MANITOULIN—Initial reaction from two members of a local fish and game club are not positive towards a Sault Ste. Marie area angler petitioning for lake trout and walleye catch limit changes in Fisheries Management Zone (FMZ) 10, which includes Manitoulin Island.
“I am not in favour of this petition,” said Bill Strain, a member of the Little Current Fish and Game Club (LCFGC). “It would really hurt the inland lakes on Manitoulin Island if this was all opened up.”
“To blanket the entire Zone 10, I wouldn’t agree with,” said Mr. Strain. “There are lots of lakes north of Highway 17 that have lots of lake trout. And as far as walleye on Manitoulin I think this should be left the way it is.”
“I would need a lot more information on what the gentleman proposing the petition expects to take place by having these regulations changed,” said Lou Shortt, president of the LCFGC.
SooToday.com reported on February 19 that a local angler is seeking the public’s support to relax catch limits on lake trout and walleye in Zone 10. Covering lakes and rivers from Sault Ste. Marie to Sudbury, including most of Manitoulin Island, zone 10’s catch limit for the lake trout and walleye has sparked frustration among anglers, said John Kallio, Ontario Outdoors Recreational Association president.
Currently, with a sport fishing licence, lake trout regulations allow possession of two fish, with no more than one greater that 40 centimetres in size and walleye regulations allow possession of four fish, with none greater than 46 centimetres.
With the size restrictions in place, Mr. Kallio told Soo Today anglers often need to release fish that have sustained serious injuries from barotrauma or hook wounds. “There are mortality issues because anglers are trying to stay within the slot size, and sometimes, depending on what lake you’re fishing, you are not able to do that.” He said what happens is that you are releasing fish and sometimes you’re releasing fish that don’t survive.
Mr. Kallio is proposing that anglers be able to keep two lake trout of any size, or four walleye, with one permitted over 60 centimetres, to help prevent the need to release mortally wounded fish, he said.
In place for close to 15 years, current regulations were introduced to protect fish populations, but Mr. Kallio told Soo Today it is simply frustrating the fishing community. He added that lakes of concern, with lower lake trout or walleye populations, can be restricted on a case-by-case basis, but the blanket approach across Zone 10 is not needed.
The two petitions, calling the province to put in place Zone 10 regulation changes, one for walleye and one for lake trout, are available on the Ontario Outdoors Recreational Association website.
“I think Bill is right that things should be left as they are,” said Mr. Shortt. “I hear what the gentleman is saying on size limits, but it is the big fish that will reproduce. Unfortunately, there are a bunch of people who don’t care about size limits, and they take the biggest fish they can.”
“Two years ago, walleye slot sizes were changed,” pointed out Mr. Shortt. “We have to leave well enough alone and see how this works out over a few years,” saying he is not in favour of the petitions. “I would need a lot more information on how the changes would benefit the fishery. Remember this gentleman is promoting recreational fishing, which is only one part of this whole issue.”
“I think that Manitoulin should be left alone for walleye and lake trout limit changes,” said Mr. Strain.
