Walleye Season Opens in FMZ17 May 8th.

Walleye season is set to open on the second Saturday in May (May 8, 2010).

Traditionally, this is a popular date for local anglers, and for many the unofficial start to the summer fishing season.

Declines in walleye populations in the Kawartha Lakes have been well documented.

In conjunction with a number of other management actions identified in the FMZ 17 Fisheries Management Plan,
the ministry has implemented new walleye regulations, effective January 1, 2010:

* The catch and possession limit for conservation licence holders has been reduced from two walleye to one walleye.

* Under both a sport and conservation licence, anglers can only keep walleye that are between 35-50cm (13.8-19.7 inches)
in length.

This regulation provides protection for small walleyes, and more importantly protects large adult female walleye from harvest.

In concert with the other management actions, we believe this regulation will contribute to improvements in walleye populations in FMZ 17.

Anglers should check the regulations summary before going fishing, as a number of exception regulations are identified.

This includes sanctuary areas, many of which remain closed to fishing until the week following the walleye season.

MNR enforcement officers will be actively enforcing the new regulations and intend to take a zero tolerance approach.

The full regulations summary can be viewed online at: www.ontario.ca/fishing

.

For more information that is specific to this area, please visit our website at: www.ontario.ca/zonecouncils

and click on the link for “Zone 17”.