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IT’S A GO!! Today Scugog Council tentatively approved the Lake Scugog Enhancement Project. THEREFORE FUNDRAISING CAN BEGIN! There are several steps that still need to be fulfilled before we can go forward with construction in the Fall of 2018 — more testing is needed and all the environmental agencies need to sign off on it. However, most of the agencies have been with us all along and have given tacit agreement dependent on those additional tests. Then we have to get the final cost from the environmental design firm, GHD, and then put the project out to tender. But Glory Halleluljah! we are now an official project! You can see Jack Doak of Old Flame was right off the mark quickly with his donation shown below. Bill Eull on the left is the Chair of Fundraising for the Project and Barbara Karthein is the Honorary Chair.  Anyone wishing to find out more about the project, please visit www.lakescugogenhancement.ca and if you are interested in contributing check out the donate page there or on our website, www.scugoglakestewards.com. The Lake Stewards are contributing their good offices as a charitable incorporated organization in order to raise the required funds. Charitable receipts for donations will be issued and big thanks given!  Every donation counts, big or small.

Dam and Locks at Lindsay

For our complete reports see the navigation bar, Research and Monitoring, subheading Dam and Locks at Lindsay.

As of October 2, 2016 the reading of water level at the Lindsay Dam was very low. Until ice forms on the lake or we have significant rains the lake will continue to go down because of evaporation.  All logs are in the dam, but water continues to flow through the problems in the old mill, and through the two 24 inch pipes that feed water to the town of Lindsay. The locks are probably not opening much now as the water level in the river is so low.

Lake Stewards awarded $200,000 by MSIFN

LAKE STEWARDS’ FANTASTIC NEWS:  On September  15, our project to improve Port Perry Bay got our first major leap forward with a generous $200,000 donation given to the Lake Stewards by the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation. We had been invited to help witness the signing of the new partnership between MSIFN and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission along with hundreds of others. Following their culture, gifts are presented between signatories and often to others. In this case, $500,000 was given in total to the community but when we were called up we were totally blown away by not only the recognition before our official campaign has even started, but by the amount of the gift. It was totally unexpected.

Fishing Lake Scugog 2016

Is Lake Scugog doomed? With all of the hype regarding the walleye closure and the aggressive nature of invasive aquatic plants carpeting the bottom of the lake – one would be led to believe this is the case. There is no doubt that the lake is experiencing challenges anglers may never have considered in the past. Add to this the record low water levels and many will be thinking the fishery is circling the drain. Let’s not be so hasty.

This shallow, eutrophic lake is proving it has some staying power and continues to produce some incredible fishing opportunities. Yes, the walleye concern is very real – but this is not a new problem. In fact, many residents can clearly detail the plethora of issues over the last decade which have brought us to the point of a necessary fishing closure. It’s no surprise that the unsustainable and unforgiving year-round fishing pressure and close proximity to the largest population in Canada has taken its toll. All finger pointing aside; this was for years the only Kawartha lake open to four seasons of fishing. What did we expect? Poor management, lack of enforcement budgets and immoral fishing practices are no doubt the leading reasons for the closure.

However, this spring proved to be on par with expectations of early season Crappie fishing. There were plenty of anglers and loads of fish caught. The weather took some twists and turns that threw a few locational curve balls at anglers but those willing and able to adapt experienced record catches. These feisty fish will readily hit artificial baits and make for some monumental bonding moments with children, friends and family alike.

Crappie tactics are relatively simple. They will stage on shallow flats in 4-6′, congregating around standing weeds and submergent vegetation. When the temperatures warm they move shallow and spawn. Look for them in those small bays that will be nearly dry in less than a month’s time. Add some overhanging cover like trees or wood and you, my friend, are going to have a good time! Later in the summer you can find these same fish scattered throughout the 4-8’ flats. Keep moving to find pockets of quality fish that are willing to bite.

Next to open on Scugog is the freshwater wolf – Esox masquinongy – the Musky. Those monitoring Musky spawning habitat on the lake this year can attest to a healthy population of these top predators. The lake is changing though and with invasive species like Chara and the newer Starry Stonewort carpeting areas that typically held healthy populations of Cabbage and Coontail weeds, which in turn held forage for Musky; anglers need to look elsewhere. These aquatic plants still exist but you need to find the locations. Cover water by trolling quickly or fan casting large in-line spinners and success is sure to follow. Remember, the fish are still there. It’s your job to find them. As the waters warm to summer temperatures please keep the handling of the magnificent fish to a minimum. Take a picture or two and get it back into the water immediately.

The same holds true for bass which is the last season to open each year. Many anglers recall years of super shallow water fishing, expanses of lily pads, undercut banks, docks and awesome shoreline mats. Again, a lot of this water still exists but much of it has been taken over by the same invasives impacting the other species in the lake. You have to look for water without the suffocating Chara and Starry Stonewort. Thankfully low lying docks, thick pads and the like will block the sun and can offer a welcome reprieve and a protected home for big largemouth minus the weed carpet. There is another option though.

Many savvy anglers have moved off the shorelines. Look for large bays where the fish will typically spawn then turn one hundred and eighty degrees around and head out to the first decent weedline adjacent to deeper water and there’s a good chance you’ll find numbers of the fish that you once targeted in much shallower haunts. Have they always been here in the deeper water? Yup. You just didn’t need to fish for them here and the visual game of fishing for shallow water bass is very addictive.

Lake Scugog also boasts a very healthy population of above average Smallmouth bass. You’re sure to stumble upon them while targeting fish along the deeper edges but this isn’t the only place you will find them. They often roam in shallower haunts in the early mornings and late afternoons. They are aggressive strikers and are most willing to oblige an epic battle between fish and angler. Try covering water with a topwater offering that allows you to move quickly and experience heart stopping hits. Hard baits that allow you to walk-the-dog, buzzbaits and prop baits will all produce aggressive strikes. Keep an eye on your bait though. Often times, the biggest fish will suck a bait under without a ripple. Those are fish that create legends.

Please do keep in mind that all of these fish are in warm water and are sensitive to over handling for photos and celebratory high fives. Don’t be afraid to keep a fish or two for the table but please respect the biggest fish and the fishery they are so critical to… release them to fight another day. Tell the tale, get a wall mount made of fibreglass from a quality picture if you wish but let’s make sure that the saga of the Lake Scugog Walleye doesn’t become the story of other species here on this wonderful lake of ours.

Chris Hockley, Director, Scugog Lake Stewards

Lake Scugog Research 2016, AGM Presentation

Andrea Kirkwood Pres.,AGM 2016

This summer, the Lake Stewards’ Research and Monitoring team will be working with two students from U.O.I.T. to map the vegetation and quality and quantity of various bugs in the mud of the lake which are the food for larger species in the food chain. This research is being organized by Dr. Andrea Kirkwood, Professor in the Biology Department of U.O.I.T.  Dr. Kirkwood is an algae specialist which is especially important when we are examing the new invasive to hit our lake, starry stonewort, Nitellopsis Obtusa.  A colleague, Annette Tavares — a Senior Lecturer in the Biology department and a specialist in bugs (benthics) — will also be working with the students and the Steward researchers.  See Dr. Kirkwood’s presentation material by clicking the above link.

It is hoped that this will be the beginning of a 3 year larger study by both U.O.I.T. and the Stewards with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources to look at how the new vegetation spectrum affects our fishery and lake water quality. We will keep the public informed.

The Scugog Lake Stewards’ research team is headed by Dr. Ron Porter, and includes Erin Andrews, Colleen Middleton, and Ken Oldfield who have been busy applying for grants to cover this research and the equipment required.  Should you wish to donate to this specific project, please send your cheque to the Scugog Lake Stewards at P. O. Box 1282, Port Perry, Ontario L9L 1B9 with the specific designation “for research”.

Lake Scugog Enhancement Project, AGM Presentation

Rob Messervey, CAO of Kawartha Conservation, presented to those attending the Scugog Lake Stewards’ 2016 Annual General Meeting, April 14, an overview of the current status of the Lake Scugog Enhancement Project.  It is currently in the planning stage; organized by the Steering Committee for a Healthy Lake Scugog. For more detail about the project, the make-up of the Steering Committee, check out his Powerpoint presentation by using the following the link. If you have additional questions can contact the Stewards at scugoglakestewards@gmail.com.  Scugog LS AGM 2016 PPBay Enhancement FinalDB

Stewards’ AGM Financials and Minutes for review

In order to reduce printing requirements, we are posting our year end bank balance, our balance sheet and profit and loss statement for 2015 and the minutes from our 2015 Annual General Meeting for members and friends to peruse prior to this year’s meeting. We hope to see you at our meeting!  Please click on title of this post to obtain the links.

AGM minutes

2015 Financials.pdf

Keeping an Eye on Walleye