Ripple Outdoors Hunting and Fishing Podcasts

Discover some great fishing on the Grand River this year.

The GRCA has just released a vastly updated version of its popular Fishing Grand River Country book.

Essentially an entirely new book, it was researched and written by noted angler Stephen May on behalf of the GRCA, and published by James Lorimer and Co. Ltd.

The book contains 160 pages, in full colour, with detailed information on fishing in all parts of the main Grand River and its major tributaries.

The Grand has more than 80 species of fish – representing 50 per cent of all fish species found in Canada.  Being a river so close to major cities, the Grand has become a major recreational fishery of exceptionally high quality.

The book highlights all of the major sport fish species, including the best times for fishing, river character and access points.  There are even special sections on urban angling opportunities, and fishing within Grand River Conservation Areas.

Fishing Grand River Country is a must have for both novice and experienced anglers.

Proceeds go to help with fisheries habitat improvement work on streams within the Grand River watershed.

To get your copy of Fishing Grand River Country, ask for it in local stores, or it’s available in the Online Store section of the GRCA’s website at www.grandriver.ca.

The book sells for $24.95.

‘Take a Kid Fishing Day’ May 8 at Belwood Lake Conservation Area

Junior anglers can learn from the pros at the Shimano Take a Kid Fishing Day at Belwood Lake Conservation Area near Fergus on Saturday, May 8.

The event is free for registered participants, although they will have to pay park entry fees, which are $2.50 for children and $4.50 for adults.

There will be two half-day sessions, with space for 120 people in each. The morning session will go from 8:30 a.m. to noon, with the afternoon session running from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Kids in both sessions can join in the free barbecue lunch from noon to 1 p.m.

The day is designed to get new anglers, between 8 and 14, involved in fishing and help them improve their skills. Children must be supervised by a parent or guardian.

The children will take lessons and then try their new skills at the stocked pond in the conservation area. They’ll learn how to cast, rig lures, tie flies, identify various fish species and their habitats and learn how to catch more fish. Archery lessons are also available.

For more information and to register, call Belwood Lake Conservation Area at (519) 843-2979 or
e-mail dstrub@grandriver.ca. The conservation area is at 8282 Wellington County Road 18, four kilometres east of Fergus. The event brochure is available in the Calendar section of the GRCA website at www.grandriver.ca. Look for the listing in May events.

Event sponsors are the GRCA, Shimano, Bass Pro Shops, Rapala, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters TackleShare, Friends of the Grand River, Berkley, Wellington County Stewardship Council, KWC Bassmasters, Mitten, GayLea, Storm Lures and the Canadian Bass Anglers Federation

The Community Stream Steward Program (C.S.S.P.) has secured funding from federal and provincial government agencies as well as private sources, for numerous stream restoration projects within its catchment area.

Hosted by the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (O.F.A.H.), the C.S.S.P. educates and engages individuals and groups to act as stewards in restoring community streams, with associated benefits for healthy fish and wildlife populations.

“Landowners are willing and committed stewards of our water resources. The Community Stream Steward Program (C.S.S.P.) assists them in undertaking projects by providing training and financial support, which are key components to success,” says C.S.S.P. Coordinator, Erin Carroll. “We are grateful for these grants that acknowledge the value of stewardship initiatives such as planting shorelines, stabilizing banks, improving fish habitat, installing livestock fencing and creating alternate watering sources for livestock.

Every project, large or small, contributes to a healthier ecosystem.”

Environment Canada’s Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund is contributing $96,000 to the second phase of C.S.S.P.’s Lake Simcoe clean-up plan. Several shoreline restoration projects will be planned and implemented on lake tributaries.

The RBC Foundation is providing a $55,000 leadership grant to the C.S.S.P. through its RBC Blue Water Project, a wide-ranging, multi-year program that helps foster a culture of water stewardship globally.

The provincial Species at Risk (S.A.R.) Stewardship fund is providing the C.S.S.P. with $40,000 to aid in protecting six species at risk—Redside dace (Threatened), Channel darter (Threatened), Atlantic salmon (Extirpated), American eel (Endangered), Blanding’s turtle (Threatened) and Wood turtle (Endangered). With assistance from the C.S.S.P., landowners and volunteers will undertake stream restoration projects in the watersheds within Northumberland County, Peterborough County, the City of Kawartha Lakes and Region of Durham.

The Ontario Wildlife Foundation (O.W.F.) is contributing over $9,000 to support C.S.S.P. initiatives. The O.W.F. is dedicated to the conservation and enhancement of Ontario’s fish and wildlife habitat through research and restoration.

The C.S.S.P. is a multi-partner initiative that is focused on creating a sense of community by assisting dedicated individuals and groups in restoring local streams. To learn more, visit www.ofah.org/stream.

With over 100,000 members, subscribers and supporters, and 660 member clubs, the O.F.A.H. is the largest private, nonprofit fish and wildlife conservation organization in Ontario, and the voice of anglers and hunters. For more information, visit www.ofah.org.

 Most Grand River Conservation Authority Parks will open for the season on Friday, May 1 at noon.The GRCA operates 12 conservation areas, eight of which offer camping, with about 2,500 camping sites.Opening on May 1 will be Byng Island (Dunnville), Brant (Brantford), Pinehurst (Paris), Laurel Creek (Waterloo), Conestogo (Drayton), Guelph Lake, Elora Gorge and Luther Marsh (Grand Valley.)Three parks have earlier opening dates. Belwood Lake (Fergus) opened on April 9 and Rockwood is opening Friday, April 24. Those two parks have stocked trout ponds so have opened early to allow anglers to start fishing when trout season opens at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, April 25. Shade’s Mills (Cambridge) also opened Friday, April 24.One other park, Elora Quarry, will open in mid-June.A season-long alcohol ban is in effect at Elora Gorge. Early season bans, from May 14 (Victoria Day weekend) to June 21, will be in place at Byng Island, Guelph Lake and Laurel Creek. Alcohol is banned in all parks during the Victoria Day and Labour Day weekends.