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.

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.

lhfc-ontario-steelheaders-annual-steelhead-sort-clip

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.

Annual Spring Steelhead Yearling Update

Volunteers at work clipping steelhead trout for releaseThe Big Thaw! Spring Is In The Air! And the boys have been busy getting ready for the annual spring yearling steelhead stocking on the Saugeen River. It’s one hell of a lot of work in the cold confines of the hatchery making sure the Saugeen continues to be known as one of the best big steelhead rivers on the continent. It’s called commitment and lot’s of it by a group of volunteers in the Ontario Steelheaders and the Lake Huron Fishing Club. Once you strip and fertilize wild steelhead eggs you have to feed and raise the little creatures for one full year at the LHFC’s Kincardine hatchery. Then just before stocking, the chunky 8 Inch smolt have to have their adipose fin removed for future identification. That’s Fifty Thousand plus fish that have to be manually clipped one at a time….AND THAT’S ONE HELL Of A CHORE and you only have to experience it to believe it. Great work guys and a special thank you for creating this great sport fishery! Right fish, Right Genetics, Right release size, Right stocking location, Proper Imprinting…again thank you!

Lots of Steelhead Trout
Lots of Steelhead Trout
Steelhead Fin Clipping
Steelhead Fin Clipping

LHFC Steelhead Fin Clipping

LHFC has asked the Ontario Steelheader members to join the LHFC on Feb 8th at the hatchery for fin clipping. He would also like to set February 7, 11 and 14 as dates to clip as well. No experience necessary.

If anyone is available to help these days, please contact Matt directly by email: mluckhart[at]bmts.com

Kincardine Trout Hatchery Report

The Lake Huron Fishing Club’s Kincardine Trout Hatchery is full of fish ready to be released. As you can see from the picture, our yearling rainbows are in good shape and just waiting for the river to warm up. There are approximately 62,000 fish ready to be trucked to the 3 release sites chosen on the Saugeen River for this year.

Kincardine Trout Hatchery - Rainbow Trout
Kincardine Trout Hatchery – Rainbow Trout


Approximately 1/2 the fish will be released at Lobies Park in Walkerton. 1/4 of the fish will be released at the mouth of the Otter Creek, east of Walkerton and 1/4 of the fish will be released at a new site (Saugeen River Campground) which is above the old hydro dam but below Maple Hill. 200 yearlings are destined for the public fishing pond at the Port Elgin Chinook Hatchery. The yearling rainbows are in great shape and growing well but they are currently costing about $100/day to keep so whenever the river temperature reaches 10 C we will be looking to start trucking. Ontario Steellheaders will be helping with the releases.