Ice Fishing Enforcement Blitz Finds Most Anglers Obeying Rules
Most anglers checked on Rice Lake, Crowe Lake and the Bay of Quinte during a recent ice fishing enforcement blitz were obeying Ontario’s fishing regulations.
Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry conservation officers, with Ontario Provincial Police officers, conducted an enforcement blitz on January 30 and 31, and February 1, 2015. Officers were checking for compliance with the Ontario Fishery Regulations, paying special attention to anglers keeping closed season walleye on Rice Lake and to limits and licences on the other two water bodies.
Conservation officers checked 661 individuals from Ontario and New York State during the three-day operation. They laid 51 charges for fish, wildlife and safety-related offences including possessing walleye during the closed season.
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- fishing without a licence
- being more than 60 metres from lines
- failing to register an ice hut
- angling with more than two lines
- failing to have helmets or insurance for all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles
They also issued 51 warnings. Conservation officers used the opportunity to educate the public about the size restriction for walleye on the Bay of Quinte and about safety.
For further information on fishing regulations, please consult the Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary available at ontario.ca/fishing.
To report a natural resources violation, call the MNRF TIPS line at 1-877-847-7667 toll-free any time or contact your local ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
