(Today’s Northumberland file photo)
Cobourg’s Annual Spring Rainbow Trout Fish lift is planned ( weather permitting) for Saturday April 12th.
Each year the Pratts Pond Fishing Club along with the Ministry of National Resources collaborate together in picking an optimal date to assist approx. 200 rainbow trout reach their upstream spawning grounds in Baltimore.
People ask why do we do this or why does this happen each year? We do this to maintain the population of the rainbow trout species. By lifting the fish over the dam, they have more of a chance to survive as there are less predators, the fish have more space in the creek to spawn, more time to grow, and the survival rate is longer than it would be if they were in Lake Ontario.
Why do we only lift approximately 200 rainbow trout? It’s because the creek above the dam is narrow and can only handle the population of approximately 200 fish.
This annual event began over 50 years ago with Don Ball Sr and George Cortesis spear heading it.
Don Sr. with his son’s Fred and Don, along with Jim Jubenville continued to organize this tradition for years.
Unfortunately, co-organizers Don Sr and Jim have passed, so Fred Ball, Don Ball Jr, Dave Hibbard, Ron Reyns and Christine Jubenville-Clarke have taken on the task of organizing this event each year and carry on the tradition.
Generations of angler’s, volunteer of all ages, and new people every year come out to assist in making this a successful event. Some volunteers come from as far as Chatham and Ottawa.
The volunteers net the fish, placed the fish into a holding area, where they are inspected, identified as male or female, counted, placed into a net, and lifted over the dam using a pulley system.
Once the fish are released over the dam, they are headed on their journey, that takes them approximately 3 days to reach their spawning grounds in Baltimore.
The event takes place at the Mill Restaurant / Cobourg Creek Golf Course at the corner of Ontario Street and Elgin Street in Cobourg.
Registration is from 8:30 am – 8:45 am, with a 9:00 am start.
The event typically takes about three hours to complete.
We are inviting volunteers who care about the rainbow trout population, asking them to grab their chest waders, a net and pitch in and help.
This is a great event, that educates the volunteers and the spectators watching.
Also, we welcome high school students who need community hours.
We hope to see everyone there!
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
