JULY 7, 2009

For the past seven years the Barrie Bassmasters have been planting Christmas trees. The project has been coordinated in cooperation with the Ministry of Natural Resources’ Community Fisheries and Wildlife Involvement Program. This isn’t a typical reforestation project because rather than plant the trees on land they are being sent to the bottom of Lake Simcoe to create an artificial reef in Kempenfelt Bay. Unlike other parts of the lake, Kempenfelt has little bottom structure. This structure is a necessary safe-haven for baitfish and panfish to hide from predators but also periodically acts as ambush cover for larger predatory fish.  Through the years the trees have become a more ridged structure as crustaceans build upon the branches forming a fairly permanent reef. 

Every year, club members collect leftover trees from local Christmas tree farms that would otherwise be discarded. The trees are transported onto the lake in winter when the ice is thick enough to carry heavy loads or in the spring where they are loaded onto barges and taken to the target drop destination. Concrete blocks donated by Atlas Block of Barrie are tied to the bottom of the trees. These blocks act as anchors and also provide structure. The trees and blocks are placed into waters deep enough not to impede boat traffic or cause any undue hardship for the many recreational boaters on the lake.

In 2009 club members and volunteers loaded trees on to the CATO II operated by Captain Rick Ronca and First Mate Larry Brandridge of the Seneca College Surface Commercial Scuba Program. This was a perfect vessel for the job and the club can’t thank them enough for donating the boat and a full day to facilitate this year’s drop. “After many years of dropping the trees through the ice, I know the many club volunteers will agree the CATO ll and her fine crew made this drop the best yet”, said Barrie Bassmaster club president Gerry Heels. 

It is estimated that over 300 trees covering an area approximately 400 square meters are resting comfortably on the bottom of Kempenfelt Ba y. According to local divers the reef is saturated with small fish and all evidence points to a successful environment.

The Barrie Bassmasters will continue the project for years to come. “There are many projects that with a little time and effort can make a huge difference to our fishery and environment” said Steve Reimer, conservation director for the Barrie Bassmasters. “We look for new projects to add to our tree drop and Little Lake cleanup projects and invite non club member volunteers to join us through the Bassmaster Conservation ACT program. Many people in the area would like to be involved but don’t know how or who to call. Motivating the community to roll up their sleeves and get involved is part of our education mandate”. 

Each year the Ontario B.A.S.S. Federation Nation completes hundreds of conservation projects across the province. Projects like these have received recognition from conservation organizations throughout North America. Ontario chapters have won numerous awards and become leaders in fish habitat enhancement initiatives and research projects that benefit all anglers regardless of what species they prefer to catch.

We don’t just care; we roll up our sleeves and get the job done.  
MORE PHOTOS

UPDATE ON FISH TAGGING PROJECT ON LAKE SIMCOE, JULY 2009

Before I pass on this quick little conservation update, I’d like to thank all those who helped out with the Lake Simcoe Bass Tagging Research Project during the Bassmaster Eastern Divisional’s in Orillia July 22, 23 and 24th 2009. Besides having great support from MNR biologists who volunteered (from two district offices) we also had several Ontario MNR Rangers, University students, OBFN members and Junior Bassmasters who pitched in. A special thank you to Junior Bassmaster Michael Evers who was there all three days helping us sample fish. It was a very busy 3 days at the sampling stations and we put thru a total of 380 smallmouth and largemouth bass. Over the last three years we have been able to tag 484 bass so now we have well over 800 bass sampled and tagged.

We received two recaps in Orillia – bass that were previously sampled and tagged at other tournaments. Here are the details on those two fish:

1) Caught by renowned Federation Nation angler and former FNC Champion and Bassmaster Classic qualifier … Ed Cowan of New York on July 23. When Ed caught it, the fish measured 49.5 cm yet when it was originally caught and sampled during the Barrie Bassmaster Open Tournament in Kempenfelt Bay in 2007 it measured 49.4 cm. Not much growth – but still a healthy fish that was released in good shape. We aged the bass in 2007 at 10 years old – so it’s 12 now. Ed weighed it in @ 2.0 kg or 4.42 lbs and originally – in late Oct 07 (when these bass are on the feed-bag) – it weighed an even 5 lbs. Ed’s fish was not previously fizzed.
2) Caught by renowned Canadian Angler Rob Hyatt of North Bay on July 24. When Rob caught it, it weighed 6.61 lbs on our hand scales and when it was originally caught and sampled (2008 BPS Open out of Sibbald’s) it weighed 5.51lbs. It measured 49.8 cm last year in October and 8 months later it measured 50.5cm. It was one big fat smallie and grew quickly. It was aged at 11 years old last fall. Rob’s fish was previously fizzed. Unfortunately Rob’s fish was also one of the few that did not make it and I received the tags back from the Live Release boat.

By this time last year, we already had 13 recaps reported – and so far in 2009, we have just these two. I am asking all Ontario BASS Federation Nation members to spread the word about this tagging project to make sure all anglers fishing either Simcoe or Couchiching are on the lookout for tags. They will likely be covered in algae – which is perfectly normal – so the angler will need to scrape away the algae with a pen knife to read the phone number and tag number. Look for most bass to be double tagged – between the two dorsal fins (the big ones at top of fish). Please make sure anglers write down the tag numbers, the phone #, take a quick measurement if convenient, and then call in the details along with a brief description of where it was caught and released (eg northeast side of Lake Simcoe). Reporting tagged fish is vital to the success of these programs and we count on the angling public to help make them successful.

As many club members begin fishing Couchiching in the latter part of the summer, it is especially important this year to look for tagged bass that originated from our Eastern Divisional on Cooch. Even our own little club events can get the juices flowing and we are often all too quick to instantly put bass into the livewell before looking for tags. So, please look carefully and get in the habit of bringing pen and paper to record any tagged fish..

Thanks very much everyone,

Wil Wegman
OBFN Conservation and Media Director

BARRIE BASSMASTERS usually does two or three conservation projects each year with the largest to date being in 1997 when the club installed about 20 tons of limestone in Willow Creek upstream of the old Hwy 11 bridge to serve as a spawning area for the walleyes from Little Lake. Since that time we have done an annual cleanup at Little Lake with the great assistance of Cedar Park campground who provide the pontoon boats for our use. For the last seven years or so we have had an ongoing habitat improvment project on Lake Simcoe in co-operation with the Barrie Junior Bassmasters with funding from the Ministry of Natural Resources to place additional structure in Kempenfelt Bay in Barrie to provide cover for juvinile bass and other fish.

March 25, 2007:  Our first project this year is our ongoing habitat improvement project on Kempenfelt Bay. This year we elected to place the trees thru the ice late in the season rather then use boats. We collected about 300 Christmas trees after the holidays and stored them at various locations. We then moved them to Johnson Street beach and from there to the location on the ice. Seven large holes were cut in the ice with chain saws and the trees were dropped to the botton using concrete blocks for weight. About 20 of our club members helped with this project as well as several Junior Bassmasters.   SEE PHOTOS