Help lift ban on fishing

[hammercarp]

They have banned fishing in this two lakes because they claim fishing harms ducks. I know this sounds ludicrous but who knows who the town councils have listened to.
The two locations are;Southside Pond , Woodstock & Swan Lake, Markham.
Please help out by sending an email to;
[email protected] and [email protected]

Time to pitch in and help. Here is a sample of what you may want to say.


I understand you have banned fishing in Southside Pond , Woodstock & Swan Lake, Markham . The reason being given is that fishing harms ducks. What evidence is there that fishing harms ducks? If this was the case I'm sure the MNR would have surely banned all fishing in the Province of Ontario long ago?

Fishing from shore in small accessible community ponds gives countless hours of recreational pleasure to youth, disabled, aged and shore based anglers . To ban fishing at this site is a travesty. Shore based angling is an important recreational activity to countless citizens of your city.

Please lift this ban immediately so we can continue to enjoy fishing from shore in these bodies of water!

Regards

Tell every one you know that loves to fish.

 

[Graham Bristow]

I sent them an email.. I hope that helps.. We need to stick together..

 

[getin]

I wrote them as well. Thanks for indicating this and drafting the text

 

[MarkhamAngler]

Hi, guys,

I'm new here. I don't normally post on fishing forums since I only started fishing 2 years ago, and found this thread while I was searching for 'fishing in Swan Lake, Markham'. I fished Swan Lake last year and caught several small pan fish and perch off the dock. Kinda a nice way to spend an afternoon fishing with the kids, not really serious fishing. I was very upset to see that it had been banned in 2012. So upset that I called the Town of markham to complain. I got nowhere, so I called the MNR and spoke to a nice gentleman who said that he would try to help. He then spoke to someone at the town of Markham who told him that the reason fishing was banned was becuase some anglers had been eating the fish caught there, and the Town is concerned with the level of contamination in Swan Lake and wish to keep the public safe. They agreed to allow catch and realease and would change the signage to reflect this. This happened about 2 weeks ago, and the signs haven't been changed yet, but I'm hopeful it will be in the next few weeks.

 

[Dave Bailey]

Fishing can harm ducks or other wildlife if it's practised by inconsiderate jackasses who leave litter everywhere. Take a walk along the south shore of Frenchman's Bay in Pickering, the garbage there is unbelievable. Lots of line, some with terminal tackle still attached, packaging material, general litter like coffee cups, it's just insane. They even take wood off the beaver lodges to build fires, it's a wonder the beaver haven't frozen each winter. I am almost embarrassed to be seen down there with a rod in my hands. A couple of years ago I saw one moron throwing things at a beaver as it swam by. I yelled at him to stop and he came out with one of the more stupid phrases I have ever heard in my life: "Why do you want to protect them? They'll eat all the fish." I should have pushed him in the water just for being that dumb.

I suspect that littering may have something to do with banning fishing in some areas. Until we can get much stiffer penalties for these people we should each try to take out more than we take in, but it may be a losing battle.

 

[chuckles]

Lead from split shot does hert some water fowl alot of rivers in NB banded using it could have been part of the reason

 

[tangpierre]

Hi, guys,

I'm new here. I don't normally post on fishing forums since I only started fishing 2 years ago, and found this thread while I was searching for 'fishing in Swan Lake, Markham'. I fished Swan Lake last year and caught several small pan fish and perch off the dock. Kinda a nice way to spend an afternoon fishing with the kids, not really serious fishing. I was very upset to see that it had been banned in 2012. So upset that I called the Town of markham to complain. I got nowhere, so I called the MNR and spoke to a nice gentleman who said that he would try to help. He then spoke to someone at the town of Markham who told him that the reason fishing was banned was becuase some anglers had been eating the fish caught there, and the Town is concerned with the level of contamination in Swan Lake and wish to keep the public safe. They agreed to allow catch and realease and would change the signage to reflect this. This happened about 2 weeks ago, and the signs haven't been changed yet, but I'm hopeful it will be in the next few weeks.

Hi guys,

I had been there last Sat., both the no fishing and no fish consumption signs are still on. I think we should call the town again.

 

[MarkhamAngler]

I've fished there twice in the last few weeks. The sign hasn't been changed. I was told by the locals that fishing was not allowed I just ignored one of them and got into a heated argument with another. Caught a few small bullheads. It was better fishing last year.