Get Involved!
Fish stocking
I love fishing. I know, that’s a pretty obvious statement considering I write a blog about fishing. But, over the past year I’ve realized that my fishing has become about more than just catching fish.
While I love the sport of fishing, I am equally enthralled with the conservation and fisheries management side of it. I have had the opportunity to participate in so many great activities – fish stocking, spawning surveys, egg collection, and starting tonight, stream steward training – and it has made a major difference in my life. So much so that I’m hoping to return to school so I can eventually find work in one of these areas, doing something that I love and really believe in.
You may not feel the need to return to school and find a new career, but maybe you want to give back to the sport you have gotten so much enjoyment from. That was how it started for me and I began looking for opportunities to get involved.
One way to get involved is to volunteer. Many organizations post volunteer opportunities on their websites and Facebook pages. Here are a few of the activities coming up in this area over the coming weeks:
Community Tree Planting Event – October 27, 2012
A Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) event. A fun morning of tree planting to increase forest cover at Birchwood Park in Mississauga. No experience necessary, check out the above link for more information.
Humber River Brown Trout Spawning Survey – October 21st & November 4th, 2012
An Ontario Streams event. Walk a section of the Humber River looking for brown trout redds and documenting their location. You don’t have to sign up for both days, I just listed them together here. I did a spawning survey for the first time last year and loved it. It makes you look at the water differently. No experience is necessary as you will be lead by experienced biologists and anglers.
Coho Salmon Egg Collections – Starting October 27, 2012
A Metro East Anglers event for Ringwood Fish Culture Station. For more information, contact metroeastanglers@gmail.com.
Lynde Creek Tree Planting – November 3, 2012
An Ontario Streams event. Another tree planting event. Help create habitat for local wildlife and positively affect water quality.
Spawning Survey – November 4, 2012
A CVC event. Monitor spawning locations for brook trout, brown trout, and Atlantic salmon in Forks of the Credit.
Another great way to get involved is by joining groups/organizations in your area. Most groups are actively working to improve habitat and fisheries. Some groups/organizations in the Southern Ontario area are:
- Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH)
- Izaak Walton Fly Fishing Club
- Friends of the Grand River
- Credit River Anglers Association
- Metro East Anglers
- Credit Valley Conservation (CVC)
- Grand River Conservation Authority
- Ontario Streams
There are so many ways to get involved, give back, create healthier ecosystems, and enjoy nature. Don’t limit yourself to what I have listed here. Explore and talk to the other people. You will be amazed what you can do.
argosgirl
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