Activities & Accomplishments
Annual Activities:
Egg Collection and Adult Steelhead Transfer take place in April and May at Denny's Dam, on the Saugeen River, Southampton. Under the direction of the Projects Chair, he and his volunteers collect and fertilize approximately 300,000 migratory rainbow trout eggs. Once the fry are free swimming and without their egg-sac, they are transported upstream and released into the Saugeen River. The transfer of adult fish upstream occurs at the same time as the egg collection. The adults are transported in our customized trailers, The Steelhead Express, 85 kilometres upstream to prime spawning and nursery habitat. If you are interested in assisting in either of these areas, please email the Webmaster your name and telephone number and the Project Chair will contact you directly.
The Ontario Steelheaders' Spring Steelhead Derby is held on the Saturday following the Ontario Trout opener while the Fall Steelhead Derby is held the Saturday following Thanksgiving. Both derbies are held at Denny's Dam Park on the Saugeen River at Southampton. It is a social event for members, families and friends. Cash prizes and trophies are awarded for the largest fish, juniors, and live release upon authentication of length and girth measurements. A Barbeque, draw prizes and Michigan Fish Boil is the highlight of the day followed by a campfire.
Meetings are chaired by the President, and include status reports by each of the Directors. Reports are also received from various members with respect to the outside organizations and committees they liaise with on behalf of the Steelheaders. Meetings may also include a presentation by either a member or a representative of an outside group. These have included demonstrations, videos and verbal presentations by local fishing guides and Ministry representatives.
Many Ontario Steelheaders' members are actively involved in various committees of organizations in an effort to help ensure that the many projects of each are consistent with an overall plan to improve rainbow trout access, habitat, and populations.
In partnership with the Lake Huron Fishing Club, we’ve entered a co-operative stocking program. Each spring, up to 120,000 Steelhead eggs are diverted to their hatchery facilities in Kincardine, and Port Elgin Ontario, where they are reared for one year, then released the following spring directly into the Saugeen. This annual routine injects approximately 60,000 yearling rainbows into the streams at a critical time in their lifecycle. This project is the most significant advancement for Steelhead populations in the Saugeen in well over 30 years. The volunteers from both clubs, too numerous to name, are the real heroes in this project! Without them, the bottom line is, it just wouldn’t happen. Many, many thanks, to everyone!
The Ontario Steelheaders also received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources in Recognition of Accomplishments in Advancing Resource Management.
The Ontario Steelheaders is a very active organization which has earned an enviable reputation with the Provincial and local Governments, and other groups and organizations in Ontario.
Lake Huron Fishing Club Partnership
