Fish Habitat Fish Habitat EnhancementEnhancement

Fish Habitat Enhancement:Fish Habitat Enhancement:BassBass

• Provide near shore cover for Provide near shore cover for young bassyoung bass– Fell trees into water Fell trees into water – Rock piles, cribbingRock piles, cribbing– Submerged vegetationSubmerged vegetation

• Voluntary bass sanctuaries Voluntary bass sanctuaries can have negative impactscan have negative impacts– Some studies have shown Some studies have shown

higher hooking marks in higher hooking marks in voluntary sanctuaries vs voluntary sanctuaries vs rest of near shore areasrest of near shore areas

– Conflicts with anglers Conflicts with anglers fishing for other speciesfishing for other species

• Best bets might be to Best bets might be to signage & handout/mail out signage & handout/mail out material that makes anglers material that makes anglers aware of bass nest guarding aware of bass nest guarding traits during spawning traits during spawning period and promoting quick period and promoting quick release at siterelease at site

Fish Habitat Enhancement:Fish Habitat Enhancement:Northern PikeNorthern Pike

• Maintain spring water levels in spawning Maintain spring water levels in spawning areas & access to spawning areasareas & access to spawning areas

• Minimize prop wash from boat traffic in Minimize prop wash from boat traffic in streams with pike spawning habitat during streams with pike spawning habitat during early spring period early spring period

Fish Habitat Enhancement:Fish Habitat Enhancement:What lake association can do?What lake association can do?

• Identify potential walleye and lake trout Identify potential walleye and lake trout spawning areasspawning areas

• Get permission from adjacent landownersGet permission from adjacent landowners• Get permits from Conservation Authorities Get permits from Conservation Authorities

and/or Dep. Of Fisheries & Oceans (can be and/or Dep. Of Fisheries & Oceans (can be same), Transport Canada.same), Transport Canada.

• Confirm water levels and access during Confirm water levels and access during spring periodspring period

• Provide volunteers and equipment to place Provide volunteers and equipment to place rock rock

• Provide volunteers and boats to confirm Provide volunteers and boats to confirm lake trout siteslake trout sites

Fish Habitat Enhancement:Fish Habitat Enhancement:How can Stewardship Council’s help?How can Stewardship Council’s help?

• Help with getting permission & permitsHelp with getting permission & permits• Secure funding through various Secure funding through various

opportunities such as CFWIP (Feb. 1opportunities such as CFWIP (Feb. 1stst deadline)deadline)

• Once lake association has identified Once lake association has identified potential sites, accompany reps on site potential sites, accompany reps on site visits to put together fish habitat visits to put together fish habitat enhancement plan (2-5 year plan)enhancement plan (2-5 year plan)

• Provide assistance with confirmation gill Provide assistance with confirmation gill netting for lake troutnetting for lake trout

• Provide Stewardship Rangers to help move Provide Stewardship Rangers to help move rock, when available in July & Augustrock, when available in July & August