The Trailsmen Rod & Gun Club (Club) is a registered not-for-profit organization (OCN 417502) which is operated by volunteers. Incorporated in 1979, the Club is affiliated with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters as well as the Community Hatchery Program.

Trailsmen Rod & Gun Club

A Glimpse into the Club

  • A group of people in outdoor clothing standing near a snowy creek with bare trees in the background.

    Most importantly, the Club is community oriented and hosts various theme days where the young and the young at heart can enjoy indoor and outdoor activities!

  • Three people examining small aquatic animals in white buckets on grass.

    The Club facilities include an accessible clubhouse, a controlled room for incubation and hatching, outdoor holding tanks, three rearing ponds and a rainbow pond.

  • Aerial view of a facility with several large ponds and surrounding vegetation, including trees and shrubs. There are two main buildings and a few parked vehicles. The area appears to be a managed landscape or industrial site.

    The Club is also home to Oliver’s Gun Range where members can practice their shooting skills at the long-rifle ranges (50, 100 and 200 yards) or at the 17 yards hand-gun range. There is ample parking for members and guests.

The journey

In late April, we collect walleyes with a trap-net and/or a shocker boat. The females are weighed to determine the number of eggs that will be released. Sperm from the males is placed on the eggs in a bowl and then gently mixed with a turkey feather. A clay-mud mixture is added to harden the eggs and then rinsed. The fertilized eggs are placed in beakers for a 21-day incubation period and monitored daily. As the fry hatch, they rise to the top of the beakers where they are collected, counted, and released in the rearing ponds or planted in designated local lakes. The rearing ponds can hold approximately 120,000 fry where they are grown to fingerlings for 8 to 12 weeks. At this stage, the ponds are drained, and the fingerlings are collected and planted in designated local lakes.

Club Photo Gallery

Glass beaker containing a yellowish liquid with floating particles, marked with measurement lines up to 1000 ml, on a wooden surface.
Close-up of numerous small, round, translucent fish eggs with visible black spots inside, likely embryos, on a reflective surface.
Three men involved in a fishing activity, examining water tanks outdoors.
Two people in waders conducting water sampling in a shallow river, surrounded by rocks and vegetation.
Water filtration system with sediment cylinders in a laboratory setting with wood-paneled walls.
Laboratory microscope on wooden desk with documents and tools.
A group of fish in an outdoor container filled with water.
Person in outdoor gear working with a large plastic tub on rocky terrain with barren trees in the background.
Cylindrical container with a yellowish liquid and dark sediment, equipped with pipes, next to a jar labeled 'Peroxidase.'
Fish in a cooler filled with water
People collecting fish eggs at night under bright lights
Outdoor camping setup with tables and containers in a snowy, wooded area. A person is standing near various supplies, including plastic tubs, a table, and a cooler. The ground is wet with patches of snow and puddles.
A small pond surrounded by grass and dirt with a house and trees in the background.
Aerial view of a forest area with multiple small ponds, a few buildings, and dirt roads.
Person pouring liquid from a stainless steel bowl into a cooler.
Man in red flannel shirt pouring liquid from a cooler into a filter over a container.
Two people wearing headlamps preparing batter in a bowl at night, with a campfire in the background.
People examining buckets containing tadpoles or small aquatic creatures outdoors.
White bucket containing water and small fish or tadpoles on a ground surface
Four people working with a large net in a shallow stream surrounded by bare trees and marshland.
Two people in a boat conducting water research on a lake with bare trees in the background
Two men fishing at night with headlamps, one holding a net with a fish.
People gathered around a table outdoors at night, engaging in an activity with bowls and a pitcher under bright lights. A person in a plaid jacket and cap is handling a bowl with liquid contents. Other individuals are partially visible, observing or
A group of people standing in water, wearing protective gear, using nets at night. A person in a rescue attire is involved in the activity.
Group of people in outdoor gear standing by a river in a forested area during winter, with some snow on the ground.

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