Striking a balance for fishing with bait

By MPP Toby Barrett

To The Haldimand Press

In my travels around Haldimand and Norfolk, and through media stories, I am hearing there is a renewed interest in people harvesting their own food.

From more people gardening to a huge increase in sales of fishing rods and reels, people want to be more self-reliant.

For anglers, live bait is important for success – especially for new or young anglers.

With 1.2 million anglers, and more than 250,000 lakes, it’s no surprise there is demand for minnows, leeches, and worms in Ontario. These anglers generate $1.6 billion in economic activity, and the bait industry alone is worth more than $23 million.