Quinte Fishing

Can anyone tell me if frenchmans bay in pickering is ice free cause I`d like to get the boat out in front of the nuke station?

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O2BFSHIN

Nope, Frenchman's Bay is frozen at the beach along West Shore Rd. Although it's not safe ice, there would be major headaches in getting the boat through the ice to open water. It's a real bummer that winter access by boat is cut off with the development changes down along the shoreline.
Tight lines....

What is the current status of Pickering anyway?

We used to launch our cartopper off the beach at the south end of Liverpool road. Frenchman's Bay is always iced up in winter. Can you no longer do this? [Some guys launched bigger boats on trailers on the shingly beach using vehicles with 4WD]

Also, is the nuke station even running these days? I thought it had been shut down. Is there as much warm water [or any warm water at all] pouring out these days?

Cheers!

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Self-unemployed and available for fishin' mid-week most days.

Last time I launched off of the beach I had the jeeps front wheels an easy 2 ft in the air trying to get the boat out off of the beach. We had a great day but 3 hrs getting the boat out just doesn`t cut it. I wish there was a good year round ramp for the big lake cause winterizing the boat would be un heard of.

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O2BFSHIN

Has anyone ever fished the nuke plant out of Bowmanville? Just got my boat ready for tommorrow and if the winds permit...........I thought I might give it a try around the wash. Either that or I could long line for the rainbows out from the mouth of the bowmanville creek. I've never done that at this time of year before but have heard of it being successful from someone who had done it a few years ago.

The outflow is a few miles out I believe. I haven`t fished out there at this time of year but any time on the water is a good time.

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O2BFSHIN

Thanks for the response fishman............I have fished there as well(during the salmon derby) but not this time of year. I didn't get there today as I slept off last nights fun till after noon. I did however manage to get down to the harbour in Oshawa and got a nice little rainbow from shore this afternoon. I am going to give Port Darlington a try on Saturday and maybe venture out to the outflow at the nuke plant..........it looks like the weather will co-operate. I agree a 100%.........anyday on the water is a good day.......especially out of a boat at this time of year.

Just to answer a few of the questions regarding the fishing at the Nuke stations. Pickering B side (eastern outflow) is running at full capacity right now and has been for some time. The western outflow is cold water because almost all of Pickering A is down and will be 'til probably 2005. They're saying it's going to cost another 2B to repair, and Sr. Executive of OPG just got sacked as a result.
We fished in front of the plant a few weeks ago just b4 Frenchman's Bay froze over (the only access point to launch now), and we did well, landing several nice browns over the course of 4 hours. East wind was a little lumpy, but the old stalwarts worked well....Ripplin Redfins, AC Shiners and Husky Jerks. If the lure looks like a minnow and has some chartreuse in it, the Brown's will hit.
It's so frustrating that you can't launch anywhere directly into the lake anymore. We used to fish out of cartopper for years at Pickering, and the fishing was phenomenal. You could land just about every fish that calls Lake Ontario home out there. Big Browns, walleye, pike, rainbow trout, sturgeon, salmon, giant carp, lakers, smallies, you name it.
Haven't fished off of Darlington before, I do know the outflow is quite a ways out from the plant, and I've never been able to find it. Salmon fishing around the area is quite good in the early summer though.

I hear you talking of fishing waters where discharge from nuke plants is flowing. All I have as a result in my head, are visions of fish with tumours, deformities etc. Are there any edible fish in the area

Not being smart, quite serious in fact. Am I right in assuming you're fishing mostly for the thrill of the catch or, are some of you actually eating these puppies

I fish quite a bit for the sheer thrill of the hunt Just wondering if that's what's happening here

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WIG

{Dr. Poontang shakes his head and sighs.....}

Holy geez, mate! It's a CLOSED COOLING SYSTEM! In the same way as the exhaust from your car's engine doesn't transfer to your car's radiator, the nuclear "exhaust" doesn't transfer to the cooling water going into the lake. The fish are as "clean" at Pickering as they are anywhere else in Lake Ontario, meaning they are still loaded with contaminants, just not radiation. Eating a fish from Pickering is no more hazardous to your health than eating a fish from Quinte - they are both equally bad! [You guys who are eating those 30-inchers really ought to think twice, eh?]

As an aside, you probably eat radiated vegetables, but don't know it. Besides, you should know that all your exhaust gas from your car goes out your tailpipe and into the atmosphere for you to breath. The nuclear waste gets buried in a mine in Sudbury. Sheesh.

My question remains:

WHAT IS THE CURRENT STATUS OF BEACH LAUNCHING AT THE SOUTH END OF LIVERPOOL ROAD?! [I have not fished there for perhaps five or more years.]

Is it still possible to dump a car-topper in there? If not, is there anywhere else [besides the usually-frozen Frenchman's Bay] where you can launch a car-topper?

Cheers!

Down caving in Kentucky. It was 70F yesterday. Running around in a T-shirt under grey skies. Unfortunately, the cave remains 54F year-round.

Can't WAIT to get back home and see if my dad and I can get out fishin' again in Quinte!

Oh frig, just looked at the forecast. Here comes the deep freeze, huh? Listen to me, I'm saying "huh" instead of "eh", huh? Next thing y'all know ah'll be soundin' like one-uh these here Suthunuhs......

What the, what the hail am ah writin'.....?!

Dr Pete...oops Dr. P.

Sheesh You'd think I was attacking you personally :!:

Not having any experience at working at a local nuke plant, due to the fact they're in Toronto, or the general vicinity. I had no knowledge or experience with outflows from nuke plants. Thanks for clearing that up

My concern was mainly for the health of the fish Nicer to catch tumour free fish I think....I personally don't eat the fish out of Quinte either. If I want edible fish, I'll get 'em at the cottage. No shortage there.

Now as for irradiated food, I have a limited knowledge there . Having had a room-mate many years ago, who worked for the A.E.C. L. (Atomic Energy of Canada). They specifically were working on irradiating food 15 years ago that I remember anyway. I tend to agree the shelves are likely loaded with it now. The whole idea being, irradiated food could have an incredibly long shelf life.

Now, you're right on the third topic. Likely you have some incredibly cold weather coming your way. Should freeze things up nicely down your way...Goodluck if you head out

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WIG

You cannot launch a boat anymore from the bottom of Liverpool rd. They have built a park down there and you can not park a car on the south side of the little bridge you drive over. If you know where people put their boat in Frenchmans bay at the bottom of Westshore rd, you can put in a cartopper on the south side of the rd. I,m glad to hear their starting to catch fish at the Nuke again as it used to be some of the best fishing during the winter months.See you out there. Be safe!

Can you please describe the location and launch near Frenchman's? Beach? What's the parking like? How far do you have to carry the boat?

Are you the Craig R. that I know?

Cheers!

P.S. Hey Wall-I, I wasn't trying to be critical - I was just a bit surprised that in this day and age that urban myths about contaminated fish round nuclear plants might still exist.

I'll be making that post about our joint orders of the Mann's Stretch 20's in a few days. Looks like I'll be in Kentucky [to be able to pick up the lures] in Feb. and again in March.

Thanks Dr. P

Standing by with cash in hand

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WIG

Westshore rd is 1 set of lights west of Liverpool rd off Bayly. If your on the 401 you will exit at either Whites rd or Brock rd in Pickering depending what way your coming from. You go south to Bayly.Follow Westshore rd to the end. Make a left and follow till you see the parking. The road is dirt and can sometimes be pretty chewed up.Like I said you need a cartopper. Theres a 1 wire fence you have to carry the boat over. Its only about 2 feet high.I would say the walk is about 150 yds. No Dr P, I'm not Craig R, I'm Craig M. Always check your winds before heading out. They need to be North winds or it can make it tough launching.