The fish are starting to bite, but tagged perch continue to elude anglers more than a week into the 38th annual Orillia Perch Festival.
“Looking at the weather we just came out of, it doesn’t surprise me,” said festival organizer Doug Bunker. “The opening day was a record (with no fish caught) — one we don’t like to brag about.”
However, “the April glacial age has moved on,” he said, and that bodes well for participants hoping to hook some of the 65 tagged perch — five of which are worth $1,000, with the rest coming with a cash prize of $500.
“People are a little happier, and Mother Nature is helping out today,” Bunker said Tuesday afternoon. “The fishing will only improve day by day.”
It’s been a frustrating start to the festival for Huntsville brothers-in-law Ken Smith and Tim McAuley.
“It’s the worst I’ve ever seen in 33 years — for weather, for fish, for everything,” said Smith.
The two reeled in almost 20 perch Tuesday, but none of them had tags.
“It was a very slow start, but they’re starting to come in now,” McAuley said.
McAuley has been making the trip from Huntsville every day since this year’s festival began. The unfavourable conditions haven’t deterred him as he keeps his eyes on the prize — “that boat and those tagged fish.” The grand prize is a fishing boat and trailer.
Another duo bringing the boat ashore at Smith’s Bay said the fishing was for the birds — specifically, a seagull they saw snatch a perch from the lake.
While it has been a record start for all the wrong reasons, it means there are still plenty of fish to be caught.
“I’d be surprised if we didn’t have some tags come in in the next few days,” Bunker said.
The festival began April 21 and will wrap up May 12.
There will be some off-the-water fun this weekend during OPP Kids Day, an annual part of the festival, at Tudhope Park. Aimed at kids 12 and younger, the event will include a variety of free activities Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
