Guelph Lake Conservation Area is closed for the winter season, but that hasn’t stopped some people from venturing out onto the ice.
The Grand River Conservation Authority wants to warn them that they are putting their safety at risk and could open themselves up to charges of trespassing.
The GRCA used to run an ice-fishing program on Guelph Lake but dropped it a few years ago.
When the program was in place, GRCA staff would check ice thickness daily to ensure it was safe. When the ice was too thin, the program would be shut down until it was safe to resume. GRCA staff were also on hand to deal with any emergencies that might arise.
However, now that the ice fishing program is no longer offered, ice thickness is not monitored and GRCA staff may not be available to help if an angler runs into difficulty.
Guelph Lake is a working reservoir, and water levels can rise or fall quickly, meaning ice can become thin or unstable in a very short period of time and without warning.
Avid anglers can go ice-fishing at three other GRCA parks where winter programs are in place.
The GRCA offers ice fishing at Shade’s Mills in Cambridge, Pinehurst Lake near Paris, and Belwood Lake near Fergus. Conditions are monitored daily in these locations to ensure the safety of those out on the ice.
For more information on ice-fishing and other winter activities at GRCA parks, check the website at www.grandriver.ca or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/grandriverparks
