Don’t forget the Valley Sportsmen & Outdoor Show this weekend in Carp and, courtesy of my friends at Muskies Canada, here are details on ‘Muskie Day’ which runs all day Saturday:
Muskellunge are the largest freshwater predators in our waters. They are rare, elusive and magnificent to see in the wilds. Some anglers have had close encounters with a big muskie. Catch-and-release has been very effective in producing a world-class, sustainable fishery for muskie in the Ottawa area.
On April 6, Muskies Canada will put on a full day of information, workshops and seminars on muskie fishing at the Valley Fishing and Outdoor Show at the Carp arena. Muskie Day is included with general admission to the show. How-to workshops will cover all aspects of equipment and baits, casting and trolling techniques and how to handle, photograph and safely release these important fish.
There will also be keynote presentations throughout the day about the muskie fishery on the Ottawa, Rideau and St. Lawrence River systems. Several announcements will be made during the day that will benefit the muskellunge fishery in the Ottawa area.
The event is being held by Muskies Canada and will feature six chapters located throughout eastern Ontario and western Quebec. Muskie Day partners include Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Ottawa Riverkeeper, Rideau Valley Conservation Authority and Parks Canada, and Ottawa River Muskie Factory. John Anderson, a well-known Ottawa River guide will be a keynote speaker.
“Muskie Day will help everyone better appreciate the muskies that inhabit our local waters”, says Peter Levick, Chair of the Ottawa chapter. “We need to be able to catch and handle these fish in a way that ensures their long-term success. We also want to help everyone see how healthy watersheds support more dynamic fisheries, ensuring a place for muskies which are at the top of the food chain”. Muskies Canada promotes catch-and-release to ensure a sustainable muskie population and we are also involved in important initiatives that improve habitat and monitor water quality.
| Muskie Day Outline | Saturday April 6 Valley Fishing & Outdoors Show, Ottawa (Carp Fairgrounds) | |
| Timing | Session | Speaker |
| 8.00 | Doors Open | |
| 8.00 – 8.15 | Intro & Welcome | Peter Levick, Chair |
| 8.15 – 9.30 | Muskies Canada Workshop 1– Rods for Muskie Fishing- Reels for casting & trolling- Lines, leaders & terminal tackle
|
Retailers, Pro Staff Experts& Muskies Canada specialists |
| 9.30 – 10.15 | Managing for Muskies in the 21st Century in Ontario | Dan Taillon, OMNR Ministry staff, FMZ 12, FMZ 18 reps |
| 10.15 – 10.30 | Break & discussions | |
| 10.30 – 11.30 | Keynote Presentation: Ottawa – The Greatest Musky City in the World – Resource overview, musky movements in the system (telemetry studies info), proper handling, tactics | John Anderson, Ottawa River Guide & Muskie Expert |
| 11.30 – 12.00 | Muskie Hot Stove – Experts in an armchair session | John Anderson, Hedrik Wachelka, Jim Hutchings, MNR staff |
| 12.00 – 12.30 | Announcement:Muskies Canada & Ottawa Riverkeeper Partnership | Peter Levick (Muskies Canada) & Alexandra Brett (from Ottawa Riverkeeper) |
| 12.30 – 1.00 | Lunch Break | |
| 1.00 – 1.45 | Workshop 2– Casting – spinners, jerk-baits, gliders, plastics- Precision trolling tactics- Hot baits | Muskies Canada Experts |
| 1.45 – 2.15 | Workshop 3– Catch, Photo, Release- Release tools- The advantage of Fishing Barbless
– Photo tips – Ensuring a good release
|
Muskies Canada Experts |
| 2.15 – 3.00 | The St. Lawrence Muskie Fishery– Resident Muskies- Young of the Year studies- Catching the late season giants
– New 54 inch limit |
Jim Hutchings, Muskies Canada Gananoque chapter & Josh Van Wieren, Parks Canada |
| 3.00 – 3.15 | Break | |
| 3.15 – 4.00 | Muskies & the Rideau system– Muskies in the Lower Rideau watershed- Restoring Muskie Habitat
– Chapman Mills Project – NEWS – Brewer Pond Project for 2013 |
Hedrik Wachelka – Muskies CanadaJennifer Lamoureux, Rideau Valley Conservation Authority |
| 4.00 – 5.00 | Muskies Canada – Making a DifferencePanel discussion about Muskies Canada, our projects and special initiatives to sustain the Muskie fishery and how you can help make a difference. | Chris Purdy (National President); Peter Levick, (Ottawa); Jim Hutchings (Gananoque); Tyler Duncan (Upper Ottawa Valley); Marc Pitre (Sudbury); Denis Gravel (Montreal) Tom McCutcheon (Kawartha Lakes) |
| 5.00 | Closing Remarks | Peter Levick, Muskies Canada |