Fishing

Clear Your Gear is a Canadian volunteer-led fishing line recycling network that aims to reduce the impacts of poorly discarded fishing line on wildlife, people, and the environment. We are the first municipality in Canada to sponsor this program.

How the program works:

• Visitors deposit used fishing line into the receptacles
• Staff empty the receptacles and sort out any garbage
• Staff ship the line to a designated facility to be recycled

Commonly Asked Questions:

Can all types of line be recycled?

• Monofilament and fluorocarbon fishing lines can be recycled, braided line cannot. This is something removed during the sorting process.

Is it ok that the line is dirty, or tangled in leaves and sticks?

• Visitors should remove as much material from the line as they can before depositing it. A little material is fine. Large amounts will be removed during the sorting process.

Can hooks and sinkers remain on the line?

• Visitors should remove any hooks and sinkers attached to the line to the best of their ability. These are removed during the sorting process.

In order to help local swans and waterfowl live a long and healthy life we ask that all fishermen use lead-free tackle. The use of sinkers and lures are often ingested by wildlife resulting in injury or even death.

Injured swans should be reported to the Toronto Wildlife Centre at 416.631.0662 or Ontario Trumpeter Swan Restoration Program by emailing trumpeterswan@live.com.

Injured wildlife should be reported to a registered wildlife rehabilitation centre found under the sick, injured or orphaned wildlife section tab.

• Make sure that you have a valid fishing licence, and know the regulations and catch limits. Carry your licence with you each time you fish.
• Please clean up after yourself and discard items into appropriate receptacles. If there are no receptacles available, please take your garbage with you.
• Do not trespass or fish on private property or areas where it is prohibited.
• Keep your distance from other people who are fishing. Give them space and do not fish right next to someone who has already chosen a spot.
• Do not cross another fisherman’s line. 
• Do not cast over passing wildlife and/or waterfowl. 
• Keep your volume down. Be respectful of other people around you.
• Do not disturb habitat (ie cutting tree branches in the way) to gain access to new water. 
• Take care of your fish and release appropriately.

Where to purchase an Outdoors Card and fishing permit: https://www.ontario.ca/page/fishing-licence-fees-ontario-residents

New to fishing? Learn the basics of fishing in this fun and interactive online program: https://www.ontario.ca/page/learn-fish-digital

Ontario fishing regulations summary contains information about recreational fishing licences, open seasons and catch limits, as well as up-to-date fishing regulations for each fishing zone: https://www.ontario.ca/document/ontario-fishing-regulations-summary

Durham Region fishing map: https://www.durham.ca/en/discovering-durham/resources/Documents/Tourism/Tourism-Guides/FishingMap.pdf

The TackleShare Program educates anglers young and old all about fishing. They offer virtual and in person programs. Visit https://www.tackleshare.com/