NO FISHING BELOW DAMS!, Dunnville, Caledonia and Wilkes dams

[minnkota]

As a conservation measure to protect these pre-spawning fish, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources will be installing signs to educate anglers that it is illegal (under the Federal Fisheries Act) to fish within 23 metres of these dams and/or fish ladders. Currently, it appears that some anglers are not aware of this restriction and are fishing within the exclusion zone.

As some fish are able to get over the Dunnville Dam, Caledonia Dam and Wilkes Dam, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry will be installing signs at each of these dams and working with the angling community to raise awareness about the law.

Similar signs have been in place for a number of years at Denny’s Dam, on the Saugeen, and the Thornbury Dam on the Beaver River.

https://www.sachem.ca/news-story/7495969--n...nd-wilkes-dams/

[Brookie56]

Thanks for posting this minnkota. I did not know this. I don't fish these dams very often, but i do know the Caledonia dam is fished heavily via waders right into the face of the dam in the fall. I have counted 15-20 + people when the rainbows are running. I have fished the Dunnville dam and tied up on the dam itself fishing Channel cats in the summer we were far from being alone.
Thanks for the info.

[past.the.cast.mike]

Just out of curiosity do many people fish for rainbows in spring and fall from the dunville dam to Lake Erie?

[Brookie56]

I can't honestly say I have seen many fisherman targeting rainbows below the dam and to the lake. Some people trolling but they are mostly targeting Walleye. I have pitched spoons for them off the pier in Port Maitland with zero luck, but have seen a few caught by others. The water in the river tends to be pretty murky.

[HuskyMusky]

The Dunnville Dam will make them a small fortune in fines if they go down there on any given day with good weather

[Rippin Lips]

Signs still not posted at Caledonia. Majority of the fisherman are still fishing with their lures against the Dam wall. Which would be illegal I imagine.

[minnkota]

Yes that is illegal must be 25 m below the dam wall. Call MNR tips line and report them. Check the back of your fishing licence for number

[OutdoorDave]

Thanks for the post! I've never fished the dams myself, but I had been contemplating it as I've been told by a few different people, the Dunnville Dam is a hotspot. Now I know not to bother trying and can inform some of my uninformed fishing pals. Learn something new everyday.

[mairaj86]

Did not find anything about Dunnville in the zone 16 regulations. Read the regs not articles before deciding where to fish

[spooner]

You might want to read the regs again then, check page 8

IT IS ILLEGAL TO:
Fish within 22.9 m (75 ft.) downstream from the lower entrance to
any fishway or canal, obstacle, or any device designed to assist
fish around an obstacle.

[mairaj86]

Is a dam considered an obstacle?

I live in Kawarthas and have often had the CO check my license sitting on the dam wall jigging for walleye.

I fished the Dunnville dam once over 5 years ago, and there were a lot of people around me.

Maybe they don't enforce the rule or it is interpreted differently.

[spooner]

All three of those dams are fishways, so I think they interpret them correctly. Illegal. Sorry i think its time for a MNR crack down blitz.