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Ottawa ChapterWho We Are The Ottawa Chapter of Muskies Canada is composed of avid muskie anglers, both experienced and novice, who are actively putting something back into this fishery through the promotion of catch and release, participation in conservation projects and support to research into our local muskie environment.
Meeting Location4026 Richmond Road, Nepean,ON MAP
Ottawa Chairman's Message
I'm old enough to have fished with a bent pin and I actually did. We fashioned hooks out of small pins in order to catch small minnows with a bit of worm, a strand of mono, and an old stick or branch for a fishing rod. Pretty rudimentary technology, even minnows had a good chance of perpetual survival in our small creeks.
Times have changed. The arsenal of technology and highly engineered equipment available to the angler of today is beyond the wildest daydreams of those youthful days. The fishermen's ability and knowledge have quickly increased with the advent of educational media and the internet. Now with automatic downriggers, planers, all angle sonar, GPS, underwater cameras, and a bevy of other gadgetry, and most importantly highly refined fishing tackle and technique and affordable watercraft, it is my belief that it is not impossible for today's angler to remove the wariest fish over time even when only small numbers of fish are present, especially in small to medium waters.
The question I ask is a simple one. Have we skewed the chase so much in the fisherman's favour that fish don't stand a chance over time, specifically fish that take a long time to mature? The problem is we enjoy the catching. The muskie anglers response has been the self administered concept of catch and release. In the long run , we have to work not only to make this concept even more universal, but also more effective.
Hedrik MeetingsOur chapter meetings are held on the 2nd. Wednesday of every month at the Bell's Corners Legion (7:30 PM), unless otherwise specified. The public is welcome.map
Upcoming Ottawa Chapter Meetings
Ottawa Plans & Perspectives For 2009Projects for 2009 are not yet finalized but will include the following:
Muskellunge Catch and Release Study: The last study on muskellunge catch and release was published in 1980 by Dr Ed Crossman and his co researcher Gail Beggs. Little is known about the effects of angling for muskellunge at high summer temperatures or cold temperatures or even time out of water. This study of physiological effects of angling for muskellunge revealed that across a range of temperature (10 to 25C), there were significant physiological disturbances and mortality was approx. 30% (Beggs et al. 1980). However, sample sizes were insufficient to evaluate the influence of temperature and/or air time on mortality and some of the research techniques utilized might have had negative impacts on post release survival.
Muskies Canada along with Muskies Inc and various fisheries researchers have stepped forward to initiate a formal catch and release study. The objective of this proposed study would be to determine the survival rates (and the recording of physiological baseline data) as a result of on water actual angling hook up and release through a various set of angling practices and the monitoring of survival of the fish in the wild. Muskellunge angling appears to be increasing in popularity with a resultant increase in fishing pressure. In a scenario with a large enough post release mortality rate, there can be a significant population decline over time. Ultimately a study of this type will allow for the determination of the most effective species specific release practices and minimize the impacts of anglers on wild muskellunge populations. This project will also allow for the training of a graduate student in many aspects of muskellunge biology.
In a nutshell, muskellunge will be caught under actual angling conditions, landed under a prescribed set of conditions, some blood will be quickly sampled and flash frozen for future lab work, and upon resuscitation a small short term external radio tag will be attached to the back of the muskellunge. The fish will be released back into the wild and tracked/monitored for subsequent survival. It is hoped that the sample size will exceed 50 individual fish.
The lead fisheries researcher will be Dr. Steven Cooke of Carleton University with support from Dr. Cory Suski from the University of Illinois. The grad student doing most of the field work over a two year time frame will be Sean Landsman. Sean is an avid muskie angler and member of Muskies Inc. from the Chicago area. The proposed waters for this research will include 5 reaches of the Rideau River and the Madawaska River as well, both relatively close to the university in Ottawa. Preparations for the study will commence in May 2009.
Kids Fishing 2009: Once again this year we will be helping out at the Nepean Boys and Girls Club and the Ottawa East Optimist Club Kids Fishing Day on the shores of Dows Lake in downtown Ottawa. Last year approximately 75 kids and their families were treated to a day of fishing thanks to the generous support of a number of sponsors including Berkley, Fenwick, Zebco, Rogers Cable, and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources to name a few. We will be looking for member volunteers again this year to help out. Dates are to be provided soon although an initial planning date of July 13 has been suggested. For more information contact Russell Spanton (613) 834-0675.
Brewer Park Restoration: A project is being undertaken by the Ottawa Chapter of Muskies Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and many other local stakeholders to restore the land and waters of this park and remove the old community swimming facility. Generally the project is to restore the Northern shoreline of the Rideau River, beside the Bronson St. Bridge, back to a natural state. This derelict facility has not been used for over 30 years and sits on backfill that was used to create the land. The project will involve removing the existing building and cement pool and some of the soil and reshaping the shoreline and replanting the native plants and grasses. There have been some soil and core samples taken and the project looks like it can be accomplished successfully. Efforts are being made to acquire long term funding for the project. More details will be provided as they become available.
Rideau River Telemetry Study: We have concluded our joint project with Dr. Steve Cooke, of the Institute of Environmental Science and Biology Department, and his students from the Carleton University Biology Department. The goal of the project was to provide opportunities for the Carleton students to get some hands on experience working in the field. Muskies Canada Ottawa provided funding for the radio tags to be used. The project plan was to have Muskies Canada members capture the study fish using standard angling methods and have the students learn to anesthetize the fish, perform the operation to insert the Radio Tags, and monitor the recovery and release of the fish. Our work started in 2006 with an initial effort to insert 10 radio tags into Muskellunge from the Downtown Rideau River. We were able to get all 10 tags implanted in 2007. Further work involving tracking and monitoring the fish with telemetry equipment has been completed. We hope to have a final report on the results of the study soon.
Please Note! The fish are easily identifiable - an aerial wire protrudes from their posterior. We ask that if one of these specific fish is captured that it be carefully released to allow for continued research. Updates on the results will be provided in the future.
Hard Data Related to Ontario Muskie: In 2007, a paper entitled "Characteristics of Ontario muskellunge fisheries based on volunteer angler diary information" by Steven Kerr of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. He examined fishing log data provided by Muskies Canada members from 1979 thru to 2004 from most Ontario waters with significant muskellunge populations. The long term overall catch rate for Ontario turns out to be 14.6 rod hours of fishing effort. Kerr also reports over the last 10 years the general catch rate has improved and this has been attributed to catch and release angling and more restrictive limits. The calculated mean length of the catch turned out to be 37 inches (sample of 9,499 muskies). In the last 10 years, MCI members reported fish 53 inches or more in each year except one. The biggest was a 60 inch release from the St Lawrence. The release rates have increased over the history of Muskies Canada to stand around 99% today. Muskellunge catches are highly correlated with angling effort that is muskie are consistently caught throughout the angling season from June to December at approximately the same rate. In conclusion Steven Kerr states that overall Ontario's wild muskellunge fisheries appear to be stable and sustainable.
Know The Difference Signs:These signs help the general public know the difference between a Muskie and Northern Pike. We will be replacing some of our Know The Difference signs that have weathered or been battered over the years. There is a new UV protective process available to make the signs last much longer and keep the image looking clear. Plans are to replace at least 4 existing signs and install another 6 signs at new sites. The old metal blanks will be sent back to have the artwork and UV process applied for future use.
Ottawa Chapter HistoryThe year 2008 was a notable time for this chapter. The Ottawa chapter celebrates its 20th anniversary as an ongoing organization this October. I thought it would be interesting to look back to 1988 and see what was going on in the OTT chapter.
First of all the Ottawa chapter was called the Outaouais chapter and held meetings at the Hunt Club Community Association. The inaugural chapter meeting drew 21 people of which only 6 people were not MCI members when they left. The original October 88 roster went like this- Sandy Grant (chair), Doug Meeking, Dave Ritz, Hans & Rose Sigg, Ed Bebee, Paul Bourassa, Steve Lee, Jim Lumsden, Jim McLaughlin, Mark Patry, Bill Powers, Paul Sawatzki, Doug Smith, and Hedrik Wachelka. Soon after, other folks began to join this muskie mission.
Over this time period this chapter has been hands-on in action on a variety of fronts - fisheries habitat improvement, bank side restoration, litter cleanup, science/research support, collection of angling status data, regulation change, angler education, and promotion of the catch and release concept on local waters. But possibly most importantly our members have led by example and during these times frames have released thousands of angled muskellunge both small and huge. Big thanks are in order for without that example, local muskie fishing would not be the same today.
Catch and release in a management concept that appears to be working for muskellunge. What is becoming important now is how well you release. How many times can you catch a big toothy fish, put it back and have it around for the long term for it to reproduce, grow, and be around for others to catch. The answer is many, but only if we all carry out quality release techniques. We all fish under the same sky and it's our job to properly look after each fish we catch. We should never treat muskie or any fish carelessly. Release fishing in a nutshell can be described very easily. Land your fish as quickly as possible with tackle that is designed to master the fish, as soon as the fish is out of water whether held in a net or cradle or in your hands or on a landing mat, you have the responsibility to remove the embedded hooks as quickly and efficiently as possible, return the fish immediately to water, then properly resuscitate the muskellunge before release. Of course, there is a lot of do's and don'ts in the details.
Over that past 20 or so years, I have seen muskie fishing pressure increase whether on the Ottawa, the Rideau, or the Madawaska Rivers. For muskie fishing to survive as we know it today, we have to refine our release techniques and be ready to stand against water quality deterioration, shoreline destruction, and be wary of other introduced species and disease vectors, but also consider looking at altered angling techniques such as reduced hook points on our muskie baits, barbless hooks, and evaluating whether live-baiting for muskellunge should be consigned to angling history.
I'd like to thank all of our past and present members for ensuring many successes with all of our past activities.
Hedrik Wachelka
Ottawa OutingsThe Ottawa and Upper Valley Chapter's have agreed to alternate hosting a yearly outing. Upper valley will be hosting the outing in 2009 on the Upper Ottawa and Madawaska Rivers this year. . That said we are hoping for the weekend of 26th, 27th and 28th of June with a BBQ the night of 26th June and a banquet the night of 27th June. For more information, read Party In The Prior 09 located on this site.
The “Dr Ed Crossman” 26th Annual Family Outing will be held on Cameron Lake from August 7th to 9. This family weekend for members and friends will be hosted by Jason and Corey Holweg The event has been subsidized even more generously this year by National and the individual chapters.
Road TripIn past years we have been able to get a group together for a Fall road trip out of our local fishing area. Our first destinations have included Lakes Nosbonsing, Restoule and Stocco. For the past two years, we have used the trip to support the outings of other Chapters traveling to the West Arm of Lake Nipissing and the Pickerel River. No decision has been made for 2009 but you can forward any suggestions to Bill Fuller
Ottawa ThanksMuskies Canada would like to thank and ask you to patronize the fine businesses that have supported us during the past year. These include: Arnprior Bait and Tackle, Al's Corner Store (on HWY 17), Paddletails (Winchester), Dodd's Marine, Sports Action, Laurentian Marine Sales, Hurst Marine, Manotick Bait and Sporting Supplies.
Chapter Executives
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