IWFFC Response to the Ministry’s plan.
February 14, 2014
To: Mark Heaton, District Biologist
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources,
This is a response to the Credit River Fisheries Management Plan on behalf of the Izaak Walton Flyfishing Club:
A basic ethic of fly fishing is catch and release. For this reason our Club is opposed to any killing of fish and in particular Brown Trout in the Credit. At present there are no kill regulations in effect above Old Base Line in Caledon. These regulations include a requirement for single barbless hooks, no live bait. This makes it almost an exclusive fly fishing stretch of the river. Who will kill the Brown Trout? Anyone who is prepared to kill Brown Trout is probably prepared to kill all fish including the protected Brook Trout.
We understand that Brown Trout were introduced to the Credit River early in the last century because they were better able to tolerate warmer water. We expect that the water is even warmer now. We cannot go back to the way things were 100 years ago. We have sewage treatment plants, storm water runoff, septic tanks, water removal and global warming all affecting water temperature and quality.
Brown Trout have provided an excellent, sustainable fishery, for over 100 years. It would be wrong to sacrifice Brown Trout on the altar of Brook Trout, which we would suggest are suffering because of water quality, not competition from Brown Trout. These fish have co-existed for over 100 years . It is no fault of Brown Trout that Brook Trout are in decline. As evidence of this, we would observe that there are no Browns above the Cataract and yet Brook Trout are in decline above the Cataract.
We would also support the Rainbow Trout fishery in the lower Credit which has provided excellent fishing opportunities. Various organizations, including Izaak Walton, have done wonderful work to create these fisheries. It does not make sense to deliberately diminish them in any way.
Would you please advise me where one can review the Plan so that I can advise Club members that may want to respond personally.
Thank you for considering our position.
Don Arthurs
Conservation Chair
Izaak Walton Flyfishing Club
Cc: J. Almond, OMNR
Bang on guys. I don’t see why anyone in their right mind would want to destroy what could potentially be the best wild trophy brown trout section in all of Ontario for 2 native species that are having such a hard time in our current environment.. Work on water management above the cataract if they want to increase brook trout opportunities and leave the browns alone below the falls.. makes most sense to me..
http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-Extern … anguage=en
Please send in your feedback to the MNR via this link. I basically told them that i disagree and would like a more diverse fishery in favour of species that can survive in todays and tomorrows climate and conditions and that i would rather see them attempt at improving water quality instead. whereas an improvement of water quality would most likely increase the brook trout population.
http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/displaynoticecontent.do?noticeId=MTIwODEx&statusId=MTgwODU4&language=en
sorry the link in the previous comment didnt come out well.