A North Bay man has been fined $1,600 for taking prohibited-sized walleye from Lake Nipissing.
Stephen VanStroe pleaded guilty to illegally catching and retaining four under-sized walleye and was fined $400 for each fish.
Court heard that on January 23, 2015, conservation officers on snowmobile patrol on Lake Nipissing observed a person walking to shore pulling a sleigh. The individual stopped to get something out of his sleigh and set a package aside on the ice. The man then began walking toward shore, sleigh in tow.
An officer inspected the man’s licence and equipment while another officer inspected the package left on the ice. Further investigation revealed that VanStroe caught four under-sized walleye and abandoned them on the ice. VanStroe denied having caught the fish.
Justice of the Peace Ruby Beck heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, North Bay, on May 20, 2015.
To report a natural resources violation, call the MNRF TIPS line at 1-877-847-7667 toll-free any time or contact your local ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).