A tradition that took a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic was back on Saturday, April 2, 2022 in Cobourg.
The annual fish lift in Cobourg Creek at Pratt’s Pond took place on Saturday morning with a number of volunteers taking part.
The tradition has been taking place for approximately five decades and happens even Spring depending on the depth and speed of the water.
Over 200 rainbow trout were rounded up and lifted up and over the dam with the help of volunteers young and old.
Co-organizer Fred Ball said generations of anglers have volunteered with new ones coming each year to net the fish. The fishing go in a holding area where they are then lifted up and over the dam using a pulley system.
The trout make their way up to Baltimore Creek to reproduce then go back into Lake Ontario.
Because they have more time to grow, they survive longer in Lake Ontario because of the predator fish in the lake.
“The bigger we can send the rainbows back, the more they can survive.”
A biologist with the Ganaraska Conservation Authority was also on-hand taking count on the number of males and females going over the dam.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
