Tusket River Chapter Trout Unlimited Canada

Blue Ribbon Trout Project -
Kemptville, NS

The Tusket River Chapter of Trout Unlimited Canada and the Nova Scotia Department of Inland Fisheries have made the Big Meadow Brook watershed upstream from the Highway 203 bridge in Kempt a Special Trout Management area.
This area of Big Meadow Brook upstream from the Route 203 Highway bridge is subject to a special catch and release only fishery, and the use of live bait is strictly prohibited. These rules are to help manage and increase the brook trout population in the watershed, with an eye to creating and managing a “Blue Ribbon” wild brook trout fishery in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia.
The Tusket River Chapter of Trout Unlimited Canada and the Department of Inland Fisheries have worked since 2012 to create this wonderful opportunity for anglers, and for the benefit of the brook trout population.
The Tusket River Chapter of Trout Unlimited Canada thank all anglers for allowing us to help manage the stream, and we would love to hear your comments either in person or on our website below. We thank all those who have worked so hard to develop this watershed management opportunity.
Thank You for your participation !

River Watch

The Nova Scotia River Watch Program is a province wide volunteer oriented initiative. The Tusket River Chapter of Trout Unlimited Canada will organize, promote and run the program on behalf of the Province’s Inland Fisheries Advisory Committee. The program has been designed to educate participants in the importance of our habitat and fisheries resources in addition to the proper observation, recording and reporting of violations affecting these resources. River Watch focuses on activities of the entire watershed including lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, riparian zones and estuaries.River Watch Fisheries Monitors are not assigned to a specific area. They observe watershed activities all across the province. Participants assume a non-confrontational approach to all situations and are not intended to serve as a replacement for professional fisheries enforcement. They act as a communication link between government and the general public, and help government carry out the mandate to protect aquatic habitat and promote the sportfishing industry.
Video of the River Watch Program
This community-based volunteer program stresses the relationship between the community and the watershed. It identifies positive and negative activities impacting the watershed, habitat issues and the use and mis-use of fisheries resources. River Watch encourages anglers, landowners, industry and all other stakeholders to join in the protection of fish, fish habitat and the environment.
River associations, angling and environmental groups across the province act as host groups for the program, recruit volunteers and hold one day training sessions for the participants. Each participant attends this one day training session which focuses on the proper observing, recording and reporting of violations, habitat issues, communication, the link between the community and the watershed and the education of others. Each participant is provided with a River Watch manual, hat, crest, log book and public relations cards. A River Watch newsletter is now available.
River Watch is intended to be completely self-sustained and run by the volunteers themselves. It is the hope of the River Watch program that through education, communications, and an increased number of volunteers in the field, that the users and abusers of our natural resources will gain a greater appreciation of their vulnerability and learn to treat them with respect and discretion. Funding for River Watch is from the Canada/Nova Scotia Cooperation Agreement on Economic Diversification and Trout Unlimited Canada. To find out more about the program or to join River Watch contact:
Bill Curry, River Watch Coordinator
Tusket River Chapter Trout Unlimited Canada
3455 Highway 1, Port Maitland
Nova Scotia, Canada
B5A 5T6
Phone: (902) 649-2428
E-Mail:bill@billcurry.ca

Yellowfish Road and Environmental Education

The Chapter works with local schools on the Yellow Fish Road™ program and also runs an annual Earth Day program aimed at educating youth about their role as stewards of the environment in a true “think globally, but act locally” fashion.
The Chapter has sponsored things like a Cache It In, Carry It Out program, educating kids about geocaching and using GPS equipment, and carrying trash found back out with them.
The Chapter also has sponsored students doing stream management and measurement work, and hired summer students for several projects.
Yellowfish Road Video

Tusket River Chapter Trout Unlimited Canada