New record for low water levels

New record for low water levels
The Windsor Star

An all-time record for low water levels was broken during the month of January for Lake Michigan and Lake Huron - which in part explains how area residents have witnessed the Detroit River reach its shallowest levels in years.

Many longtime Windsor area boaters and fishing enthusiasts told The Star last week how they believe the river has fallen two to three feet compared to last year and reached its lowest levels in decades.

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Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act

Have you every had someone give you a hard time about fishing? Luckily I haven't, but if you do, the law is on your side.  A woman outside of Ridgetown was charged with obstructing hunting. The rule pertaining to this are as follows (on the date of this post):

Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997 

Section 13.1 
A person shall not interfere with lawful hunting, trapping or fishing by,

1. tampering with traps, nets, bait, firearms or any other thing used for hunting, trapping or fishing;
2. placing himself or herself in a position, for the purpose of interfering, that hinders or prevents hunting, trapping or fishing; or 
3. engaging in an activity, for the purpose of interfering, that disturbs or is likely to disturb wildlife or fish. 

Section 13.2 Notice without authority
A person shall not purport to give notice that entry to premises is prohibited for the purpose of hunting or fishing or that hunting or fishing is prohibited on premises unless the person has authority to give the notice. 1997, c. 41, s. 13.

Fish hard!

Great Lakes stressed out

Great Lakes stressed out
By Debora Van Brenk, The London Free Press

If the Great Lakes were human, they'd be in serious need of stress counselling and intervention.

A comprehensive study analyzing and ranking 34 stressors the giant freshwater lakes are battling against, and where the biggest issues are, has just been released to policy makers and researchers.

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Water levels in Lakes Huron, Michigan to break record lows

Water levels in Lakes Huron, Michigan to break record lows
By Tom Greenwood The Detroit News

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is anticipating all-time record low water levels for Lakes Huron and Michigan in early 2013 after a continued lack of rain and snowfall impacting the Great Lakes Basin.

In a report released Friday, the corps of engineers projected Huron and Michigan will break levels set in March 1964 — 576.05 feet above sea level — while all of the Great Lakes are predicted to see low water levels.

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20121130/METRO/211300454#ixzz2E6vwJzhL

Officials work to thwart the invasion of 'fishzilla'

Officials work to thwart the invasion of 'fishzilla'
By Douglas Quan, Postmedia News

With razor-sharp teeth and dark, slimy skin, snakehead fish imported from Asia make for some pretty exotic pets. And some foodies say their tender, white flesh make for some tasty filets.

But if they are ever released into the Canadian wild and start reproducing, experts warn, the predatory fish - which have been dubbed the "fish from hell" and "fishzilla" - could wreak havoc on our lakes and waterways, destroying native plants and fish populations.

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Thames River Watershed Report Cards

The new 2012 Upper Thames River Watershed Report Cards are now available! Every five years the UTRCA produces 28 report cards to assess local environmental conditions in the 28 watersheds within the upper Thames River watershed.

Each report card grades that watershed’s surface water quality and forest conditions, summarizes watershed features, provides recommended actions for improvement, and highlights progress made over five years. New information has been included on groundwater, connections to the Great Lakes and extreme weather.

Link to the Report

Thames River gets Cs and Ds

Thames River gets Cs and Ds
By Randy Richmond, The London Free Press

Most of the 28 watersheds in the Thames River system are holding their own, but not excelling, according to the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority report cards issued Thursday.

Based on water quality testing and analysis of forest conditions from 2006 to 2011, the 28 watersheds in the river system can be given C and D grades.

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Survey finds Great Lakes full of plastic

Survey finds Great Lakes full of plastic
By Paul Morden, Sarnia Observer

University researchers found surprising amounts of small pieces of plastic this summer in the waters of lakes Huron, Superior and Erie.

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Thames River does a vanishing act

Thames River does a vanishing act
By Randy Richmond, The London Free Press


It’s one of only 42 Canadian Heritage Rivers, and — at 273 km long — one of Southwestern Ontario’s biggest.

More than 500,000 people live in the seven counties and 54 municipalities in the area it drains.

But to the federal government, the Thames River ain’t no Scugog, Pigeon, Otonabee or Rosedale River — not even a Stevens Creek or Kemptville Creek.

Those smaller and lesser known waterways — none of them Heritage Rivers — will remain on Ottawa’s list of navigable waters, and under its protection if proposed amendments to federal legislation go ahead.

The Thames will be dropped.
Read more...

Proposed Changes for Bass Season in Zones 17. 18. and 20

The MNR (Ministry of Natural Resources of Ontario) is looking at changing the Bass Season opening in Zones 17, 18 and 20. They are looking at changing the date from the 4th Saturday in June to the 3rd Saturday in June.

Click here for the full report.

In my opinion, if their data is accurate, is the change would be fine in zones 17 and 18, but zone 20 warms up more slowly as it is a large body of water and the extra week could make a difference in bass stocks.

It will be interesting to see if there are any proposed changes for zone 16 coming.

How many dead fish would be “significant”?

How many dead fish would be “significant”?
Krystyn Tully, Waterkeeper.ca Weekly

A nuclear power plant in Ontario should be allowed to kill millions of fish each year, say staff of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). Their surprising recommendation is part of the final environmental assessment report for Ontario Power Generation’s plan to refurbish four nuclear reactors at its Darlington Nuclear Generating Station on the north shore of Lake Ontario.

CNSC staff are asking Commissioners, acting together with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, to allow OPG to operate a “once-through” cooling system. This outdated system will suck in water from Lake Ontario to cool the nuclear reactors, then discharge warmed water back to the lake all day every day for a half-century.

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Canada - U.S. toughen laws to protect Great Lakes

Canada - U.S. toughen laws to protect Great Lakes
BY TOM GODFREY ,TORONTO SUN

TORONTO - Canada and the U.S. are toughening laws that deal with pollution and intrusive fish species, including Asian carp, that are causing major problems in the Great Lakes.

Environment Minister Peter Kent was in Washington, D.C. on Friday to sign an updated Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement that has not been amended for 40 years.

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No answers in massive fish kill

No answers in massive fish kill
By Trevor Terfloth, Chatham Daily News

A massive fish kill that occurred along the shores of Lake Erie in the Rondeau area over the long weekend is still under investigation.

However, a spill isn't thought to be the culprit, according to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment.

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Hundreds of Dead Fish Wash up at the Shores of Erie Beaches

Ministry of the Environment investigating after hundreds of dead fish wash up at the shores of Lake Erie beaches
Alex Weber, London Free Press

Beach goers looking to take advantage of the last weekend of summer were startled to find hundreds of dead fish washed up along the shore of Lake Erie, Saturday afternoon. Read More...

Extinction rate of North American freshwater fish could double by 2050

The extinction rate of freshwater fish in North America could double by 2050, the USGS has warned.

The findings are the result of a USGS study to be published in the September issue of Bioscience.

Read More...

Where Have All the Good Bass Gone - Part 3

I had written to the Thames River Anglers Association (TRAA) about the perceived lack of bass in the Thames River in the London area.

I received a response back that indicates that bass catches have been decent this year and in the recent past.  The exception being in the South Branch by the Pottersburg Creek pollution plant.  Apparently there was a change in their outflow which destroyed the bass fishery in the area.

They assured me that bass fishing was still good.

The TRAA say "The weather patterns of late remind me of 1986 when we had all time low water levels which combined with the high heat created algae blooms which lead to the sudden decline of the bass fishery. That is why our group was formed in 1986." This information makes sense given the weather.


Randy Bailey of the TRAA continues, 

"One of the other reasons I see is the exploitation of the bass fishery and blatant disregard for the regulations. Case in point, I reported 2 gentlemen to the local CO and tips line who were fishing on Rebbecca Road. The two of them had 14 smallmouth on a stringer and they were all in the size range you are talking about. The best part is the local CO busted both of them a week after the tip and confiscated their gear as well as a hefty fine." It is good that the offenders were caught and charged

I heard that overfishing was the primary problem with bass populations before.

I have received information from a few sources that say the bass fishery is still in good shape in the Thames River. I hope this is the case.  Now all I have to do is get out there and find them.


I'll continue to monitor the situation and post any additional information I uncover.

Where Have All the Good Bass Gone - Part 2

The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority got back to me regarding the questions and comments I had sent them about the lack of smallmouth bass in the Thames River over the last few years. I'll copy their followup to me below.

"FYI - sampled two locations between Hwy 7 and St. Marys today - water temperature doesn't seem to have much effect on my fishing success. Sm bass were fairly abundant at both with at least 4 year classes observed. At one time we had at least 10 lbs. of bass in the bucket with three that would have been pushing 3 lb. Good news in terms of bass population but bad news in terms of water levels. We are normally only able to catch the smaller ones, while the bigger ones escape to deeper water that is non-existent this year, and it's not even the middle of July yet! This could make them vulnerable to a variety of types of predation."

It would seem, that the smallmouth populations are doing okay in the North Branch outside of the city. I'm still convinced there is a problem with bass inside the city limits. I'm going to continue to contact relevant groups to see about this.  I'd like to be able to land large bass within London again.

Where Have All the Good Bass Gone?

When I got back into fishing 6 years ago, smallmouth bass were abundant in the Thames River. I fished from Plover Mills to Komoka and every trip usually produced at least couple of small bass.  Sometimes we'd get 10 or more on a trip. Sometimes was would get larger smallmouth upwards of 16 inches. Bass were abundant in both branches of the river.  Excellent areas in town included Highbury Ave and the North Branch, the dog park on Hamilton Road and Thames Park downtown.

For the first couple of all areas of river produced bass. As time went on there were less and less bass to be had.  Since 2010 I've only been able to catch less than 10 bass in the river and they were all small (8 inches or less). I fish the Thames River at minimum 50 times per year and usually more. I try a variety of locations, techniques and tackle. I've been successful in other locations where bass are present. There is a problem with the bass population in the Thames River within the London City limits.

To address my concerns I emailed one of the aquatic biologists at the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority. The person I emailed returned my email right way, acknowledged my concerns and shared with me that he has received additional concerns from other anglers.  In addition he said he was going to start gathering some baseline data. He shared that water quality bethos sampling had remained stable and good for the last decade or so.  It does not seem to be a water quality issue. Also they have not "noticed any significant habitat changes, which fish communities tend be more responsive to and indicative of."

When I receive more feed back I will post for everyone to see.

Another fish kill feared

By RANDY RICHMOND, The London Free Press

After a brief rainy respite, rivers and creeks in the region have returned to the "worrisome" low levels that may have led to the recent fish kill in Pottersburg Creek, scientists warn.

"We've got levels in mid-July that we usually have at the end of August," Mark Helsten, a senior water resource engineer with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, said Tuesday.

Read more...

Fishing Illegal in Toronto City Parks

For the full story which has been brewing form months, click this link.

June 6, Signs went up in Toronto City Parks

This is Toronto, not London. However, who's to say city hall won't do the same thing when they start redeveloping the downtown as they are planning right now.  This is an important fight, to make sure fishing rights are maintained everywhere. I encourage everyone to get involved with this battle. My thanks go out to those in Toronto, contacting the media, calling politicians and city staff. Please remember that...

"FISHING IS NOT A CRIME"