I have a number of issues…

I have a number of issues with the proposed changes for FMZ 11.

1. FMZ10 and FMZ11are very similar in water bodies and lake trout lakes, many with plankton eating lake trout. The only geographic division is the Sturgeon River. FMZ has a lake trout season opening in January and closing on Labour day, while in FMZ 11 we have to tow the line with the Lake Temagami winter season from Feb 15 to 3rd Sunday in March. FMZ 10 includes the population of New Sudbury (approx 150000 people with many anglers) while FMZ 11 has a significantly lower population. Can someone explain to me why the lake trout in FMZ10 are less susceptible to overexploitation by winter anglers than those in FMZ 11 or is this just another example of MNR protecting Temagami area interests. Ridiculous, and please re-open the winter fishery commencing February 1st or extend it to March 31st.

2. I am extremely opposed to closing the lake trout season in September in FMZ11. There is low angler pressure at this time of year, and it is one of the most enjoyable times of the season to angle lake trout. I have heard the argument that the females are preparing to spawn. Well they have their eggs in July and August also, a dead trout is a dead trout!! One set of MNR sample nets removes more lake trout than would ever get harvested in September in FMZ 11.

3. Implementation of a slot size for lake trout will simply turn more anglers into violators. In summer when trout are being taken by downrigging and wire line fishing many trout ingest the bait and mortality is extremely high. Anglers will not throw back dead fish to the lake, but rather than waste them will retain them. Ontarios Conservation Officers cannot be bothered to try to enforce some biologists lame brained scheme based on a "model" to increase the trout population. I have fished these waters for more than 30 years and have never been contacted by a CO while angling on the water. With proposed cuts to the Ontario Public Service, our CO's will be spread too thin to actively enforce the proposed size restrictions.

4. If the MNR was truly concerned about the lake trout populations, bait fish restrictions should be imposed provincially, limiting the spread of VHS and all of these exotic species, rather than a band aid solution of altering size limits and seasons!!

5. Obabika Lake, now in the 20th year of a 5 year closure plan to bring back the lake trout population. Another Temagami influenced plan, to satisfy all the canoeists from southern Ontario. I fished Obabika in the 1980's and always had a good lake trout population, so should be tremendous now after a 20 year closure ( closed except for the cottage owners their who quite openly brag about there lake trout catches to law abiding citizens who cannot access this lake) This lake could easily withstand a 2 lake trout limit, because of restricted access, and difficulty to fish the lake, because of wind weather and access. I would recommend a 2 lake trout limit for Obabika Lake.

6. Increased stocking of Splake into lakes to increase fishing opportunities, seeing we will be so restricted for lake trout fishing.

7. Brook trout size limits??? Why? Restrict live bait fish use on all stocked lakes to give the fish a chance and reduce chances of diseease.

8. I agree with the bass seasons as this is an insignificant fishery in Zone 11.

I have worked and fished in Zone 11 for the past 40 years. The remote lake trout fishery is as good now as it has ever been. We have lost the winter lake trout fishery, except for one month, and now to take the September season away is drastic. I have a difficult time rationalizing the September closure as this is my favorite season to be trout fishing. The number of anglers is significantly reduced and the angling is incidental to the outdoor experience, but the opportunity to angle for lake trout is important.

I attended the open house and the question I have is when the data was collected concerning angling pressure, and creel census as in the area I fish (805 corridor) no one has been contacted or creeled in many years, which questions the source of the data on fishing pressure and catches!!!!