Lot’s of positive feedback from public meetings on proposed changes to fishing regulations from anglers in the Dryden and Vermilion Bay area.
Ministry of Natural Resources Biologist Jill Van Walleghem says they are now looking at all of the feedback and recommendations will then be shared with the Eagle/Wabigoon Fisheries Advisory Committee before final approval.
She adds anglers showed a strong interest in taking more of a stewardship role in maintaining the local fish population and sharing information with others about the status of the fishery and lake habitat.
Local anglers are asking the MNR to keep the current regulations on Eagle Lake including the walleye slot size and the night fishing restriction.
They are also received mixed feedback on implementing a walleye slot size for Wabigoon Lake.
Van Walleghem adds most anglers expressed they want the Ontario Fisheries Regulations Summary to be simplified and called for the removal of regulation exceptions for some lakes.
The province is also planning on reducing the non-resident daily walleye catch limit to two with a possession limit of four by 2017.
This would apply to Fisheries Management Zone 5, an area that encompasses all of the lakes around Eagle and Wabigoon Lakes, and the area south to the U.S. border and north to the CN tracks, from the Manitoba boundary to Quetico Park.
Van Walleghem says most people at the open houses expressed they were against having this regulation change apply to Eagle and Wabigoon Lakes.
