New catch-and-release fishing video

Posted: Friday, July 3, 2020
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Help protect the waters that sustain our recreational fishing.


New video offers catch-and-release fishing tips, tricks in time for Ontario’s family fishing event from July 4 – 19

Davin Heinbuck, of Ausable Bayfield Conservation, instructs young people on some of the ways to catch and release fish

Ontario’s next family fishing event runs from July 4-19, 2020. A new video, with fishing tips and tricks, has been prepared in time to help you enjoy this chance to fish licence-free.

The video features angler Davin Heinbuck, who is Water Resources Coordinator with Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA). The video has been shared by the Foundation for Education Perth Huron, at found4education, as part of their new Art of Life video series.

Watch the video now:

The series features local personalities, artists, and community members creating content to encourage and educate young people during the current pandemic.

The video will also be posted in the coming days to Ausable Bayfield Conservation’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.

For many years, ABCA staff have hosted fishing workshops for youth in Ausable River Watershed and other watersheds along Lake Huron’s southeast shore. This year, during the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, staff teach about catch-and-release fishing through the means of the new video. It is a way to promote responsible angling and protection of our resources while not having people in the close proximity of a workshop.

The new video is part of a public awareness campaign by Healthy Lake Huron – Clean Water, Clean Beaches. The partnership works to keep Lake Huron’s southeast shore clean for recreation (such as fishing), as a source of raw drinking water for treatment, and for people to enjoy. The partners say we are all a “piece of the puzzle” (#pieceofthepuzzle) in keeping a Healthy Lake Huron (#healthylakehuron) from land to lake (#landtolake).

Young people are invited to try out the sport of fishing in the Great Outdoors, while practising social physical distancing and other safe actions recommended by public health authorities. Youth are also asked to practise catch-and-release fishing so fish can grow to be caught again. Opportunities for great summer-time fishing exist across the Ausable Bayfield Conservation watershed.

The Ausable River is home to many sought-after species of fish, such as Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Walleye, and Northern Pike. The Old Ausable Channel is home to Sunfish, Yellow Perch, Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike, while Morrison Dam Conservation Area provides angling opportunities for Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, and White Crappie. Parkhill Reservoir and Conservation Area offers exceptional fishing for record class White Crappie, and Largemouth Bass.

The Bayfield River is a popular spot for Smallmouth Bass, Salmon in autumn, and Rainbow Trout in the spring. The river mouth areas of the Ausable and the Bayfield rivers offer additional opportunities to catch a wide range of fish species both large and small. Fishing spots are nearly endless but remember to respect private property.

The Ausable River is one of the nationally important watercourses in our area where fish are found. The Ausable River supports one of Canada’s most diverse communities of aquatic animals, including 26 species of freshwater mussels and 85 species of fish. If you live in Ausable River watershed, and you would like to find out about actions you can take to improve habitat for local aquatic species and grants that may be available as incentives to help you do stewardship projects, email info@abca.ca or call toll-free 1-888-286-2610. 

The government of the Province of Ontario has designated four periods throughout the year as licence-free as a province-wide chance for Canadian residents to fish Ontario waters without the otherwise mandatory fishing version outdoors card.

The Ontario website says licence-free periods “ ...remind us of the value of Ontario’s recreational fishery, and the importance of keeping it healthy for future generations.”

Anglers must follow conservation licence catch limits; obey size limits and sanctuaries; and follow fishing regulations.

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