Free Family Fishing!
Every year, there are four days on which Canadians can fish in Ontario without having to buy a license from the Ministry of Natural Resources. This year, those days are as follows (more information here):
- Family Fishing Weekend (February 15–17, 2025)
- Mother’s Day Weekend (May 10–11, 2025)
- Father’s Day Weekend (June 14–15, 2025)
- Family Fishing Week (June 28–July 6, 2025)
The Harkness hydroacoustic survey
In August of 2022 Harkness Fish Laboratories conducted a hydroacoustic analysis of Golden Lake to obtain updated information on the smelt population. The report from Harkness is now available and it confirms that the number of smelt in Golden Lake has increased since the last sonar they completed. Former fish committee co-chair Dr. Peter Heinerman says the numbers show that the number of rainbow smelt in three different size classes increased to over 11 million in 2022 compared with 8.5 million in 2010. As some of our members are aware, the smelt population decimates the eggs and fry of the few remaining walleye in the lake, which is part of the reason we do the smelt harvest. The full report is available as a PowerPoint presentation here, and a separate document that describes the terminology and approach is here.
Check out our newsletter!
In the fall, we published our first-ever fall newsletter — replacing the one that usually comes out in January — and that gave us a chance to go over some of the great events that we had on Golden Lake last year, like the annual fish fry and the Snow Moon Skating Loop. If you’re a member of GLPOA you should have received the newsletter by email, but you can also read it by clicking here or by clicking on the image below.
Info from Renfrew Power
NOTICE: Renfrew Power Generation (RPG), and the Golden Lake Property Owners Association (GLPOA) would like to give notice to those with Riparian rights and all other water users, especially those with watercraft, that water levels will begin to be gradually lowered on Golden Lake beginning October 15, 2024. The drawdown will be carried out the same as years past and is necessary to best prepare for the anticipated high water that comes during Spring Freshet. Prior to making recreational plans, lake users should familiarize themselves with the water level regime to avoid areas that may become unsafe for boating, ice fishing or snowmobiling as water levels gradually decline. Boat removal could be challenging if left too late.
Water level information: www.renfrewpg.ca/water-levels-
Other information: https://www.renfrewpg.ca/wp-
Feedback for the MTO
As some of you may already know, the Ministry of Transportation has proposed making a significant change to the main intersection in Golden Lake. There are several proposals on the table, which you can see here, including creating a new intersection with traffic lights or a roundabout further to the west. All of the proposals involve blocking off the current highway access to Kokomis Road, the gas station/store and the Cottage Cup, and replacing it with a cul-de-sac accessible either from Kokomis Road or from the new intersection to the west. There have been two public information sessions in which residents learned more about the options and provided feedback. The MTO is asking for comments via email at [email protected] or through a comment form on the project website.
Safe boating guide
Click the image below or click on this link to see a copy of Transport Canada’s guide to safe boating, which has all the laws and requirements related to piloting your watercraft around Golden Lake (right-click on the image or the link and then choose “save as” from the popup menu to download a copy to your own computer).
How fish stocking is done by MNR
Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources stocks rivers and lakes in the province with more than eight million fingerlings and other fish every year. Below is a YouTube video that shows how this works, from the breeding programs to the actual stocking process — you can also find the video here, and if you prefer to read a transcript you can find that here.
The Walleye Rehabilitation Program
As many Golden Lake residents are probably aware, the Walleye population in our lake has deteriorated significantly since the 1980s. Efforts by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry over the past few decades have not produced any measurable changes in this situation. The single biggest reason for this is that Rainbow Smelt, currently the most abundant species in the lake, feed on Walleye fingerlings, so they never reach maturity. Stocking the lake with 2-3 cm Walleye just gives the Smelt more to eat.
The GLPOA fish committee — chaired by Don Bishop, a longtime resident of Golden Lake with years of expertise in aquaculture research — has come up with a plan to revive the Walleye population in our lake, a plan that has received the support of the MNR, Pikwakanagan, and Round Lake, as well as provincial representatives.
More details can be found in this PDF presentation, as well as this backgrounder, which outlines the plan in more depth. There is also an Excel spreadsheet with details about the fish-stocking history of the lake. These and other documents related to the Walleye Rehabilitation Program can also be found on our Fish Committee page, along with bios of Don and other members of the GLPOA fish committee. Here’s to a future of great Walleye fishing!
Ontario Fishing Regulations
The Ontario government has come out with the latest Fishing Regulations overview, which is useful reading for anyone interested in dropping a line into Golden Lake, or anywhere else for that matter. You can find a PDF of the report here, or you can read it online at the Ontario government’s website. It’s got information about fishing licences, open seasons and catch limits, as well as up-to-date fishing regulations for each fishing zone, and there are also some updates to the list of permitted bait fish.
An overview of fish in Golden Lake
Dr. Peter Heinermann, who has a PhD in aquatic biology, gave a presentation at the AGM in 2022 where he went through all of the major species of fish that can be found in Golden Lake. Click here to view a PDF copy of the presentation or click the image below.
Fish Surveys Requested
Don’t forget to fill out a Fish Survey… get a copy by clicking here. Then take a photo of the completed survey and email it to [email protected]. For more information on this program, click here.
Visit us on Facebook
See what your friends and neighbours have to say!
Follow us on Instagram
We’re on Instagram! If you want to see pics of some of the great events and other cool things happening at the lake, follow us there — and if you post your photos to our Facebook page (which is here), you might see them reposted on Instagram (if you’d rather we didn’t do that, please let us know at [email protected]).
Help Wanted
For more information about any of the roles below, please contact us at [email protected]
- Canvassers needed! We have an urgent need for new canvassers, all around the lake and river. If you are interested in joining the GLPOA team, meeting your neighbours, and helping the GLPOA continue delivering on its mandate, please email [email protected] for more information.
Hydro One rate class changes
Seasonal rates no longer exist — click here or click on the image below for more information on changes to Hydro One’s power rates that might affect you
Changes to fishing regulations
There have been changes proposed for fishing regulations and fish-stocking strategies in Zone 15, which includes Golden Lake and the Bonnechere River. Click here or click the image below for more information from the co-chairs of the GLPOA Fish Committee, Don Bishop and Dr. Peter Heinermann
