Covid Restrictions

[Scott T.]

Has anyone seen specifics on outdoors activities like fishing, in the relation to the new Ontario restrictions and the "Stay Home" order. Under the previous lockdown that started on Boxing day, activities like Ice Fishing were permitted but this new wording around "Stay Home" has me concerned.

[Corvus Lacus]

You can fish...just don't do it in a group of more than 5, and everyone keep 6 ft apart. This is the latest from the OFAH...

https://www.ofah.org/covid19/

The authorities are not fooling around, the OPP is laying down some steep fines....

https://www.baytoday.ca/local-news/ice- ... ns-3253267

[CCLad]

I sent Ottawa Bylaw and Doug Fords office the below email. You cant leave a hut sit on the ice without maintaining it or it will freeze in - Been there

Ill post any updates that I receive:



Copy of email sent to the office of Doug Ford, please advise from a city perspective on what I am to do:



Hello, I am writing with concern to the up coming province wide lock down.

I presently have an ice hut on the Ottawa river by Kanata. The new rules coming into effect tonight at midnight pose a serious problem. I do not have time to remove the hut due to the curfew timing and short notice given to the public. It is a rather large hut and I require assistance from my co fisherman to remove it.

An Ice WILL freeze into the ice if left unattended. You must "jack" up the skis on a hut to prevent the hut from becoming frozen into the ice. If the ski's and or floor of a hut freezes into the ice, it is very difficult to be able to remove it. Leaving a hut on a body of water past the date specified by the MNR is a VERY EXSPENSIVE fine.

I need the ability to go to the hut to maintain it at least once per week to avoid it freezing into the river. Given the new regulations,

What am I to do??

Please advise asap.
Tim Power.

[Mav]

Hmmm...seems to me that ice fishing would be considered ok as long as the gathering was outdoors and in a group of less than 5 while socially distanced. If in the shack, probably should only be members of your household...However, I feel ya CClad, It seems the direction right now is not really clear. So, I don’t really know what to say.

Thanks for sending that in. I would be interested to know about any reply you receive. As anyone who has a shack knows, we can’t just leave it out there or it will freeze in.

M

[ottawa1234]

shouldn't ice fishing be included as 'exercising' ?

[Scott T.]

Under the new guidelines posted yesterday it looks like ice fishing is permitted..

[b]Outdoor activities

Downhill skiing, golf courses and outdoor driving ranges are closed to the public. Maintenance is allowed.

Cross-country skiing, ice fishing, snowmobiling and dog sledding can stay open, as long as they follow public health requirements.[/b]

[CCLad]

Thanks Scott, where did you find that information....?

[Scott T.]

Take a look at this link https://covid-19.ontario.ca/zones-and-restrictions

Scroll down to the section called "Outdoor Activities". I am going to print it off and carry it with me this weekend. From the media it looks like there is still a lot of confusion on what is meant by Stay home...

[CCLad]

Take a look at this link https://covid-19.ontario.ca/zones-and-restrictions

Scroll down to the section called "Outdoor Activities". I am going to print it off and carry it with me this weekend. From the media it looks like there is still a lot of confusion on what is meant by Stay home...

Thanks for the info Scott, I'll do the same.
CCLad.

[Mav]

Great Scott! That’s exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for that link, I’m gonna print it as well

[CCLad]

from another post I put up at Shirley's bay -

With respect to the covid lockdown and ice fishing, I parked right beside a city of Ottawa by law truck, occupied, unloaded the sled, loaded up the toboggan with all the gear to tow out and he did not even look in our direction... So all is good from that perspective.

[Corvus Lacus]

Crazy times....I can fish all day, but not overnight

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder- ... -1.5887138

[FLOATFISHIN]

How in &^%$ can they police such a ridiculous so called law? What if you travel to your shack at 10pm and fish until 4am. When they approach a shack and ask "What time did you start fishing?" "Ohh 10 minutes ago" What if you live alone, and you go overnight to your shack, with no contact or visitors?

It is entire B.S and shut the travel down before you try and bother people trying to social distance and get their exercise, fresh air, and doing it in the most perfect setting "IMO" No matter what time of day. Some people spend thousands on their shacks to make it an over night place to be. If your staying home, and you have a shack that you and only your family use, because you made it so you could be comfortable over night and SAFE what is the issue? You can fly to Mexico, but you can't fish over night???? Get bent.

Sorry for the rant, but if I had an "Over night shack" and By-law showed up, it would not be pleasant.

T.L F.F

[Piscivore]

Well, there is an alternate solution.

Just say "actually officer, I plan to be here for two weeks as long as I catch enough fish to eat!"

The annoying thing is the lockdown restrictions are so full of holes nothing is likely to stick if you fight it. However, the police and other authorities can interpret it whichever way they want and make a nuisance of themselves. Who wants to waste all that time, energy, and money fighting it when we could be fishing. If only it was clear and easy to know what the rules are and follow them.

Stay safe and keep your head down!

[Fartoon]

Hello everyone,
I'm Fartoon, new member on the forum. I am very pleased to be here and to participate in the discussions. Do you have any information on the latest restrictions on fishing activities? Thank you in advance for your participation. Hurry to wear my anti pollution mask.