Rainbow Egg Collection 2001

Shown above after wrapping up 2001's Denny's Dam rainbow egg collection, survey and fish transport program 
are Rich Weiler, biologist Kathy Dodge from the MNR's Owen Sound office, Rod Jones and 
Rob Pullbrook. Weiler and Jones are long-time Ontario Steelheaders members and Pullbrook is a volunteer from Lefroy. 

Every year local clubs try to collect eggs for their hatcheries and the process doesn't always go smooth. The last two years it was hard work for Ontario Steelheaders volunteers at Denny's Dam because the main runs cane early, well before the traditional mid-April starting date. This year the Sydenham Sportsmen's Association are struggling as all the rainbows showing up at the Sydenham River's Mill Dam are females now and not a ripe male can be found. Fortunately for area anglers, many fish ascended the ladder on their own prior to egg collection activities and have spawned above Harrison Park. The Bruce Peninsula Sportsmen's Association, who get their eggs and milt from Colpoys and Oxenden creeks, are a little more fortunate. They even helped out sister clubs in Barrow Bay and North Bruce with eggs and milt from the plentiful supply of Georgian Bay rainbows ascending their tributaries. The only problem encountered by the BPSC volunteers was a temperature variation between the hatchery water supply and Oxenden Creek, something that can cause problems with egg survival if there is too much difference. 

The Steelheaders prefer to truck "green" or not yet-ready-to-spawn fish to headwaters of the Saugeen River but there is a problem dam at Maple Hill, which both drop-back spawners and descending rainbow smolts have to get through. This year the Steelheaders trucked 554 big rainbows using oxygen-supplied tank trailers and milked another 148 fish for local clubs. The total number of fish lifted between April 16 and April 26 were 849, with 147 released above the dam to make their own way to upstream spawning gravel areas. Still more fish undoubtedly made it through the ladder though, as outside of the above dates the ladder is left open in a "swim-through" state, allowing fish to go past the dam on their own.

It's a considerable amount of work and expense to collect the eggs, raise the fish and stock them in local waters but that's why we have great fishing in Bruce and Grey waters. Maybe someday we'll have a self-sustaining fishery but for now, if you can't help with the work, at least help support the local volunteers.