Zone 16 Regulations - Thames River is a fish sanctuary Mar 15 - 2nd sat in May?

[Bowie]

Hoping someone else can clarify this for me as what I'm reading seems pretty ridiculous. Let me try to break it down.

So walleye is closed right now as it has been for years. Now I'm reading that the whole Thames river is a fish sanctuary besides for rainbow and browns in the North Thames River (main branch only). It reads the following:

NO FISHING - MARCH 15 - FRIDAY BEFORE THE SECOND SATURDAY IN MAY - see water body exceptions for details (the exceptions are for rainbow and browns, north main branch only).

What about people that fish for carp, suckers, catfish etc. This seems crazy that the whole Thames is closed except the North branch for rainbow and browns. I need to call and figure this out. Really wanted to try for channel cats this spring.

Am I reading this right? Need a second pair of eyes to go over the regs.

 

[Symmetre]

It says "no fishing." That's as clear as it gets.

 

[Bowie]

It says "no fishing - see waterbody exceptions for details," not just "no fishing." The only exception is for browns and rainbows in the north branch. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything, thanks for your help.

This is the first year the rest of the waterbody is a fish sanctuary which is nuts, it's a huge river, over 200km long. Hundreds of people fish for carp, sucker, catfish etc. So now no one can go fishing on the main Thames from March 15 - Second Saturday in May on this huge river with very diverse species... That's a LONG time to not be able to fish. They must have had problems with people poaching walleye or something.

 

[Symmetre]

Perhaps they did have poaching issues, who knows.

But yeah, if it says no fishing see exceptions, then you're restricted to what's in the exceptions and that's it.

 

[Ibstacle]

yeah its such as joke

closing the river for that long is ridiculous

 

[Bowie]

I called and clarified with the Aylmer Office, I spoke to one of the guys that helps make the decisions for the regulations and he clarified with others and the CO's. The fish sanctuary only applies to the Thames river between the dam at the Gordon Pittock Reservoir and the bridge at Highway 59. He said the wording was definitely not clear and was incorrect. We can still fish the Main Thames as usual for species that are in season.

TLDR; FISH AS USUAL IN THE ENTIRE THAMES RIVER, FOLLOWING WHAT IS IN SEASON, EXCEPT FOR THE FISH SANCTUARY I MENTIONED ABOVE.

Now I'm going to go try for some catfish tonight

 

[Ibstacle]

Okay thanks. That's what I originally thought but the wording was horrible. They literally left out the specific location. They should update the regs

 

[juggalopaul]

Hey guys i live in mississauga and was wondering if its worth the drive to london for walleye fishing on the thames river? When the season is open of course. I do not own a boat so shore fishing is pretty much all i do. I usually hit rice lake or bobcaygeon for decent shore fishing. I would be willing to share locations via a private message if anyone can help me out regarding the thames. Thank you

 

[Ibstacle]

Komoka, and Delaware are good spots along the river for walleye. Springbank park in Byron is a decent spot as well