaders were ready to move on transferring 1,000 adults to the Beatty Saugeen and Otter Creek. As you’ll see in this spring’s newsletter lots of cool stuff happening with the OS so go out and dig up some new members… the more the merrier and the stronger we become the more we can do! Keep in mind there will be Elections this fall for anyone who feels like getting involved at a higher level.
Good luck to all of you this season!
Yours in Fishing! Karl Redin President Ontario Steelheaders president@ontariosteelheaders.ca
Well, here it is officially spring, and considering the weather we have received lately it is feeling like an early summer. Our membership roster continues to grow and presently we are well over 190 members strong and growing every day! Things have been relatively quiet over the winter but we are gearing up for the Spring/Opening season and expect to be quite busy over the ensuing months. We will be offering Membership renewals at the upcoming Spring Derby so please see me for your renewals. The Ontario Steelheaders success is directly related to the strength of its membership, so I urge you all to continue to support our efforts by renewing your membership. Let’s see if we can top 200 members this year!
I have received many comments from the membership applauding all the efforts from the volunteers. Some have even taken the time to write a letter and I would like to share with you all the comments received from one such member. He writes:
“I’m a fly fisher and this past year has been the first that I’ve gone outand really worked at trying to consistently catch steelhead. By all accounts, the Bighead and Saugeen have been great this year and I’ve been able to catch and release more steelhead than all my other years put together. This is undoubtedly due in large part to the efforts the Ontario Steelheaders have put forth…Congratulations, on what has obviously been a job well done”.
As always, you are more than welcome to contact any one of us on the Board of Directors with your questions, comments, suggestions, concerns and of course praise is always welcomed 🙂
Madeline Walker Membership Director Ontario Steelheaders membership@ontariosteelheaders.ca
The Ontario Steelheaders are interested in putting your talents to work! If you believe you have a special talent to contribute to the management of this organization, please don‟t delay!! There are many ways you can contribute as our directors require assistants to complement their efforts.
Please contact a director and we will do our best to put your skills to work to enhance and protect this fishery.
Published by Gary Sherman
Source: Fall 2011 Ontario Steelheaders Newsletter
Backgrounder: In 1996 The Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority announced that Denny’s Dam Conservation Area would be closed to the public due to financial constraints. The possibility existed that the property may even be sold.
The Ontario Steelheaders, consistent with its mandate, approached the Authority with an offer to lease the Park and co-manage it in order to ensure continuing access for all resource users. This resulted in a significant financial commitment to the Ontario Steelheaders. Monies generated by our activities at Denny’s Park, are from time to time earmarked for park improvements and fisheries enhancement projects. Our committee works diligently to collect funds, and to run the park efficiently, in order to make these ventures possible. The Ontario Steelheaders would like to thank everyone for their timely payments which make these and other improvements to our park and our fishery possible. Thank you! It’s your park! Use it, respect it, and support it!
Chairman’s address:
Well here it is fall already, seems like just yesterday we were busting up ice bergs just to get into the park. The spring ice jam certainly created havoc with the camp but through efforts of a lot of people it was brought back into shape.
Some of the camp improvements this year are the placing of speed limit signs, a new collection box which is more secure to collect funds and a new portable toilet at the west end of the park. We would like to thank everyone who helped in any manner in maintaining and improving the park.
There are two projects that need to be singled out:
Washroom Roof Improvements
First, is the placement of a concrete floor and eaves trough at the Rod Jones Pavilion; I know a number of people were involved in the labour portion of this project but special recognition is to be given to Derek Czarnota (Derek‟s Construction) for the donation of all materials required for this project.
The other is the new roof for the washrooms. Bob Pfaff spent a large portion of his holidays installing the new roof with donated materials that he required. These materials were given to us by Mr. Tom Ware of Hy-Grade Steel Roofing in Guelph. Once again thanks to everyone for efforts that make our park what it is.
Left: Ontario Steelheaders Volunteers replace the roof of the privy at Denny’s Park
On a different note I would like to remind everyone that the use of abusive, insulting or threatening language, making excessive noise or disturbing other persons is forbidden in Denny‟s Park and on all SVCA properties. The vast majority of our users enjoy the park for what it is, and respect the regulations. The minority, I ask you to rethink why you are here and join with us to ensure that our park will be here for everyone‟s enjoyment far into the future. Please be mindful of your neighbours.
I do not want to leave you with the idea that the news is all bad because it is far from that. We hosted three youth groups this year at no charge that enjoyed our facility and were very thankful for our hospitality.
Through park revenues generated, we donated $100 to the Goderich Relief Fund, $2,000 to the Lake Huron Fishing Club for the rearing of smolts and transferred $4000 to the Ontario Steelheaders Fisheries Enhancement Team to help with their work.
The Saugeen Conservation Authority and its board members toured the park and were very impressed with the park and the work the Ontario Steelheaders do as a whole.
It has been a learning year for your committee and I would like to thank each of them for their efforts. I know there were times you felt like walking away but stayed. Through your hard work, take pride in the accomplishments of this year.
Project Chair, Gary Sherman
Approximately six months ago I asked for a meeting with the District Manager of the Ministry of Natural Resources Shawn Carey and also Dave Reid the Upper Great Lakes Manager for the Ministry of Natural Resources. The reason for the meeting is discussed under the next title in this newsletter, but before we get to that subject, let me first say that the Ontario Steelheaders have entered into an agreement with the Ministry of Natural Resources to give the Saugeen River steelhead enhancement program a „little‟ additional injection of rainbow trout for the coming year.
To complete one objective, it was suggested that the Ontario Steelheaders also take „advantage‟ of the opportunity to rear additional rainbow trout to the fry or fingerling size. Now again, for the last time, I don‟t like raising fish to waste fish. I don‟t believe in stocking fry or fingerlings of any species or for that matter stocking them in the wrong locations, but I believe we came to a mutual and satisfactory compromise in this „one time‟ only stocking project.
After the meeting I contacted our president Karl Redin and got the go ahead to move further with this proposal. From there I met with Al Wilkins the Lake Huron Fishing Club president. The following program is now well underway and will be completed by the second week of November.
Here we go with a brief explanation. Yes, we took up the opportunity to expand our program for this year only. We have entered in to a one time only project of raising and releasing an additional 65,000 „advanced‟ fall fingerling rainbow (steelhead) during the first weeks of November, with all fish being released into a 50 mile stretch of the Beatty Saugeen between Hanover and Highway 6.
Thanks are extended at this time to Al Wilkins president of the Lake Huron Fishing Club, Gary Biederman the hatchery manager of the club‟s Port Elgin fish hatchery, Grant McAlpine and his crew of tireless workers at Denny‟s Dam.
This one year only program will not only enhance the river and lake fishery, but will also significantly increase the number of spawning adults in the future to our target site…the Beatty Saugeen.
These fish are being released into some of the finest trout-suitable waters in the province. Water temperatures are fairly constant with little over-winter freezing and related winter mortality. These fish will grow, smolt, imprint, and know how to get home when they mature and return from their stay and maturing in Lake Huron. Ten locations have already been picked on the Beatty for fingerling release, which will maximize survival of the young fish.
Now for the icing on the cake… and I couldn‟t really disclose the following until I sat down at the computer a few hours ago and to be honest, I never really thought it had much of chance of happening.
Now remember, it‟s been a long time since the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources has carried out any stocking of their own of rainbow trout on the Saugeen River and I don‟t believe their program consisted of any actual upstream „imprinting.‟
At the meeting I suggested that it would nice if the MNR complimented the volunteers‟ efforts for their work over the past five years. The question was asked, just what was I suggesting?
The answer was simple. I suggested the Ministry of Natural Resources also match a similar number of rainbow trout for the Saugeen River that would be reared from Saugeen River eggs at a ministry hatchery and also imprinted in a similar manner already being carried out by the volunteers.
Well, this morning I received confirmation from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources that starting in the spring of 2012 we will supply the Ministry of Natural Resources with 100,000 eggs that were in the past allocated to our now closed down Mildmay hatchery. These eggs will be isolated, incubated and raised at the government‟s Chatsworth hatchery facility. These additional yearlings will be ready for spring release in 2013 to compliment the program presently being carried out by the volunteers of Ontario Steelheaders and Lake Huron Fishing Club. The MNR complimentary program is to be run in conjunction with the volunteers‟ project for a term of 3 to 5 years. It definitely will add an additional boost to our goal of transforming the Saugeen into the finest trout stream east of the Rocky Mountains.
Let’s keep working together as clubs and individual sportsmen. It can only get better.
The Saugeen is one big, big river. It offers more than 100 miles of excellent trout fishing water and over 70 miles of prime spawning and nursery habitat.
The steelhead is a target species for not only the river fisherman, but as a much sought after Great Lakes species. Our strides have proven themselves and are being recognized throughout the province.
Well, it’s getting to be that time of year when seasons swing us to cooler temperatures. I trust, we all for some time at least, got to enjoy the warmer, sunny days of summer. For those of you whose acquaintance I have not made, my name is Harold Curtis. I am Secretary/Treasurer for the Ontario Steelheaders.
We would like to take this opportunity to let our membership know how our collective funds are being used.
Dec. 12, 2010 – $ 2000 for work on the Traux Dam Fishway in Walkerton
April 24, 2011 – $ 2000 for L.H.F.C. to help with the cost of rearing 2011-12 yearlings.
July 4, 2011 – $3000 to L.H.F.C. to help with the cost of rearing enhanced fall-release smolt.
Sept. 6, 2011 – $5000 towards new Maple Hill Dam Fishway.
In less than one year, we‟ve injected $12,000 into fisheries enhancement projects. We also have had numerous smaller expenses we have incurred in the day to day operations of the Ontario Steelheaders.
I would also like to share with all of you folks a list of friends of the Ontario Steelheaders who have made donations to assist in our efforts:
Canadian National Sportsmen’s Shows Ltd.
Sauble Men’s Club
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. Local Union 785
John Topp
Strutin’ Tom’s Turkey Club of Walkerton
John Campbell
Hammond Power Solutions Inc.
Sobey’s Milton
I personally, as well as the rest of our members would like to express our gratitude for the generosity shown to us by these groups and individuals. A special note of thanks, to the families and friends of Dave Bartholomew and Bertha Mills for the donations made to us in their memory.
I will continue to visit the post office and bank, and keep our books up to date. See you all out there sometime!
Regards,
Harold Curtis
Secretary/Treasurer Ontario Steelheaders
It‟s great to inform everyone that approximately 65,000 steelhead yearling smolt were released once again this past spring into the mid-stretches of the Saugeen River below the Walkerton Dam and also into Otter Creek. These prime conditioned 12 month old fish were given a lot of tender loving care by the members of the Lake Huron Fishing Club who raised them from the egg stage to up over 8 inches in length.
Again, the reason for releasing these fish more than 50 miles upstream is to imprint the fish for great returns to prime spawning water. It‟s imperative that these fish get a good dose of the Saugeen so that when they do leave the river they know just where and how to get home again and into prime spawning waters.
I have a little saying that we should never raise fish to waste fish. Size at stocking is all important and the Lake Huron boys definitely get them up to the proper size. The next important thing is where to stock them for maximum imprinting and that‟s into waters below and above Walkerton
