Anglers Asked NOT to Fish Local Trout Streams

I’m passing this important message from the Ministry of Natural Resources on to Anglers in the Brantford/Burford/Guelph/ Kitchener/Waterloo Areas. 

 The Ministry of Natural Resources is asking anglers to voluntarily refrain from fishing for trout in several streams in the Brantford and Burford area.  Fish populations, particularly brook and brown trout, are under stress from this summer’s low water levels and higher than normal water temperatures.  Species such as brook and brown trout need cold, clear water to survive. 

Anglers are asked to voluntarily stop fishing on Whiteman Creek west of Brantford, Mount Pleasant Creek south of the city, and upper MacKenzie Creek – upstream of the town of Oakland until conditions improve in these cold water streams.

Water levels on these streams are at or near record low levels. The low water levels combined with elevated in-stream temperatures have put trout populations in some reaches or sections of the streams at risk.  It is possible that the low flows and warm temperatures have already resulted in the loss of some fish and the situation could worsen if the hot and dry conditions continue.

The ministry is asking anglers to use other water bodies and to fish for species, such as large and smallmouth bass or carp, which are more tolerant of warmer water and reduced flows.