The Haliburton Highlands Outdoor Association has completed its 2022 Spring stocking of lake and rainbow trout in area lakes. This year the HHOA raised approximately 15,000 lake trout and 20,000 rainbow trout at its hatchery on Gelert Road. Fifteen HHOA volunteers stocked the trout in 18 area lakes over a 12-day period. Some lakes were stocked from shore by HHOA trucks carrying fish tanks, others were stocked by boat and two were stocked by MNRF helicopter.

“Stocking thousands of fish in multiple lakes is a very big job that involves a lot of moving parts and a lot of people power,” said Dan Smith, HHOA president. “Timing is critical. Water temperatures have to be just right. It’s a lot of coordination and hard work but it’s well worth the effort to help maintain good fishing in our lakes.”

Randy Charter moves on

Randy Charter, the HHOA’s volunteer fish hatchery manager is moving on to other pursuits after completing this year’s stocking. Charter has managed the hatchery, co-ordinated the yearly stocking and taken on numerous other jobs over the past seven years.

“I want to thank all our volunteers over the years for coming on board, working hard and helping to build an awesome team,” he said. “The HHOA is a wonderful organization with so many great people, with like interests and various life skills and experiences coming together to achieve a common goal.”

“Randy has been a wonderful member and friend to the HHOA. His contributions have been outstanding. He will truly be missed and we wish him the best going forward,” added Smith.

Since 1998, the HHOA has raised and stocked over 800,000 fish in local lakes. 

For more information visit HHOA.on.ca.  

Submitted by the Haliburton Highlands Outdoors Association