Port Stanley has many hidden gems and on the long weekend my friend/neighbour Carol took me to one of them.
The Lake Erie Salmon and Trout Club isn’t trying to hide from the public. It’s just not really well known by visitors because it’s off the beaten path. And that’s part of what makes it so special.
They raise about 100,000 fish per year to release back into Lake Erie. I was amused and then disappointed that several NO FISHING signs appear on the property. I suppose every once in a while some wise guy (or gal) thinks it’s hilarious to fish there. (It is not!) The club is entirely volunteer-run on donations alone.
A cup of fish food costs $0.75 and the fish love it. Kids love to feed the fish. This big kid loved feeding the fish although the trout weren’t very active on Monday morning. We walked to another part of the pond where carp went crazy for the food.
After feeding fish you can walk along a trimmed trail through the beautiful woods. The club’s grounds encompass eight acres. Over the years they’ve brought in rocks and made waterfalls in the stream. It’s a sweet place that’s had as little human interference as possible. It was serene and quiet.
The club is accessed off Thomas Road, from Union Road. (4255 Thomas Road.) The trails actually go far enough to meet Union Road, although I wouldn’t park there. If you’re walking you could get in that way. Feel free to put some coins in the donation box or overpay for your fish food. The volunteers and the fish appreciate it.
Very cool that this is a volunteer-led project!