SPORT FISHING LICENCE INFORMATION

FISHING LICENCE FEES
RESIDENTS † (PERSONS LIVING IN CANADA)
Outdoors Card (valid 3 years)	$5.88
Resident Seasonal	$23.57
Resident Conservation††	$13.74
Resident One Day	$9.82
NON-RESIDENTS (PERSONS LIVING OUTSIDE OF CANADA)
Non-R Seasonal	$65.77
Non-R Conservation††	$40.26
Non-R 8-Day	$42.22
Non-R 8-Day Conservation††	$24.55
(Non-R = Non-resident) Fees include 5% GST Fees are subject to change Possession Limits apply to each Licence † Residents You are considered a Canadian Resident if you have lived in any part of Canada for at least 7 consecutive months in the 12 months before you obtain your licence. Canadian residents may buy either a Resident Seasonal Licence or a Resident Conservation Licence and have the same rights and responsibilities as Ontario residents. You do not need an Ontario Resident Sport Fishing Licence if you are under 18 years old or 65 years old or older. †† Conservation Licence A Conservation Licence has been introduced for both residential and non-residential sport fishers. Catch and possession limits for this licence are lower than the standard limits. Both the Resident and Non-resident Conservation Licences are available at half the fee of a standard licence. They are intended particularly for anglers who are more interested in the fishing experience than in the total catch. TOP
ONTARIO OUTDOORS CARD The Outdoors Card system is a system, where resident anglers need the card to buy a licence and to legally fish in Ontario. The handy, plastic, weather-proof card costs $6 including GST, and will be valid for 3 calendar years. Instead of a piece of paper, your sport fishing licence will be a sticker attached to the back of the card.    The card-based system makes buying licences easier, and is designed to enable better management of Ontario1s fisheries resource. Applications are available from local MNR offices and from licence issuers. More information is available at www.mnr.gov.on.ca TOP

RULES AND REGULATIONS

Catch and Possession Limits

Fishery laws limit the number of fish you can catch or possess. The number will depend on the species, where they are caught and, in some cases, their size. The catch limit is the number of fish you are allowed to catch and keep in one day. Fish eaten for shore lunch are included in the daily catch limit. The possession limit is the number you are allowed to have in your possession on hand, in cold storage, in transit, etc. Possession limits are the same as one day1s catch limit except where otherwise specified. Fish that have been lawfully caught and are suitable for food must not be destroyed or allowed to spoil. For more information visit the Ministry of Natural Resources at www.mnr.gov.on.ca

Taking Fish Across the Border

No person shall, (unless the fish is being prepared for immediate consumption) skin, cut or pack any fish taken by sport fishing in such a manner that

1. the species of any such fish cannot be readily identified; 
2. the number of such fish cannot be readily counted; or
3. the length of such fish cannot be readily determined when size limits are applicable.

A portion of the skin {at least 2 cm square (1 square inch)} including scales should be left on all fish or fillets being transported to facilitate identification. If freezing your catch, wrap and freeze each fish separately so they may be readily counted. If packing the fish in one bag or box arrange them so that they may be readily counted. For more details on transporting fish, go to www.mnr.gov.on.ca

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CATCH AND POSSESSION LIMITS
	Licence Type/Limit
Fish Species	Standard	Conservation
Walleye (Pickerel)	Total: 4 only 1 may be larger than 46cm (18")	Total: 2 only 1 may be larger than 46cm (18")
Largemouth/Smallmouth Bass	Any Combination: 6	Any Combination: 2
Muskellunge (Size Limit Min. 36")	1 per day Size limit: 91 cm (36")	0
Crappie	No Limit	No Limit
Perch	No Limit	No Limit
Bluegill	No Limit	No Limit
Pumpkinseed	No Limit	No Limit
Rock Bass	No Limit	No Limit

See the article "Changes to the Lake" on managing the fisheries resources.

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THE RICE LAKE ROAD AND FISHING MAP

Available at participating marinas & resorts or by mail.

$9.15 CDN (taxes included, price subject to change without notice)

Tourist Resort Services
Box 506, Bewdley, Ont., Canada
KOL  1EO
Tel:   (905) 797-2281
Fax:  (905) 797-3072

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The Kawartha Lakes have seen many new species added to the fish community
over the last century. Years ago, muskellunge and small mouth bass were the
dominant species in these shallow, nutrient-rich lakes. In fact, muskellunge were
once so abundant in the Kawarthas that they were harvested commercially until
around the year 1900.   

Some species of fish were deliberately introduced into the Kawarthas, while others have found their way here on their own. Largemouth bass were stocked in the Kawartha Lakes in the early 1900s by the Ontario government. Together with smallmouth bass, largemouth now form an important part of the Kawartha sport fishery. Walleye were introduced throughout the 1920s to 1940s through plantings of eyed eggs, fry and fingerlings thought to have originated from Hay Bay in the Bay of Quinte. Walleye are currently the most sought-after fish in the Kawarthas, with thousands of walleye harvested by anglers each year.  

Several species have invaded the Kawarthas without direct assistance from humans, and some of these newcomers have not been popular additions to the fish community. Carp are probably one of the most visible and unwelcome of these invaders. Easily seen while they are splashing about in the shallows in spring, carp have been present in all of the Kawartha Lakes since the late 1800s. As equally unpopular invading aquatic plant species, myriophyllum or milfoil was first observed in these lakes in the late 1800s, about the same time that carp appeared.

  

Not all newcomers to the Kawarthas have been as unappreciated as carp. Bluegill were first seen in Rice Lake in the mid-l960s, and are now the most abundant fish in the angler harvest from that lake. An estimated 16,000 bluegill were harvested during the spring and summer fishery of 1979 and by 1995 the bluegill harvest from Rice Lake had increased to almost half a million. Bluegill have slowly spread throughout the Kawarthas since the1960s and are now present in all the lakes. Bluegill are in the sunfish family and are closely related to pumpkinseed which have inhabited the Kawartha Lakes for many years. Bluegill have a long, black/blue flap at the back of the gill cover and a black spot at the back of the second dorsal fin, while pumpkinseed have a short gill cover flap which is black in the centre, edged with white or yellow, with a prominent red spot at the back edge. Bluegill grow to a larger size than pumpkinseed and it is not uncommon to catch bluegill weighing a pound or more in the Kawarthas.   Black crappie are another newcomer to the Kawarthas and likely invaded from the Trent River to the east and from Lake Simcoe to the west. First seen in Rice Lake in the mid-1980s, crappie have spread to the other Kawartha Lakes relatively quickly.

The numbers of black crappie harvested from Rice Lake increased from a modest 560 in 1991 to almost 11,000 in 1995. Large numbers of black crappie were harvested in Canal Lake for the first time in the spring of 1996. Black crappie are also in the sunfish family and are a relative of bluegill, pumpkinseed and rock bass. Black crappie are large, deep-bodied sunfish which are pale, olive-green in colour with silvery and bluish reflections. The body is darkly and irregularly blotched with black. Black crappie greater than a pound in size are common in the Kawartha Lakes.   

Northern pike were not native to the Kawarthas and so far only a few pike have been caught in these lakes. A northern pike was captured in Stony Lake in 1980, however, none have been caught there since. Pike have been well established in Canal Lake since the mid-1980s. More recently, an angler caught a large (33 inch long) northern pike in Rice Lake in 1992. The Kawartha Lakes Fisheries Assessment Unit of the Ministry of Natural Resources captured a 32 inch northern pike in a trapnet set in Balsam Lake in 1993. A large tiger muskellunge was caught in the same site in Balsam Lake the following year. The numbers of northern pike caught in the Kawartha Lakes will likely increase over time as more fish move in from the Trent-Severn Waterway to the east and west of the Kawarthas.  

It is unlikely that northern pike and black crappie will displace walleye in the Kawartha Lakes. Many good walleye lakes in both Canada and the United States support the same species combination. Walleye may, however, face increasing competition from new species if they prey on forage species also utilized by walleye.  

The Kawartha Lakes are part of the Trent-Severn Waterway which links Georgian Bay and the Bay of Quinte in Lake Ontario via the Trent and Severn River systems. This direct link to two of the Great Lakes means that the Kawarthas are vulnerable to invasion by any species of plant or animal which has dispersal mechanisms to allow its spread. The most recent (that we are aware of!) invader in the Kawartha Lakes is zebra mussel. First found in the Great Lakes in the late 1980s, zebra mussels have spread rapidly throughout the Trent-Severn system into the Kawarthas. Zebra mussels were first found in Balsam, Big Bald and Rice Lakes in 1991 and are now present throughout the Kawarthas. The numbers of zebra mussels in these lakes will likely increase dramatically over the next few years.  

It is often difficult to predict the impact of invading species on the existing fish community in the Kawartha Lakes. Once the invaders are established, the resulting changes are often irreversible and largely uncontrollable. We have to recognize that fish communities are dynamic and undergo constant change, and we must be willing to adapt to these changes as well.For further information contact Kawartha Lakes Fisheries Association, Box 125, Lindsay, Ontario, K9V 4R8 or visit www.scugog-net.com/kfa

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For many experienced anglers, Rice Lake is well known as the best lake in southern Ontario for catching Walleye spring, summer and fall. Rice Lake is an Eutrophic Lake, which means it is very fertile and supports a large population of Walleye, and other sportfish. The key to finding Walleye in Rice Lake is understanding light penetration.

Light penetration is the NUMBER ONE FACTOR determining the location of Walleye. It will cause them to move out of an area that has optimum temperature and where baitfish are plentiful. To catch Walleye consistently you must react to the light conditions and water clarity that affect light penetration.

In May, post-spawn Walleye must begin to feed heavily.  Predator and baitfish alike are attracted to shallow water at this time of year because it holds the water temperature they prefer. In an Eutrophic lake the water is clear at this time of year resulting in light penetration, but because the sun1s rays are angled in the spring the light penetration is not intense. Abundant weed growth also helps to keep the Walleye and baitfish in shallow water, and active all day long. 

During the hot summer months many people expect to find Walleye in deep water, but this is not the case in an Eutrophic Lake. Heavy algae bloom, and dying weeds will cause low oxygen levels in the deeper water, and the Walleye will stay in the shallows. They are comfortable there because the algae bloom has minimized light penetration.  Walleye are feeding heavily because their metabolism is dictated by the higher water temperature. The main problem in an Eutrophic lake is that baitfish are so plentiful in summer a Walleye does not have to constantly roam for food. Indeed, a few minutes may be all it takes for a fish to complete its feeding for the day.

Many anglers think that because the water is so shallow in an Eutrophic lake that the Walleye will only be feeding at night, however this could be a mistake. Walleye are sight feeders. To see its prey in a lake with heavy algae bloom a Walleye must feed during the day. Even low light conditions may not provide enough light. You may have to fish during the sun's brightest light, and often your most successful fishing will be at midday. Walleye will key on areas that have green weed growth providing oxygenation. If there is no green weed, check creek or current areas that allow the water to mix, increasing the oxygen levels and moderating the water temperature. 

In autumn an Eutrophic lake goes through a quick turnover that affects the fish very little. Walleye can be found roaming the shallows in search of food, due to dwindling baitfish numbers. When the shallows become cooler than the depths, the fish will locate on a drop-off or even in a shallow depression if no definite break exists. On warm, sunny days these breakline fish will again venture  onto shallow flats to feed. Keep in mind that with the cooler temperatures there will no longer be heavy algae bloom and the water will be clear, as in the spring.

Your tackle selection for fishing shallow water Walleye will be predominantly a medium to heavy action spinning outfit, with light, 6 to 10 lb. test monofilament line. We also like to keep a medium to heavy action bait casting outfit available when fishing Rice Lake's dense weed growth, rigged with 14 lb. test monofilament. 

Number one on the list of lures in all conditions are jigs. Plain jigs rigged with assorted plastics or hair jigs in the 1/8th to 1/2 ounce sizes will be useful in almost all situations. Remember that a shallow water fish that is feeding moves quickly as a reaction to a possible meal, so moving the bait quickly is best both in clear water in low light conditions, or all day long in murky water. As light increases you will have to slow the bait down because the Walleye becomes unlikely to chase a bait down and are holding tight to cover. Keeping a bait in front of them longer becomes important. Use larger jigs in the spring to mimic the size of the baitfish available to the Walleye.  Colours of preference include reds, yellows, and greens.

Crankbaits are very effective, and as a general rule, the murkier the water the brighter and noisier the crankbait should be. Walleye in lakes with heavy algae bloom are relying on their lateral line sense to bring them to the bait so a crankbait with a lot of vibration and a rattle is indicated.  Spinnerbaits can also work well in murky water.  Try slow rolling one that has large blades for plenty of vibration. Fish your lures more slowly in murky water so that the Walleye have no trouble finding it. If the water is clear use natural colours and you may eliminate the rattle. 

Large, slow falling bass jigs, can be deadly for shallow water Walleye in dense weed, or in very murky water. Yes, I1m talking about a jig n1pig, or a large Texas rigged worm.  Make sure you include a rattle in all cases so the Walleye can locate the bait more easily. This is a technique we use to fish bass on weed flats, but it is also effective for Walleye and the fish caught on these baits are usually large. This is the technique the baitcasting rod is best suited to.

Proper boat control is essential for fishing Walleye in shallow water. Too much of a disturbance from a boat can make Walleye wary. Methods include drifting, which is quiet and doesn1t require long casts. If conditions are very windy a drift sock is beneficial in slowing down your speed so you may fish effectively. An electric trolling motor is the most effective method of boat control. However, in very dense weed in shallow water, or indeed, in very shallow water without weed, the electric may cause some noise and spook fish. Back trolling and forward trolling are both methods used often for fishing Walleye. These methods are difficult to use in dense weed and are more suited to locating Walleye that may be scattered on the outside of deeper weedlines at night or during low light conditions.

Learn to use the light to your advantage when fishing for Walleye. I'm sure you will find, as we have, that Rice Lake is the best Walleye lake in Ontario.

(Annie & Ivo are a professional fishing team from Milton, Ontario who fish Rice Lake.)

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By Terry Lindsay, Rice Lake Fishing Guide

A lake undergoes natural changes season by season, month by month, and even day by day.  The most successful anglers on a lake are often the anglers who have a keen ability to recognize and adapt to changing conditions. In this article I'd like to discuss one of the changes we have encountered here on Rice Lake and hopefully give you some tips on how to fine tune your fishing tactics.

Unwanted species called zebra mussels were discovered in our fishery.  These mussels feed by filtering nutrients out of the water, the suspended nutrients giving the water a stained or murky appearance.  Zebra mussels have actually filtered enough nutrients from the lake to result in a change in water clarity.

Clearer water means fish location may change as well as the tactics we use to catch them.  During the 1996/97 season good catches of big bluegill were reported coming from deeper water (8 ft. to 12 ft. depths).  Experienced bluegill and crappie anglers have switched to lighter, less visible lines;  4 lb. and even 2 lb. test line will fool even the wariest slab sized bluegill.  The extremely sensitive lines give the added advantage of allowing anglers to use smaller and lighter tackle, 1/16, 1/32 and 1/64 oz. jigs, tiny nymph flies, micro sized floats and miniature hooks will help to fill your basket from Rice Lake.  Light lines work best on  long limber rods, 7 ft. and even 9 ft. noodle rods handle 2 lb. test extremely well. Another factor to consider in clear water conditions is the amount of sunlight penetrating the water.  Anglers can concentrate on low light periods or overcast days, which usually provide periods of increased feeding activity.  Wind and wave action will also disperse sunlight.

Wind direction can be a clue as to which side of the lake should provide the best conditions to intercept schools of feeding panfish.  Strong wave action will cause silt from the bottom of the lake to be stirred up along with insects of all sorts.  This murky food filled water will draw huge numbers of hungry bluegill.

An advantage of having clearer water is an increase in weed growth. Healthy weeds require lots of sunlight, healthy weeds also produce lots of oxygen which in turn provides better living conditions for fish.  When water is clear fish will use weed growth for shade as well as cover to ambush bait .  This is a beacon to good anglers for locating hotspots. Walleye and bass fishermen need to fine tune their tactics as well.  More subtle lure colours and lighter lines will help to connect with the lake's larger fish species.

In summary clearer water can actually be a benefit to Rice Lake through increased healthy weed growth since good weed growth provides good habitat for fish.  As anglers we simply need to adapt and adjust, try lighter lines and tiny baits at well thought out locations.  Rice Lake is a fantastic fishery, so relax and enjoy the experience of a bountiful harvest at a beautiful location.

As a guide here on Rice Lake I have the pleasure of keeping up with Rice Lake's seasonal changes on a daily basis.  Terry Lindsay is the owner/operator of Kawartha Lakes Guide Service.

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Fishing the Weeds of Rice Lake

By Terry Lindsay, Rice Lake Fishing Guide

Rice Lake is a long shallow body of water where mud flats and weed beds make up the majority of the fish holding structure. Those weed beds act as a nursery for newly hatched fry. As well, baitfish seek cover and food amongst the weeds. But best of all, gamefish use the weeds as shelter and as an ambush point to feed on bait of all sorts. Learning to fish those weeds can add to your success.

Anglers who effectively fish weed beds enjoy consistent catches of walleye, largemouth, smallmouth, crappie, bluegill, perch and musky. I like to break the weedbed down into three parts outside edges, above the weeds and then right into the thick growth.

To fish outside weed edges, use livebait, crankbaits or jigs at various depths until you locate active fish then slow down focusing your effort at that level. Overtop of the weeds, old favorites such as weedless spoons, Zara Spooks, Pop-R or shallow running crankbaits take their share of healthy largemouth and tasty walleye. In these same areas, bass fishermen rely on the virtually weedless spinnerbait to fill many livewells here on Rice Lake. For those who like to fish at night, shallow running crankbaits such as Rapalas, Smithwicks, or Rebels work well. Cast over the weeds then retrieve at a slow steady pace to locate feeding gamefish.  If the first location doesn1t produce,  simply move on to another weedbed. Night fishermen enjoy cooler temperatures during those summer heat waves but best of all they often have the lake all to themselves.

To fish right in the heavy cover, Texas rigged plastic worms are a number one choice. Fish slowly letting the bait sink through the growth to reach fish buried under the weeds. Jig and pig combinations are also quite effective here with the added bonus of being known as "favorite bait" for big bass.  Rice Lake gamefish live together in the heavy weed cover. Many bass fishermen have been surprised when the "hog" on the end of their line turned out to be a "trophy size walleye" or a "tackle breaking musky". Don1t forget your jigs. Try dipping holes in the weed beds or use a specialty jig such as an arrow shaped "rip jig" to rip through heavy cover. When "ripping" use a stiff rod and good line, cast into the growth and let the jig sink to the bottom, then rip the jig through, let it fall again and then repeat. Rip jigging allows anglers to fish an area of thick cover quickly and effectively.

There are as many ways to fish weed cover as there are anglers; experiment on your next fishing trip and you too may enjoy consistent success. 

(Terry Lindsay is the owner/operator of Kawartha Lakes Guide Service.)

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Cooking Recipes

Swiss Walleye Fillets

1 1/2 pounds walleye fillets
salt and pepper
1/2 cup chopped parsley
1 tsp. dill
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup milk
1 egg, beaten
2/3 cup bread crumbs
1/3 swiss cheese, finely grated

Sprinkle fillets with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, combine parsley, dill, garlic powder and melted butter. Add milk, egg and a little salt and mix well. In a separate bowl, mix bread crumbs and cheese. Dip fillets in egg mixture then roll to coat in crumb mixture. Place fillets on a well greased baking pan. Drizzle with butter mixture and bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes, until fish flakes easily with a fork. Serves four. Enjoy!

Crisp Fried Perch