The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (O.F.A.H.) is encouraging everyone to take advantage of the upcoming provincial Family Day holiday and license-free fishing opportunity to get outdoors during Ontario Family Fishing Weekend, February 13-15, 2010.

“Ice fishing is a great Canadian winter pastime and a very family-friendly activity,” said Mike Reader, O.F.A.H. Executive Director. “We invite families across Ontario to take the opportunity to head out to a nearby lake or pond during Ontario Family Fishing Weekend and drop a line. It’s a terrific way to connect with our natural resources.” “If you’ve never tried fishing, this is the perfect time,” said the Honourable Linda Jeffrey, Minister of Natural Resources, of the upcoming license-free fishing opportunity.

Fast Facts:

• Safety first. Check conditions before you head out and frequently while out. Clear ice should be at least 10 cm (4 inches) for walking. Anything less is not safe. Carry rescue equipment and a whistle or cell phone.
• Across Ontario, Canadian residents do not require a fishing licence from February 13-15, but must follow all other fishing regulations, which can be found in the Fishing Ontario, 2010 Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary. Copies are available online at www.ontario.ca/fishing and in print from ServiceOntario centres.
• OFFW events are currently registered for the following communities: Bancroft, Cambridge, Cardiff, Espanola, Ennismore, Hearst, Honey Harbour, Marmora, New Liskeard, Ottawa, Pefferlaw, Trout Creek and Verona. Other family-friendly events may also be planned so check your local listings. Visit www.familyfishingweekend.com for details.
• Ontario Family Fishing Weekend is an initiative of the Ministry of Natural Resources. The program includes a winter weekend and a summer event in July which runs concurrent with National Fishing Week. The OFFW Steering Committee is comprised of the O.F.A.H., MNR, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association.

With 100,000 members, subscribers and supporters, and 660 member clubs, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters is the leading nonprofit fishing, hunting and conservation-based organization in Ontario. To learn more, visit www.ofah.org.

*Press Release Used With Permission

Changes to fisheries regulations in provincial Fisheries Management Zones (FMZ) 6 and 9 are on the horizon for 2010. Anglers in FMZ 6 will soon be able to take advantage of extended fishing opportunities, while in FMZ 9, the zone’s advisory council is working to restore native fisheries in Black Bay, and early in the new year will consider options for Camp 43 dam on the Black Sturgeon River.

Highlights to regulation changes in FMZ 6 include an increase in the winter lake trout season by four weeks, giving anglers from February 1 to March 31 to harvest this popular sport fish. The regulation for pike is changing to eliminate the protected slot, and to allow the harvest of one pike over 70 cm as part of a limit of four fish with a sport license, or two fish with a conservation license. Regulations for smallmouth bass harvest are being simplified. Year round, resident anglers will now be allowed to harvest four smallmouth bass of any size with a sport license, or two with a conservation license. Details on all regulations are contained in the ministry’s recreational fishing summary.

Regulation changes to FMZ 6 were developed with considerable input from the FMZ 6 Advisory Council, which is comprised of local representatives, including two from the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (O.F.A.H.) Zone B. FMZ 6 lies immediately north and east of Lake Superior and takes in a large portion of the Thunder Bay area, parts of Nipigon and Dryden, Lake Superior’s St. Ignace and Simpson Islands, and the islands in Nipigon Bay.

“The extension of a winter lake trout season is great news for local anglers and businesses, and is due in good part, to the efforts of the volunteers on the FMZ 6 Advisory Council,” says Mike Reader, O.F.A.H. Executive Director. “Anglers are closely connected to our fisheries and are well equipped to make a significant contribution to the wise management of our recreational fisheries. Engaging these and other local stakeholders in the process through an advisory council is a positive step by the ministry.”

O.F.A.H. Zone B is also locally represented on the advisory council for FMZ 9, which encompasses the Canadian waters of Lake Superior, from Pigeon River to Sault Ste. Marie. As this zone includes a huge geographic area, the council is further divided into two sub-committees. The western sub-committee has been examining options for the restoration of native fisheries in Black Bay. Early in the New Year, it expects to provide the MNR with its recommendation for action on the Black Sturgeon River Dam, which acts as an important sea lamprey barrier, but may also be preventing walleye from accessing spawning habitat. Fisheries Management Zone Advisory Councils were introduced in 2006 as part of an MNR overhaul that eliminated Fishing Divisions and in their place, created 20 Fisheries Management Zones (FMZ). Zone Advisory Councils are typically comprised of angler organizations, commercial fisheries, outfitters, independent fisheries biologists, First Nations and Métis communities and other stakeholders. FMZ 6 was one of three pilot advisory councils initiated in 2006, and FMZ 9 Advisory Council was formed in 2009. Over time, the province’s plan is to establish an advisory council for each zone.

Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) regulation changes take effect on January 1, 2010. The 2010 Recreational Fishing Summary is available online now at www.ontario.ca/fishing, and come January, will be available in print at Service Ontario centers, and at some outdoor outfitters. With over 100,000 members, subscribers and supporters, and 660 member clubs, the O.F.A.H. is the largest nonprofit, charitable, fishing, hunting and conservation-based organization in Ontario, and the voice of anglers and hunters. For more information, visit www.ofah.org.

Contact
Lezlie Goodwin
O.F.A.H. Communications Coordinator
705-748-6324 ext 270

Marty McGrath
Fisheries Biologist
705-748-6324 ext 268

*Press Release used with Permission from OFAH

Muskoka Outdoors’ Take: Although these FMZs are not part of Muskoka, anytime fishing opportunities are increased anywhere in the Province – it IS great fishing news.

The Ontario MNR has updated the upcoming 2010 Ontario Fishing Regulations. There are some fishery zone changes and some regulation changes posted. Follow this link to view the updates online.

As of September 15, 2009 all Canadian boaters will be required to have the Pleasure Craft Operator Card in order to operate a powered watercraft – even with an electric trolling motor!

Don’t get caught on the water without it! The good news is that you can take the Pleasure Craft Operator Card Exam online and print your card immediately. The folks at Boater Exam.com have a simple 3-step process that allows you to complete the exam on their website.

I have waited too long to take the exam and I will be completing my boating test with them. For more details click on the link below:

*My readers should also know that anyone who clicks on the link above and registers for the exam – Muskoka Outdoors will receive some promotional dollars to help cover the cost of hosting my website.

According to Ontario MNR Fishing Regulations bass season opens on the fourth Saturday of June (in 2009) and ends November 30. This means the splashy aerials and rod bending fights are more appreciated than they were during trout season.

In Fisheries Management Zone (FMZ) 15, you are able to keep 6 smallmouth or largemouth bass if you did not purchase a conservation license. You can keep 2 bass if you did. I suggest that you just take what you need to eat and release the rest.

According to the Ontario Fish Registry (kept by the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters) the Ontario bass records are:

Largemouth Bass: Weight: 10.43 lbs. Length: 22.00 in.
Waterbody: Preston Lake
Girth: 19.50 in. Bait/Lure: Jitterbug
Date Caught: August 26, 1976

Smallmouth Bass: Weight: 9.84 lbs. Length: 24.00 in.
Waterbody: Birch Bark Lake near Kinmount
Girth: 18.25 in. Bait/Lure: N/A Date
Caught: September 26, 1954

For specific fishing seasons and regulations for Ontario FMZ 15 you can download the PDF here.

The Ontario MNR has recently changed the fishing regulations regarding Lake Sturgeon. Any sturgeon caught must be released immediately. The change comes from evidence that supports that over-harvesting is putting the species at risk. According to the Ontario MNR,

This change will affect 16 of the 20 Fisheries Management Zones in the province.  Two zones already have zero catch and possession limits and two zones have closed seasons.

To further protect the species

• no recreational fishing for lake sturgeon will be permitted on the Mississagi River
• the province will reduce the commercial fishing quotas across the province to zero in 2009. (Entire Press Release Here)

This regulation change caught some fishery operators by surprise and has left a fishy taste in their mouths. A London Free Press article shares that,

“Tim Purdy of Purdy’s Fisheries expressed disbelief at yesterday’s announcement, saying his staff has worked with government officials to bring back Canada’s largest and longest-lived fresh water species…Purdy said he’s miffed that commercial operators are being punished. The industry has collaborated with the government for years on monitoring sturgeon stocks in Lake Huron…” Entire Article Here