Georgian Bay - Petition to use 2 rods

Hello All. Not sure if anyone has seen this petition yet but it would be great if it can be passed into the fishing reg's.If it does it would be the same as is allowed on Lake Huron currently. It does not change our limit of fish.

https://www.change.org/p/amend-georgian-bay...rods-per-person

That would b nice but ide also like to see a petition about the nets barely marked in the most common fishing spots in coploys and owensound

Let's hope this goes through. Can't see the sense of it.

Let us think about this objectively for a moment or two. Or maybe think about it for a long time, before we make any impatient suggestions or decisions. We are anglers, and a good angler is supposed to have patience. We are supposed to teach our children patience, and the true meaning of fishing. To use children as a pawn in a petition written by adults, and purposed for adults is childish in itself. How many children do you know that can handle two fishing rods? To say that one rod dampens the excitement and momentum of fishing and also affects the enthusiasm of young anglers is ludicrous. It is up to us to teach our children that fishing is not about how many fish you catch and or keep. There is a reason for one rod only on Georgian Bay. Lake Ontario is a third larger than GB. Lake Erie is almost double the size of GB. Lake Michigan is four times the size of GB. Lake Huron is four times the size of GB. Lake Superior is five and a half times the size of GB. The petition talks about the disparity creating an uneven playing field and restricting the full enjoyment of the fishing experience in Ontario. Then it goes on to say that, increasing rod limits can significantly enhance the fishing experience. Two rods increases the chances of catching fish and maintaining interest, and fostering a lifelong passion for fishing in the younger generation. Did using only one rod growing up dampen our love and a lifelong passion for fishing and the great outdoors in past generations? I think not. The petition finishes off by saying, more fishing rods enhances the process of fishing itself. Making fishing more enjoyable without impacting fish populations negatively. It also uses words like cultivating, vibrant, sustainability, enjoyment, tradition and future generations, in the last paragraph. Fact....More rods catch more fish. Fact....Allowing more rods in Georgian Bay will attract many more boats and many more anglers. More over fishing, more pollution etc. More boat traffic creates more fishing pressure and decreases fish populations. Whether catch and release or keeping all the fish limits, the population of many fish species in Georgian Bay will decline, decrease, diminish. I am afraid to say it, but plummet would be the best word to use for future fish populations in Georgian Bay. How many of you anglers that have been fishing Georgian Bay traditionally for generations, want to see twice as many boats catching twice as many fish? Launch and parking fees which are too high already, going up again. Hotels and fishing charter prices going up again, as well as restaurant and supermarket price increases again. And don't forget about the increase in building up the real estate and the infrastructure that goes along with all that. Is it really worth it to catch more fish? Is it worth it to ruin the gem of Ontario Georgian Bay? It won't happen overnight of course, but history has shown us that this will happen again. Georgian Bay and the Great lakes were ruined once or twice already. Are we willing to be participants in this again? Georgian Bay is a fishing paradise, let's keep it that way. Old school tradition and our ancestors like many of us demand it. I might not have too many supporters on this traditional, conservational way of thinking and that's okay. We live in Canada, where we are free to fish where and how we want, within the fishing regulations. But who is with me? There must be many anglers that wish to see Georgian Bay recover from the past mistakes. Not add another misinterpretation of the future to the pile, that will be a detriment to the fish populations and the environment of the many communities involved.

Well, I didn't see that one coming.
As always there are other opinions, and in this case, Crappeeeman brings up some interesting points.
If doubling of the rod count on Georgian Bay is going to add additional fishing pressure to the Georgian Bay fishery, plus increase dock & parking pressure, which is already at the breaking point, I doubt this is what most fisherman would like to see happen.
More rods in the water equals more fish taken, that makes sense. Plus this comment about the size of GB vs other 2 rod per person areas is a point taken as well.
Hopefully before any decision is make all these points will be discussed and a correct decision will be made.
Thanks Crappeeeman for another point of view.

Cheers,

Thanks Fozzy, my opinion is just one of hundreds out there. The more rods in the water does increase your chances. No guarantees of course but the odds do go up. With today's technology, finding the fish is easier than in years past. It worries me that someday two rods may be used on smaller bodies of water. Technology plus more rods equals higher fish catch ratios. Every angler loves to catch fish, some for food and some for sport. It's not my place to say what is good for one is good for everyone. Opinions and conversations can solve many questions, on what is best to do. This is a tough topic, change the regulation or leave Georgian Bay alone to be more of a challenge, for decades to come.

I can certainly see both sides of the argument. I have seen many people on social media lament that they need two rods for GB when fishing by themselves to increase their chances of catching. However, I have seen just as many people have extremely successful solo outings.

Personally, for me, it's not all about the catching. (Of course I'd be a liar if I said I don't care if I get skunked. LOL We all want to catch something when we go out.) However, as an angler, I look at each trip as a means to study the fish behavior, see how they react to certain lures/speeds, weather, water temps - all the different factors that make up fishing. Understanding your target species, will increase your odds of catching much more than washing two lures.

At the end of the day, I would hope that the MNRF and Fisheries and Oceans do their due diligence and research and review all their data before making any decisions for or against.