Southern Ontario Fisheries Enhancement Initiative

The ultimate goal The purpose of the Southern Ontario Fisheries Enhancement Initiative is to create and improve fishing for everyone. Improvements to existing waterbodies or new ones created in pits and quarries, good fishing spots are getting harder and harder to come by and these smaller locations can help fill the void. As most gravel pits are close to populated areas, these can become excellent places to spend the day, teach a child, have great family time, and introdu...ce young people to the sport of fishing. But as stated above, this is something that needs to be available to everyone. Imagine the limitations for people with mobility issues? Fishing opportunities for some are considerably few and far between. Our goal is to change that. Not only will every new location allow for access to those with mobility issues, but at least one location will be created entirely for those with limitations. Not being limited to one small corner, a fisherman will be able to move around and try various spots due to the installation of fishing platforms, specially designed water edges, on-site strategically placed fishing chairs and more. A place where fly-fishing, casting, bait-fishing and ice fishing is made available to everyone, regardless of circumstance. This is the ultimate goal. https://www.facebook.com/Southern-Ontario-Fisheries-Enhancement-Initiative-623950877994051/

Kids and fishing The odds are that many of the fisherman reading this have, at some time, fished in an old pit or quarry, or a stocked pond. They can be a great place to go and cast a line when time or weather prevent you from going to the lake or favourite river. They can also be great places for those with mobility issues. And they are also great places to take the family. They are safe, and if managed well, can provide a high degree of angling success. It is a fantastic place to introduce a child to the sport you enjoy. Not only will the child hook his or her first fish, but they will become hooked too!

To make an old pit or quarry into a public fishing spot makes a lot of sense. First, it makes the property more a function of sustainability. Should the site be located close to a populated area, the land can become more valuable and improve the tax base for adjacent properties. It can create a destination for people to travel to, an attraction, that can add to the local economy. It can also be a safe place, with a high success rate to the angler and an excellent place to... introduce children to the sport of fishing. This adds to the sustainability of the industry as a whole. Safety is a critical factor. If a site is not safe and can't be made safe in a cost effective manner, then it cannot be open to the public. But if during the development of the pit there is a plan to turn it into a publicly accessed property, the safety component can be factored in. Instead of having sloped edges down to the water, flat zones can be created and top soil added as the aggregate is removed and the pit expands. The end result, a safe place to go fishing. Usable land with social and economic benefit sustainability! https://www.facebook.com/Southern-Ontario-Fisheries-Enhancement-Initiative-623950877994051/

I live next to two conservation areas that are both popular fishing spots and help manage one. It is a beautiful spot with a good sized trout pond, but not a day goes by that I do not have to go and pick up garbage left behind by fishermen. The other day I picked an empty box that holds 12 cans of pop from the brush at the edge of the pond. By the time I walked around I had filled the box with beer cans, beer bottles, and broken glass. I had also collected a few bait cont...ainers and two discarded packages for lures. This after one quiet weekend. Garbage cans are located at the site. And this is one of the hurdles I must face when setting up new fishing spots. Property owners, whether private or government held, invariably bring up the issue of misuse and garbage. It is one of the reasons that many properties that used to be accessible to fisherman are no longer and are posted as no trespassing. It is an unfortunate reality that anyone who appreciates the outdoors should consider. Like the old adage about 10% of the water holding 90% of the fish, a few inconsiderate fisherman can spoil it for the whole. https://www.facebook.com/Southern-Ontario-Fisheries-Enhancement-Initiative-623950877994051/

A little wet today but quite fulfilling. Did primary inspections of 5 sites and 4 of them show promise with two of those looking exceptional - All in Oxford County! An Osprey was hunting over one of them. Nice to see.