- Top view of the new fishway at Maple Hill Dam
After much effort by Ontario Steelheaders, MNR and other partner groups it is safe to say Walkerton Fishway at Truax dam is running optimally! On one March afternoon, MNR staff observed 73 rainbows passing through this fishway in just 20 minutes.
The next barrier upstream from Walkerton remains Maple Hill dam. Again, the same dedicated parties completed the first construction stage of the ‘new’ Maple Hill fishway last fall.Although this newly constructed fishway requires a bit more ‘fine tuning’, fish were seen successfully navigating this fishway. Maple Hill Fishway construction will be completed this summer.
- Rainbow trout (Center and inset) negotiating the dam.
So, the good news is the Saugeen is seeing a record number of steelhead at a time when all barriers between the lake and the cold productive headwaters have been eliminated. This is truly a success story and example of what can be achieved when partners with a common interest work together!
Jody Scheifley
Fish & Wildlife Technical Specialist
Ministry of Natural Resources
Owen Sound, ON
1 Comment
Hi its a privlage to see and hear about the amount of sucess these steelheaders have had as a result of the commit they given for the past many years, over twenty years, I just have one question and why is a goverment not putting the good moneys collected from fisherman liences fees and other tax moneys , and make the fishing in other lake huron rivers , saugeen as well and putting into the stocking of samon and steelhead , world class fisherys and building it the level we deserve? its kind of funny over twenty ago when fishing fee was 10.00 the moneys were go back into the fishing …stream rehap. Now the fees go where and who does the stocking and rehap. On the lake huron rivers , the clubs, yet on lake ontario , I think the stocking program are in force. I went to the maitland the other day about the first of October at benmiller falls and conservation area and not a fish to caught not even seen, if you go wet right into ausable river below tippys dam and the fish are there, so its not that it early in the season , and on the same day the saugeen had fresh fish . Need we say any more , thankyou clubs and no thanks to goverment to sports fishing in the lake huron tribs.
Add your Comment!