For nearly four decades the magnificent Lake Ontario fishery has been managed efficiently through employment of a methodology that is based on yearly stocking of hatchery reared  trout and salmon. Each new season brings a planting of some 1.6 million fingerling Chinooks, approximately 200,000 yearling Coho, 600,000 steelhead yearlings, nearly 500,000 brown trout yearlings and about 500,000 yearling lake trout. In addition around 200,000 Atlantic salmon are also stocked on an annual basis. This is why year in and year out we have enjoyed consistantly good fishing.

I certainly hope the current management approach will continue. Sure some years are better than others due to nature's whims, but in general we are provided with excellent fishing opportunities second to none and it is why we can say that our fishery remains world class. Make no bones about it; the reason behind the good fishing is the stocking program. It is steady, consistent, controlled and as a result, very productive.

     Since fishing preferences vary greatly according to the likes of the myriad of anglers it is not surprising that some anglers really do not give a hoot about the salmonid fishery and would prefer other species to prevail in Lake Ontario such as the burbot. Many "green" people would like to see the lake returned to pre human settlement status. Sort of a return to the days when if you fished and you caught a cold you probably died. Ah yes the good old days.

     The last few years have seen tributary streams benefiting from clean water efforts and we have seen a huge increase in the number of wild salmon, especially in the Salmon River. Through use of a state of the art fish marking system, stocked salmon now have an adipose fin clip which will differentiate them from naturally spawned fish that of course have no clips. Soon we will know just how the wild fish are contributing to the Chinook biomass if at all. Scientists need to know if any of the tiny stream born wild creatures reach adult hood in the open lake waters. Right now that is the $64,000 question.

     Already some are suggesting that wild fish are better and we should discontinue the stocking program, to which I say bull feathers. Ever hear of the recent salmon situation in fertile northern Pacific waters? Salmon fishing out west is in deep trouble.  I welcome the wild fish but be advised that if we depend on a totally wild fishery we will soon see boom or bust fishing opportunities. It will be nothing like what we enjoy today. If wild fish are making a serious contribution to the numbers of adult salmon, (some biologists currently question their current impact,) their presence must be factored into stocking numbers and perhaps stocking numbers will need to be adjusted, but not eliminated. It should be steady as she goes so that our wonderful fishing history will continue. Keep an eye on this one.