Orillia's Annual Perch Fish Festival - Lake Simcoe & Lake Couchiching

Fishin' Fun for Everyone...Grab your Family, Friends & Fishing Gear

Join in the 29th Annual Orillia Perch Festival!

Toss your Line into the Beautiful Waters of Lake Simcoe & Lake Couchiching

for a chance to Win Great Prizes...if your Catch is the Lucky One!

The Orillia Perch Festival is one Canada's largest fishing derbies and it takes place right here in cottage country from Saturday, April 17th right thru until Saturday, May 8th 2010.

Pick your favorite fishin' hole and catch tagged Perch for awesome cash prizes or win daily, weekly or even the grand prize draw... you'll be grinnin' and braggin' with even more fish stories! ;)

Register once, but fish often for more chances to win! This fishing derby is registered as 'catch & release' so be sure to have a live well at the ready for storing your fish. Your Perch must be living, breathing and healthy enough that once weighed in, can also be released knowing it will survive.


Perch Headquarters
Tudhope Park
Hwy. 12S & Atherley Road

Orillia, L3V 4S7
Adults: $15.00 / Children Under 16: $5.00 - GST included
Registration & Weigh In's - Open daily between the hours of 7am to 7pm.

- Parking available on site
- Pets allowed
- Picnic areas (food and drink closeby)
- Public Washrooms


Opening Ceremonies
Friday, April 16, 2010
Starts at 7pm

Located at ODAS Park
500 Fairgrounds Rd.
Orillia, ON L3V 6H2

Phone # 705-325-0353


Special OPP Kids Day
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Starts at 11am thru 2pm
Located at Perch Headquarters (Tudhope Park)


Closing Ceremonies
Saturday, May 08, 2010
Starts at 7:00 pm
Located at the Best Western Mariposa Inn & Conference Center
400 Memorial Avenue
Orillia, ON L3V 6J3
Phone # 705-325-9511


Perch Festival Live Release Program
Operated by the Orillia Fish & Game Conservation Club
For club information - Phone# 705-826-4263 or John 705-325-2864


To Register by Mail
Each person must register with their name, address, phone number, date of birth and payment.
You may mail in information for more than one person within the same envelope.

Send information and chegue to:

Orillia District Chamber of Commerce
150 Front St. South
Orillia, Ontario
L3V 4S7
Phone# 705-326-4424

Please pick up your registration at Perch Headquarters before you start fishing!

or

register at Trombly's Tackle Box
595 West Street South
Orillia, Ontario
L3V 5H7
Phone # 705-327-3474

Invading Species Awareness Program

Ministry of Natural Resources

Check out these Lake Simcoe perch caught in January 2010

Copeland Forest - South Central Ontario

Spending your leisure time wandering thru the beautiful, picturesque forests within cottage country is definetly time well spent! So why not take the whole family outside for a day of play and enjoy the tranquility that nature has provided. The Copeland Forest, located in central Ontario's cottage country, is another amazing slice of our four season paradise. Take a stroll thru the lush Pine forests speckled with fern and wild mushrooms or watch the Salmon run as you picnic by the river. The scenic trails of Copeland are magnificent for cycling, hiking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, dog sledding, horseback riding and Geocaching.

An endless ribbon of wilderness trails meander throughout cottage country and the Copeland Forest trails are ideal for those just learning to appreciate walking, hiking and cycling for fun and recreation. Once you've found your 'legs' you could spread your wings and venture onto the Ganaraska Trail which is over 200 km long! There are hundreds of miles of trail systems just within cottage country that also enable ATVing, snowmobiling and other motorized sporting equipment such as...

• Bruce Grey County Rail Trail - Ontario's West Coast - Port Elgin - 80 km
• CP Trail Southern Georgian Bay and Lake Simcoe - Flesherton - 77 km
• Southern Georgian Bay and Lake Simcoe - Township of Tiny - 22.5 km
• for a complete list visit the Ontario Trails Council

While exploring the trails of Copeland Forest keep your eyes open for wildlife such as White Tailed Deer, Ruffed Grouse and Wild Turkey. In early fall the Chinook Salmon are running in the Coldwater River which makes for fantastic viewing as many of the Salmon are swimming in just inches of water. Geocaching has become very popular for treasure hunt enthusiasts throughout cottage coutry, with Copeland Forest being one of the mapped hot spots. Horse enthusiasts and pets (on a leash) are welcome while motorized vehicles are not which simply enhances this tranquil setting even more.

Copeland Forest Trails
Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR)
2289 Nursery Rd.
Midhurst, Ontario
Phone # 705-725-7500
Spot a Bear! Call Phone # 1-866-514-2327

How to Get to the Copeland Forest - If you visiting from Barrie you can reach the Copeland Forest from Highway 400, north of Barrie by taking Exit 121 and turning east onto Highway 93 towards Craighurst.

If you have any questions, call the MNR before heading out into Copeland Forest. There are reported Bear sightings in the area at times, so if you have concerns call the MNR. Please do not litter or feed the animals and pay attention to your surroundings at all times. Pack a compass, map, flashlight etc. and wear appropriate attire. Safety should always be a factor when going out of doors and into the wilderness. Hunting is a recreational sport within Ontario in general so regardless of what trail or wilderness area you may be in, take extra precautions during hunting season. Wear bright colours, not your fur coat and antlers!

Simcoe County Trails has a  map of cottage country that highlights numerous other Loop and Linear trail systems throughout cottage country.

List of Arena's within Cottage Country - Ice Skating and Hockey, Indoors and Out!

Memories of ice skating and playing hockey on the ice lingers in the minds of many Canadian's as hot summers morph into long, cold winters and then repeat year after year. Frozen lakes, ponds, canals, puddles and swamps soon become speckled with both young and old alike, all reaping the slippery rewards left by nature.

For those who aren't into shovelling off fresh snow or don't know someone who's already has ;) then you need to turn to other options. Either the local hockey arena or get creative and make your own ice rink at home using these instructions!



Hockey Arena's within Cottage Country


Orillia

Brian Orser Arena - Twin Lakes
433 Gill St.
Orillia, ON L3V4K7
Phone # 705-325-1414


Orillia Community Centre Arena
25 Brant St. W
Orillia, ON L3V3N6
Phone # 705-326-2380



Rama - Mnjikaning Arena Sports Complex


6145 Rama Rd.
Rama, ON L0K1T0
Phone # 705-325-3611 ext. 1403



Beaverton Community Centre

176 Main St. W
Beaverton, ON L0K1A0
Phone # 705-426-9838



Barrie Molson Centre
Home to the Barrie Colts

555 Bayview Dr.
Barrie, ON L4N9B4
Phone # 705-737-6851



Gravenhurst Centennial Centre

101 Centennial Dr.
Gravenhurst, ON P1P1S9
Phone # 705-687-6774

Gravenhurst is home to the world's largest pond hockey tournament!
 


Bracebridge Memorial Arena

169 James St.
Bracebridge, ON P1L1R6
Phone # 705-645-8888



Huntsville Centennial Centre

100 Park Dr.
Huntsville, ON P1H1A1
Phone # 705-789-6421

Huntsville is home to the world's largest pond hockey tournament!



Parry Sound

Bobby Orr Community Centre

7 Mary St.
Parry Sound, ON P2A1B4
Phone # 705-746-2701

 
Kinsmen Park Rink (outdoor rink)

Parry Sound Dr. & Hwy-69
Parry Sound, ON P2A1B4
Phone # 705-746-2101



Penetanguishene Memorial Community Centre

61 Maria St.
Penetanguishene, ON L9M1A5
Phone # 705-549-8492


Wasaga Stars Arena

425 River Rd. W
Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z2P1
Phone # 705-429-0412


Visit Arena Maps for an extensive list of all Ontario's hockey arena's.