As COVID-19 continues to impact our communities and with fishing season approaching it is an ideal time to follow up with some helpful safety tips that you can use should you be participating this weekend in trout opener. As ambassadors of the sport we look upon our CSFL anglers to help guide one another in practicing safe fishing and keeping us united.
Premier Doug Ford has stated fishing season will not be delayed; so while a number of boat launches are closed, Ford is encouraging anglers to get out, continue their physical distances and fish from shore. An easy way you can tell if you are 6 feet away from your fellow angler is simply a fishing rod away, just make sure you don’t hook anyone in the process!
If you are planning on fishing and going out with your family members we recommend to bring a form of identification that states the same household address should an OPP or MNR officer request the document for verification purposes.
Your Outdoors Card is important, especially during these times. As confirmed by Wil Wegman of the Ministry of Natural Resources, 100% of your license fee goes towards the future of fish and wildlife in Ontario. This includes, stocking approximately 8 million fish a year in lakes all across Ontario, fish and wildlife population research and monitoring, along with conservation officers who protect natural resources. If you haven’t purchased or need to renew your card, you can do so online today.
While the provincial government has stated fishing season will still be open, use your best judgement when approaching the shoreline. We ask that you respect the local by-laws and should a community request their public access be limited to their local residents it is important to respect their request so we can utilize their facilities in the future. Research your desired location before you travel to your destination!
COVID-19 has drastically affected our daily routines, from social distancing to how we now shop at our local supermarket and tackle stores. These have all been put in place for the safety of one another. As these times can be stressful, we ask please remember to be kind to one another. It is your decision whether to fish or not, however do not condemn those who wish to safely practice fishing.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by COVID-19. We hope you are staying as safe as possible; please continue to care for the well-being of one another. We are all in this together, and together is how we can beat COVID-19.