The following information was contributed by HBCA member Dianne Logan.

Hillside Beach is home to Fireflies which are one of the most intriguing species in the insect world.  In early summer, (June and July), they start a courting ritual that delights anyone who stays up late enough to watch them twinkling and flashing in your yards.
 
To show that they are available, the male Fireflies show off by flying around signaling to the females.  The females usually sit at the top of tall blades of grass or on a tree branch watching for a possible mate.  If she’s impressed, she will flash her light to attract him.  He will flash back at her indicating his interest.  After mating, she can lay as many as 500 eggs in the ground.  When the numbers of mature Fireflies are plentiful, they can light up your yard and bushes in a magical display.
 
The Firefly population is in decline at Hillside Beach and around the world due to loss of habitat.  However, it is very easy to nurture fireflies in your yard and neighbourhood.  They thrive in damp conditions and they prefer total darkness at night.  It’s best for us to observe them when it’s dark.
 

• Consider a water feature in your yard or provide a damp environment.
• Turn off the lights in June and July.  The main reason for declining populations is artificial lighting.  Consider turning off lights in your yard, garden, patio, and even in the room if the window faces the patch you’re cultivating for Fireflies.  Solar lights can be the culprit.  
•  Leave a patch of your yard with tall grass and weeds.
•  Chemicals such as fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides kill the Firefly larvae, pupae and adults. – Consider keeping a section of your yard chemical free.
•  Keep some rotting wood at the edge of your yard.  They are attracted to this.
•  Plant a native pine in your yard.  Some species will lay eggs on pine needles.  It’s a good roosting tree for them.

I have noticed a decline in the number of fireflies we see each summer at Hillside Beach.   It would be a shame to lose this treasure in our community.  Some places in Asia had totally lost all their Fireflies and have now set aside parks just for them and reintroduced them.  People flock to see them.  Let’s not wait till we’re in that situation.  Let’s protect and nurture our Fireflies now.  Biodiversity is an asset to every community.  
 
​Dianne Logan

Step one: Let's go fishing
The Provincial Fisheries Act and Fisheries Act of Canada are the regulatory bodies governing fishing in Manitoba. Lake Winnipeg is in the Southern Fishing region of Manitoba.

Purchase your licence online here  If you are exempt remember to have your identification as proof of age with you when you fish. 

Pickerel/Walleye (and sauger or combination of both) is limited to 4 and may not exceed 55 cm.

Step two: Stop aquatic invasive species
Before you enter the Lake Winnipeg, please ensure that all your equipment, boat (motorized and non-motorized), fishing equipment and bait containers are free of aquatic plants and mud.

When you exit the water, clear all water related equipment of aquatic plants (algae and weeds) including boats (motorized and non-motorized), fishing equipment and bait containers.  Drain all water from watercraft and water related equipment.  Keep drains/valves open or removed while in transport. 

​Read some important information to protect the waterways and your watercraft.

Step three: Filet that fish
Let us leave this to the experts.  Here is a great video on how to fillet a fish.

Step four: Follow one of these recipes
The following recipes are from our HBCA former and current Directors! 

Pickerel cheeks appetizer from Lynnette
Wrap pickerel cheeks in thin piece of prosciutto or very lean bacon (check Gimli Fish for pickerel cheeks for a special celebration).

• Mix:  
  • 250 ml of mayonnaise
  • Lemon zest
  • Thinly sliced shallot/green onion
  • 2 tsp minced fresh Tarragon or 1 tsp dried Tarragon
• Spread a small crostini or small baguette with mayonnaise mixture and place wrapped pickerel cheek on each piece. 
• Broil for a few minutes to heat and brown.

The basic pan fry Pickerel with three variations from Lawrence, Grace, and Val

• Rinse and dry pickerel filets
• Lawrence says: Dip in milk, dip in mixture of flour, bread crumbs, fry in butter until lightly golden brown.
• Grace says: Cut filets in pieces, Dip in pancake batter and fry in mixture of margarine and butter. 
• Val says: Salt and pepper rinsed filet, fry in butter.                   

Verna Dawns’ Beer Batter Recipe

1. 2 quarts of vegetable oil (1.89 litre) Heat oil to 185 C or 365 F
2. 8 pickerel/walleye filets, wash and salt and pepper 

Mix:

• 1 cup flour
• 2 tbsp. garlic powder
• 2 tbsp. paprika
• 2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp black pepper

Add:

• 1 egg
• 1 (12 oz/350 ml) bottle of beer

Dip in filets. You should be able to see the filet through the batter after dipped. Fry one filet at a time, turn once until golden brown. Drain fish on paper towels while cooking the remainder.  Serve warm.  
 
Pickerel/Walleye Rockefeller
Verna Dawn found this recipe… sounds delicious

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Fry together: ¼ cup butter, 2 cloves garlic, 3-4 cups fresh spinach. Heat until spinach is wilted.  
3. Add ¼ cup whipping cream and salt and pepper. Stir, then remove from heat and place in small heat proof dish. 
4. Place an 8 oz filet on top of mixture with 4 slices of thin bacon. Bake for 15 minutes.  
5. Sprinkle with ¼ cup parmesan cheese and bake for 5 more minutes.  

Enjoy with a glass of Pinot Noir!

We are hosting “Nature’s Calling” at Charlie Wall Park, 38069 Hillside Beach Road on Saturday, June 24 at 10:30 a.m.
The event is open to everyone!

• 11:00 a.m. Guest Speakers will be Lake Winnipeg Foundation: Alexis Kanu and Marlo Campbell.  Here is your opportunity to learn how to play a part in the preservation of Lake Winnipeg. How dangerous are the algal blooms? A presentation will be followed by a Q and A.
• 12:00 p.m.  Candace Parks, Aquatic Invasive Species Specialist, Province of Manitoba. A demonstration will be given for cleaning watercraft and water related equipment. 
• The Coalition to Save Lake Winnipeg will be available with additional information from other Allied Organizations. 

Trail project
Find out more about the Hillside Beach Trail Proposal and build a nesting box for birds to be placed on the trail. HBCA membership required for a free opportunity to build a box. 

Bring your own lawn chair. Coffee and water free for those with reusable cups/containers.