fishing near locks

[pdizzy0973]

Is it illegal to fish right beside a dam from shore? In the mnr book it says within 75 feet but I see a lot of people breaking that rule. Is it just for boaters maybe?

[Todd B.]

The reg is self-explanatory; no fishing within 75' feet while COs may not enforce the reg around the locks on the Rideau, you will see them ticket anglers breaking the reg on the salmon/steelhead rivers.

[tbone1088]

I have been checked 3 times at one spot that has a lock system and was never told to stop fishing so close. What is the fine or penalty for this anyone know?

[Cyber]

When they refer to a "dam" they're talking about big ones like Barrett Chute, Mountain Chute,
the big one on the Madawaska on the outskirts of Arnprior, etc., etc.
I don't think they get too excited about the little ones like the ones at Black Rapids or
Nicolls Island (Manotick area), so it comes down to common sense really.
Ones that actually open and close to control water flow, you don't
wanna mess around too close to those, just remember High Falls in
Calabogie a few years back......NASTY!!!

[Todd B.]

The reg is intended to help migratory fish such as salmon and steelhead. Fish will sack up at dams, etc. waiting to move upstream. Clearly, it is far easier to catch/poach them where they're concentrated in one spot. The lack of local enforcement is most likely because we do not have migratory fish in our rivers. That being said, if anglers become a nuisance to the boaters at the locks, it's possible that the reg could be enforced just to send a message. The regulation is in no way associated with angler safety. The areas around power dams, etc. are explicitly posed with no trespassing signs to designate dangerous areas.