Fisherboy and I hosted the Metro East Anglers/Ringwood Hatchery volunteers yesterday at Onderdonks. The guys wanted warm huts so I set them up with Dave Chatterton's hut rentals.
As some of you know the Ringwood Fish Culture Station has been leased by the OFAH for the last 5 years and operated by the host club the Metro East Anglers.
This dedicated group, has not only reared the chinook & coho salmon that Ontario has stocked into Lake Ontario the last 4 years they have produced the best & largest fry that has ever been stocked and probably ever will be stocked. It is a huge undertaking. Unfortunately, OFAH has decided not to lease the hatchery after this year and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources has decided to close the hatchery. This is one of the most economical hatcheries in the system to operate.
Artesian wells suppy the water. 8 degrees and does not have to be pumped or heated. Almost all volunteer work. Free, free, free.
The chinook will be reared at the newly revamped Normadale hatchery on Lake Erie.
An 8 million dollar investment that could have been put to better use if Ringwood had continued to operate. Not only 8 million, but the now the chinooks have to be transported much farther to the stocking sites on Lake Ontario at a greater cost.
The Coho salmon stocking program may be lost ? ? ?
Here are a few pics from yesterday.
It was not a banner day but I did manage a 6 lb. Northern.
Released
Burgers by Jeremy
Group shot
Later
Al
_________________
Captain - Team ATOMMIK/Rockets
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