With recent improvements to stream habitat in Souris River by the Souris & Area Wildlife Branch combined with the environmentally friendly efforts made by the farming community and the tremendous cooperation of landowners, Souris River is beginning to produce some fine recreational fishing experiences. Many anglers may be seen on the Souris Causeway in the summer months attempting to catch large rainbow trout (steelheads). Gowan Brae Bridge and Harmony Junction Pond are other sites one often observes fishermen trying their luck for brook and rainbow trout. To add to this diversification in the river the Souris & Area Branch released approximately 4000 salmon smolts and salmon parr in the summer of 2009.

The Souris and Area Wildlife Branch invited the general public to attend a meeting on February 1, 2010 at 7:00 PM, at the Access PEI Office in Souris.  The meeting was chaired by Souris Branch President, Steve Cheverie.  Rosie MacFarlane, freshwater fisheries biologist with the PEI Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry gave a presentation on the dynamics of brook trout, rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon and fish habitat restoration in Souris River.  Anglers and interested citizens were encouraged to provide input on future directions for the river and discuss possible regulation changes which might improve recreational fishing in the area.  The following resolutions and discussion points were presented by letter to Mr. Gerard MacDougall of the Fish & Wildlife Division of the P.E.I. Department of Environment, Energy & Forestry.

www.flickr.com Souris & Area Branch PEI Wildlife Federation's Souris River Sportfishing Meeting photoset

SOURIS & AREA BRANCH
P.E.I. Wildlife Federation
(Incorporated April 21st, 1906)
www.souriswl.ca

Souris & Area Branch of the PEI Wildlife Federation hosted a public meeting chaired by President Steve Cheverie on methods of enhancing the recreational fishing experience on Souris River, on Feb.1st, 2010 in Souris, PEI. This meeting was well advertised and 27 local people attended, which included the main fishers of Souris River.

Rosie MacFarlane, (Fresh Water Fish Biologist) from Fish & Wildlife Division, of the PEI Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry gave a presentation on the dynamics of the fish that inhabit these waters with special emphasis on Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout and Atlantic Salmon.

Fred Cheverie local watershed coordinator gave a presentation on the work that the Souris Branch has done on Souris River over the past few years. He also led the group with some with some possible options that the directors of the Souris Branch put forward for discussion.

Options:

1) Delay the opening of the angling season on Souris River until May 15th. Unanimous agreement.
It was agreed that an exception could be made for Harmony Pond (open on April 15th).

2) Extend the season on Souris River by one month (closing October 15th). Unanimous agreement.

3) Catch and release after September 15th using single barbless hook, artificial fly or lure.

4) Barbless hooks year round on Souris River.
It was suggested that this be modified to single barbed hook. 17 in favour, 7 opposed.

5) No fishing in brook trout nursery area east of Souris Line Road.

General discussion:

Difficult to keep live bait on barbless hooks

Barbless or barbed, fish taking live bait swallow it deeply.

Lower the creel limit? Possibly in future.

Creel survey would be useful - booklets could be provided to anglers.

Summary of regulation changes proposed by Souris and Area Branch of the PEI Wildlife Federation

- Delay the opening of the angling season on Souris River until May 15th, with the exception of Harmony Pond which would open on April 15th.

- Extend the season on Souris River by one month (closing October 15th).

- Catch and release on Souris River after September 15th using single barbless hook, artificial fly or lure.

- Souris River will be restricted to use of single barbed hook from May 15th to October 15th, with the exception of Harmony Pond.

- The brook trout nursery east of the Souris Line Road will have a conservation closure for the duration of the angling season.

Following this section of the meeting the anglers wanted to bring forward their concerns that they observe as major problems facing the recreational fishing community in Eastern PEI.

Major issues:

Cormorants:

Eastern PEI is plagued with an overpopulation of Double Crested Cormorants. Fred indicted that the Souris Area Branch has received nuisance permits to shoot cormorants in fresh water and this has worked well. It was unanimously agreed that they would like to get these permits earlier in the spring. Action:

Request would be made to Fish & Wildlife Division by the Souris Branch to receive permits earlier.

Beavers:

Many Eastern PEI streams are dying because of beaver impoundments. Fred indicted that he and his crew are doing their best to deal with beavers but there are so many in various rivers, difficult to manage. New program tried this winter with Souris Area Branch locating dams and providing maps to trappers. Finances from Atlantic Salmon Federation, Wildlife Conservation Fund, Souris Wildlife Branch and Dept of Fisheries and Oceans were utilized for beaver locations and removal.

Action: Souris Branch continue to explore methods to drastically reduce the population.

Seals:

Seals in salt water estuaries and up into fresh water areas.

Action: Souris Branch Request Fish & Wildlife Division to dialogue with DFO to find methods of permit removal.

Clam digging

Forced water harvesting created serious sediment problems in Colville Bay in 2010. This caused serious sedimentation in both directions with tides which affected recreational anglers. The group unanimously opposed this method of harvest. Fred Cheverie indicated that letters were sent from the Souris Branch to PEI Dept. of Fisheries and DFO. His understanding was that they were researching the problem.

Action: Souris Branch makes this concern known to Fish & Wildlife Division and request their assistance in solving this problem.