1974          FISHING and BIRD WATCHING

I had another short fishing trip over the weekend. Weather did not co-operate, and it was a bit windy and wet. In spite of the inclement weather, there were a great number of fishermen in the woods, even parties with small children. Too bad it got cooler so suddenly.

Fishing much better, though still not what we expected years back. Today when parties go into the woods, especially the weekend groups, ice and a cooler go along, and just about all the fish caught are kept in order to have the “count” to take home. Years ago the first part of the trip only fish needed for the table were taken, then the last day it was expected enough would be caught to take out. It is to be expected that with the great increase in the number of fishermen going into the woods that the small lakes show signs of the fishing pressure. Since I have kept a sort of record of the fishing in our own part of the Park, I am surprised that the fishing has lasted as long as it has. We are told that only a certain number of fish can feed in an acre of water, but the catch the last few years has greatly exceeded the number that biologists tell us the lake will support and keep producing. But there are still many going into the lakes that have passed their peak, in hopes that they will be more fortunate.

And this in spite of the fact that the early reports showed very poor fishing, not only in some lakes, but in all the lakes along the western border of the Park. With so many people anxious to go in to try their luck, it is perhaps the reason the Ministry has a sort of apathetic attitude towards the fishing. This season there is the rule on not being able to use live minnows, and so far I have not heard a complaint. But the ruling might have been better imposed years back to prevent any type of rough minnows being brought into the Park.

One thing is good, and that is that taking home fish does not seem to be the prime idea so much now. Many carry glasses for watching birds, and there are more people every season getting interested in birds. So far this spring I have been lucky, as those I have met know less about birds than I do.

Think the spring flowers put in an appearance in a more sudden manner than I ever have seen them. The cold weather we had for so long did hold them back, but when it turned warm they sure made up for lost time. What a shame that the wild flowers only show for such a short period.

Quite a few partridge drumming last week, but still far behind the usual soundings at this time of the year. On Saturday we hard a wolf howl. It was a loner and we hoped he might get an answer. And I hope he is still hungry.

The warm weather brought out the usual crop of black flies, and we hear the usual complaints but we should be glad for the warm weather. Even if it does mean flies.