Fishing Clubs & Organizations
The Credit River Anglers Association (CRAA) has grown in recent years with the successful introduction of migratory salmonids to Lake Ontario and the lower Credit. CRAA has been a steward of Erindale Park in Mississauga over the years with a long history of stream clean-ups, tree planting and boulder placement projects. Considerable effort has also been employed by its membership in operating the Streetsville fish ladder and a fish hatchery used to stock the Credit River and Silver Creek. Association activities have now expanded upstream of Erindale Park with a growing watershed approach and in partnerships with other groups. www.craa.on.ca
The Greg Clark Chapter of Trout Unlimited Canada (TUC) has a long history of coldwater conservation on the Credit River and is known for pioneering the application of catch and release regulations in Ontario on private lands. The publicly accessible “agreement waters” managed by Trout Unlimited Canada just north of Inglewood are unlike other private reaches that are typically posted as no trespassing. These publicly accessible but private lands are managed with landowners who benefit from volunteer litter clean-ups, tree planting, and erosion control in fish friendly ways. TUC has funded many other high profile studies and rehabilitation projects throughout the coldwater reaches of the Credit River Watershed and promotes the Yellow Fish Road Stormdrain Marking Program. www.tucanada.org
The Izaak Walton Fly Fishing Club (IWFFC) promotes fly fishing and catch-and-release as conservation tools and provides funding and volunteers for a variety of studies and rehabilitation projects, primarily on the Credit and Grand Rivers and Bronte Creek. The IWFFC is involved in the promotion and management of both cold and warm water species. This club regularly meets in Mississauga to teach fly tying and share experiences. Each year they organize the Canadian Fly Fishing Forum featuring international guests and vendors. www.iwffc.ca
Mississauga Bassmasters have adopted Island Lake and Lakefront Promenade Park for their largemouth and smallmouth bass fisheries, respectively. The club is involved with restoration efforts at Lakefront Promenade Park and Ken Whillans Resource Management Area. This chapter of the Ontario Bass Federation Nation have the only two Conservation Awards of Distinction won outside the USA. Their annual “Casting Kids” event at the Lake Aquitaine Family Fishing Day in July is also a popular event. www.mississaugabassmasters.com
Ontario Streams was established in 1995 and is dedicated to the conservation and rehabilitation of streams and wetlands through education and community involvement. They have implemented a number of projects in the Credit Watershed and often partner with the MNR. Ontario Streams is also actively involved in the protection of the Redside Dace, a Provincially Endangered Species at Risk found within the Credit River Watershed. www.ontariostreams.on.ca
Dufferin Northern Peel Anglers and Hunters are a member of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and manage stocked ponds, forests, a shooting range, campgrounds, and a clubhouse near Orangeville. They have also participated in rehabilitation projects on Monora Creek and Island Lake. (519) 941-2093
Halton North Peel Naturalists is one of the local chapters of Ontario Nature that have demonstrated a specific interest in the Credit River’s fish communities and have adopted a fish monitoring station downstream of Georgetown. They also contribute to amphibian monitoring programs, wetland and forest conservation projects and lead numerous hikes in the watershed. www.hnpnc.com
The Port Credit Salmon and Trout Association was formed in 2010 to organize local interest in helping to rebuild Lake Ontario’s historic salmon and trout populations. They have started a project to pen-raise a small number of Chinook Salmon in Port Credit. They are also active at events in the lower watershed to promote the fishery of Lake Ontario. www.pcsalmonandtrout.com
There are additional clubs outside the watershed that periodically support activities on the Credit River. These include Headwaters Fly Fishing Club and Winter Hatches.
A Volunteer Workday Calendar is coordinated by CVC for those who would like to help but do not necessarily have the time to join a club. CVC has two “Caring for the Credit” stewardship trailers containing tools, water, and first aid kits required for community environmental workdays. For more information on organizing your workday, please contact the CVC Community Stewardship Coordinator.
