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2016 Annual Fall Steelhead Derby

On October 15, 2016, the Ontario Steelheaders is hosting the annual fall steelhead trout derby at the Denny’s Dam Park located on the Saugeen River. Please join us for a great day of fishing, social event for members, families and friends who love to catch steelhead trout. Prizes are awarded for largest steelhead rainbow trout, important information updates and a cozy campfire afterwards. It’s will be a fun day spent fishing with family and friends.

Derby Details

Cost: $10 per adult (juniors are free)
Derby Start Time: 7AM
Derby End Time: 5PM
** Registration and weigh ins will be at Scottie Redin’s trailer located near the main fire pit. Presentation of trophies & raffle prizes will take place after dinner.
Prizes are awarded for:
  • Heaviest Steelhead Trout (1st, 2nd and 3rd places)
  • Juniors (Under age 16)
  • Live Trout Release (Derby director verifies length, girth and weight)

After the Derby

A huge feast is served at the Rod Jones Pavilion in Denny’s Dam Park with a ceremony, prizes, raffle and more. Overnight camping and day use at Denny’s Dam Park is available for participants and their families. Membership applications are also accepted at the ceremonies. Consider supporting the Ontario Steelheaders by grabbing some merchandise like t-shirts, hats, jackets and more. They make great gifts for family, friends and even yourself.

Here is what you can expect after the derby comes to a close at 5PM:
  • Large Potluck Dinner
  • Awards
  • Club Updates
  • Guest Speakers
  • Draw Prizes
  • Winner Ceremony
  • Prize Awards To Top Placing Entrants
  • Campfire and Overnight Camping

More Information

If you need more information, check out the Denny’s Dam Park page for directions, map and other camping and parking information. You can also contact Scott Redin, if you would like to donate prizes or need more detailed information.

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Saugeen River Steelhead Spring Release

Al Wilkens wanted to say a few words to the Ontario Steelheaders:

As Manager of the Lake Huron Fishing Club’s Kincardine Trout Hatchery I want to express my sincere appreciation to all the Ontario Steelheaders who gave up a major portion of “opening day” weekend to move the rainbows out of the Kincardine and Port Elgin fish hatcheries. Your enthusiasm and professionalism ensured that all of our releases went smoothly and all fish were delivered to their new homes safely and in good health. Without the help of the Ontario Steelheaders we would be taking a week or more to release all our fish rather than the day and 1/2 that it took this year. I don’t have the final numbers from Port Elgin yet but from Kincardine you helped move 18 loads of fish that totaled 56,324 fish weighing a total of 4,761 pounds. Not bad for a day’s work! Thanks!

Al Wilkens
Lake Huron Fishing Club

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Spring Saugeen Steelhead Transfer Complete

The Ontario Steelheads in cooperation with Lake Huron Fishing Club has completed a another mobile transfer of adult steelhead trout up river. The transfer is conducted with custom aquariums on wheels and travel over 50 miles upriver, aiding the steelhead (rainbow trout) overcome many of the obstacles such as the 20+ dams on the Saugeen River. The fish were really moving over the past week, one thousand adults steelhead rainbow trout averaging 10-15lbs each were lifted at Denny’s Dam and transported in 3.5 days!

The Saugeen River Steelhead transfer program has come to a close and we will not be transferring fish. It is undetermined if the program will be re-implemented in the future. The hard work and resources poured into this program by the hard working volunteers of the LHFC and Ontario Steelheaders is remarkable to say the least. Thank you to everyone involved.

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2016 Annual Spring Steelhead Derby

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April 30, 2016, the Ontario Steelheaders is hosting the annual spring steelhead trout derby at the Denny’s Dam Park located on the Saugeen River. Please join us for a great day of fishing, social event for members, families and friends who love to catch steelhead trout. Prizes are awarded for largest steelhead rainbow trout, important information updates and a cozy campfire afterwards. It’s will be a fun day spent fishing with family and friends.

Derby Details

Cost: $10 per adult (juniors are free)
Derby Start Time: 7AM
Derby End Time: 5PM
Prizes are awarded for:
  • Heaviest Steelhead Trout (1st, 2nd and 3rd places)
  • Juniors (Under age 16)
  • Live Trout Release (Derby director verifies length, girth and weight)

After the Derby

A huge feast is served at the Rod Jones Pavilion in Denny’s Dam Park with a ceremony, prizes, raffle and more. Overnight camping and day use at Denny’s Dam Park is available for participants and their families. Membership applications are also accepted at the ceremonies. Consider supporting the Ontario Steelheaders by grabbing some merchandise like t-shirts, hats, jackets and more. They make great gifts for family, friends and even yourself.

Here is what you can expect after the derby comes to a close at 5PM:
  • Large Potluck Dinner
  • Awards
  • Club Updates
  • Guest Speakers
  • Draw Prizes
  • Winner Ceremony
  • Prize Awards To Top Placing Entrants
  • Campfire and Overnight Camping

More Information

If you need more information, check out the Denny’s Dam Park page for directions, map and other camping and parking information. You can also contact Scott Redin, if you would like to donate prizes or need more detailed information.

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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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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

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Saugeen River Fishway Update

Denny’s Dam Fishway: Grant and the LHFC boys who manage the Denny’s Dam fishway have spent the summer cleaning out the fishway as it was jam-packed full of debris from the spring ice blowout. A contractor was called in to help with some of the stubborn pieces of debris. As of August 17th, the water in the Denny’s fishway and live fishcam are running again. The fall adult transfer is all set to go.

Walkerton Denil Fishway: Water is currently too low for assessing the Walkerton fishway. Jody from Owen Sound MNR will be updating the club on the status of Walkerton fishway at the annual fall derby in October.