Guest fishintbay Report post Posted March 23, 2008 i am looking to go to a certain lake on the may long weekend the crimestoppers map show no species of fish in it so would it be illigal for me to go fish there prior to the opening weekend to see what kind of fish r in there. thank you this site is wonderful. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MNR Report post Posted March 26, 2008 MNR Answer: You cannot intentionally fish for (target) a species of fish when the season is closed, so you cannot go to this lake and fish for walleye (even catch and release) during the closed season with the intention of returning when the season is open. Many of the lakes in Zone 6 support both walleye and pike. An angler fishing for pike during the closed season for walleye (May 1st for example) may unintentionally catch walleye. He/she is required by law to “immediately return the fish to the waters from which it was caught and, if the fish is alive, release it in a manner that causes the least harm to that fish”. That means that the angler puts it back even if it is injured to the point where it is unlikely that it would survive. If the angler continues to catch walleye, the MNR expects that he/she would both change tackle/bait, angling tactics and possibly move to another location on the lake. Information on fish species in certain lakes was provided in the Crimestopper Explorer Map Series where there was lake survey information. If you want to know if there is pickerel in the lake, ask around, contact the MNR biologist and/or Conservation Officer for that area to see if they have any information regarding the fish species in the lake, or wait until the season is open. Reference: Ontario Fisheries Regulations 2007 Part 1, Section 12; Part 2, Section 15 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
