Posted on

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

13100684_10156775893635364_3354569714627914533_n 13048239_10156775897870364_880631492162707668_o 13051535_10156775896335364_6143583348100475674_n

Posted on

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.

13010668_10156765447140364_7577900016014954617_n 13041101_10156765446585364_2260124501032492081_o 13041215_10156765392055364_6603105187939588080_o 13048100_10156765440670364_6790115439375852043_o 13062106_10156765438605364_7128099652455834842_n 13063331_10156765396345364_5232853963820273362_o 13063434_10156765396670364_5299890914296505134_o 13083327_10156765401480364_3785513016530178583_n
Posted on

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.