MNR Ettiquette

[Abraxus]

So I went down to Lake Ontario last night after work for a little fishing from shore. I live in Toronto and I usually head down around the marinas and the Toronto Islands for a little sport and relaxation fishing.
I usually catch a few smallies, large mouth and Pike for kicks and giggles.
Last night was no different then any other. I wear my chest waders and I fish from shore in the bays. With one exception....last night the MNR (I am assuming, as there was nothing to indicate as such) were electro shock fishing in the area. If you are not familiar with this, they cruise around in a boat emitting an electro shock to the water. Three people stand in the front of the boat on a platform and as the fish jump from the water to escape the electrical feild in the water, these guys catch them with large nets.
So here I am fishing away in peace. The MNR guys are about 800 feet away doing there thing on a point just to the left of the bay I am fishing in, when this huge laker jumps about 10 feet away from me. This thing was huge!! Scared the bajeebas out of me at first. lol In anycase, I scramble to get a different lure on my line as I was using tubes for smallies. The MNR guys saw the fish jump also, and here they come. The buggers kicked me out of the lake!! I could not believe it! Here they are in a boat and I am fishing from shore, and in a lake as large as Lake Ontario, they feel the need to come over to where I am and tell me to get out. I was pretty pee pee! If they had not seen that fish jump, they would have just cruised safely past the area I was in. I see this as no different then any other dink that happens to be in a boat and notices someone from shore getting some action and then rolling in on that area. In fact in this case it is worse, as prior to them coming into the area, I had some limited success. I caught a couple of smallies and had a few bites here and there. Once they had passed, the area was dead! The fish were completely spooked.
I understand the importance of their work, but am I incorrect by being miffed at this situation? They could have just continued around me with out any interference, but having seen that laker jump, they were on top of me without a moments haste.
Any thoughts on this?
Also....after this little occurance, I was wondering if anyone had any advice as to what the lakers and salmon go for in the way of lures in Lake Ontario. I definately want to be better equipped the next time I witness something like this.

Abraxus

[matcole]

That sucks! Talk about an abuse of power!

[Wallyboss]

I would be pee pee off too. They had no reason to come and mess up your
whole night of fishing. I like seeing the CO's around checking for licences and all that. But the least these guys could've done was stop and see when you would be done fishing that spot and come back later.

WB

[Cancatchbass]

I've been fortunate enough to be a certified electro-fishing crew member(with DFO, not MNR). This work is unbelievable!

Perhaps the fish you saw was a laker- pretty hard to ID a fish based on a quick view while jumping, though.

Perhaps, also, the fish was of specific interest to those in the boat, maybe fitted with a transmitter. Sheer speculation, here, but a possibility.

Rather than get upset, look at it as an opportunity to watch the electrofishing taking place- a fascinating experience IMHO. What a unique opportunity to ask what species they are finding in the exact area you fish!

Another thing to keep in mind- these boats are not usually just wandering around aimlessly. Sites are carefully chosen and the same, exact locations are normally sampled over a period of many years.

Last thing to keep in mind- these crews have an obligation to make sure there are no humans/pets in the water anywhere near the boat- the shock administered could be deadly.

Anyways, let's cut these guys some slack. Please. The work they do is invaluable. Just my opinion...

Now, if they were rude or nasty to you, which I would think unlikely, yes- you are rightfully riled...

[BigSim]

While I would be angry at being removed from the water I was fishing in forcefully, I probably would have left anyways.

For two reason's really.

The first and foremost... who want's to be waist deep in water that someone is purposefully charging with electricity? certainly not me. I know some waders a rubberized, but I'm not risking that one bit.

And secondly, its sort of a natural assumption that the fish wouldn't be very interested in eating anything after being electrically charged.



Wierd though, that you would see a Laker this time of year in water shallow enough to wade in. were you near a major dropoff?

[Badger Shark]

I would have just waited for them to finish doing theyre job in that area. Or moved to a spot away from the shocking. With all the cuts in the budget its kind of good to hear that they are actually still doing things out there for fish populations.

[Abraxus]

I agree with you "Cancatchbass", their work is invaluable, "but" the way in which those guys moved in on me once that fish jumped was extremely questionable. As I have said, they were a good distance away from me when the fish took flight. The girl at the front of the boat yelled when it did, and the engine was put in gear and moving fast. As for carefully working an area.....the area in between where they were and where that fish jumped, quickly got forgotten about. lol I believe that even in what they do, they are not exempt from the rush one gets when they see a fish of that size jump. You want to get where it is now!
After all, electro fishing or fishing with a pole....you are still fishing!
As for it being a Laker Big Sim...This was without doubt a quick species identification. Although in saying this, I am possitive it wasnt a Pike, and no way was it a carp or Bass. The thing was easily 2 and half feet in length and had a body like a laker and a more salmon or trout like head. In any case it was in relatively shallow, warm water which truly amazed me as there was no way I would have thought it possible to catch either species in the area I was fishing. It was fun watching that sucker jump though I must say!!
As for moving to another area...trust me, coves and bays of this nature in the Toronto area are hard to come by and relocating on foot is not a hop, skip and jump affair! lol Hopefully I will have better luck on the weekend.


Abraxus

[Monster]

Just punch them in the mouth next time.. that'll teach them







I of course don't condone violence.