MNR Pickerel Spawning Beds

We were hired by the Ministry of Natural Resources to construct pickerel spawning beds at the base of the Moon River falls on Georgian Bay. We built them using our 30×60 spud barge and a 16-ton excavator, placing round boulders to form the beds right in the current. Using our private commercial landing a short distance away, we were able to transport 100's of tonnes of boulders and rock to the site. Pickerel look for clean, moving water and rocky bottoms to spawn—those round boulders create gaps where water can flow through and keep the eggs oxygenated while preventing silt from settling in. It’s a simple, durable setup that mimics natural conditions and gives them a solid place to reproduce.