Thank you for allowing me to…

Thank you for allowing me to comment on the FMZ 11 Fisheries plan.

My comments and concerns are as follows:

Lake Trout Proposal

- Ideally I would like to see the Lake Trout season start on Jan 1 and go to the Monday of the Labour day weekend. There should be a catch limit of 2 fish and no size limit.
- If the above proposal is not an option, the season should remain the same as it is now, with a 2 fish limit and no size limit applied
- the regulations on Lake Trout in FMZ 11 and on Lake Temagami are already restrictive enough as it is (short season/ 2 fish limit) - there is no need to apply a size limit
- a size limit will not only penalize anglers but will also make it harder on the local lodge owners, outffiters and baitshop operators - will it really help the fishery in the long run or will it ceate future issues?
- stocked Lake Trout lakes should remain as they are now, with the season open all year and no size limit on the fish - and with a 2 fish limit

Brook Trout

- the season for natural lakes should start on Jan 1(similar to zones around FMZ 11) to Sept 30, with a 5 fish limit and 2 fish over 31 cms - no bait restrictions
-the season for stocked lakes should remain as open all year, with a 5 fish limit, no size limit and no
bait restrictions
- if the above proposal for the stocked lakes in not an option, the season for stocked lakes should remain as open all year, with a 5 fish limit, size limit of 2 fish over 31 cms and no bait restrictions
-I see no reason (scientific or otherwise) for a size limit on Brook Trout - most Brook Trout anglers (myself included) want a feed of fish, not a trophy.
- its too late for bait restrictions

Walleye and Northern Pike

- why is a slot size being used for walleye in FMZ 11 while all other FMZ's around us (8,10 &15) are using a limit of one fish greater than 46 cms and three fish under 46 cms. The slot size for walleye in FMZ 11 should be eliminated and size limits similar to those in Zones 8,10, &15 should be applied to make all FMZs the same. It would also put us all on a level playing field when it comes to tourism, especially in the north half of FMZ 11.
- my concern - is the slot size for walleye really working - have any studies been carried out to see if its working - or will it create issues with walleye in the future.
- the spring season for walleye and pike should have a fixed closing date of March 31st instead of a closing date of the 3rd Sunday in March. Extending the closing date to March 31st will not only help the local tourism industry (especially in the north half of the FMZ) it will also ensure that the spring break is included in the season every year. It will also make it easier for anglers to remember when the season closes. I see no scientific reason for ending the season on the 3rd Sunday in March - there are already enough restrictions in place for walleye and pike to protect those species. The extra 2 weeks would be good for local business such as lodges, restaurants, bait and tackle shops and tourist outfitters - April, May and June are very quiet for those areas north of North Bay
- the limit and size restrictions for pike are good.

Bass

- why not change the season to open all year with catch and release only for the period of January 1st to June 15th.

Other

As you know FMZ 11 covers a large geographic area that extends from Mattawa and Trout Creek in the south to Temagami and Elk Lake in the north. The climate in the north half of FMZ 11 is a lot different than the climate in the south section. Spring comes about 2 weeks earlier in Trout Creek than it does in Elk Lake. At the end of March the ice might be breaking up on Lake Nipissing but you will still have about a foot or 2 feet of ice on Lake Temagami.The lakes in the north half generally have ice to the end of April. I have ice fished in to April many times.

You should look at dividing FMZ 11 in to two separate blocks or sections called FMZ 11A -north half & FMZ 11B - south half. Use the old Temagami district and North Bay district boundaries for the two areas.

They would each have different limits and seasons for species based on location, population density, fishing pressure, climate etc. Temagami and Elk Lake should not be managed the same way as Trout Creek or Powassan.

You also need to consider economic benefits when looking at the fishery. The communitees north of North Bay depend a lot more on tourism than those around and south of North Bay.

Thank you for your time.