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Trout
Ice More Winter Bows!
Arguably the most sought after fish during the spring and fall
months. Rainbow trout receive relatively low angling pressure throughout
the winter. Yes, there is a ton of other species to target once our
lakes tighten up but if you’re looking for a line stripping, extremely
intense battle through the ice. Rainbow trout is where it’s at! 02/12
Winter Trout Tips!
Early ice and last ice are absolutely the best times for shallow trout.
When targeting trout in shallow water many assume stealth is always the
best plan. Not true. Often trout are looking for a commotion. Usually
commotion has some kind of food involved and more often than not if an
aggressive trout is nearby it will come for an investigation. 01/12
Original
Story of the Discovery of the Aurora Trout (Field and Stream, 1925)
The Trail to the Aurora Trout by Wm. H. Rinkenbach The finding of
a new species of the gamy Salvelinus, which has been accepted by science
as a new trout. 09/11
Lake Trout Tips and Tricks!
Ontario’s pristine lakes offer world class fishing for a variety of
fresh water species. The Ministry of Natural Resources has a soft spot
for one species in particular, lake trout. Ontario lakes are home to 25%
of the world’s lake trout populations. This is not the only amazing fact
about lake trout from Ontario waters. Lake trout are definitely a true
rarity. In fact they represent only 1% of all Ontario’s lakes. Since
lake trout are a prized catch and my surrounding area (Sault Ste. Marie)
has the highest concentration of lakes with populations of lake trout, I
get the opportunity to fish these very plentiful fisheries. 06/11
Northern Ontario’s Steelhead!
Northern Ontario is blessed with world class walleye, pike,
brook and lake trout fishing. The Canadian Shield offers the perfect
habitat for our lakes to host generous populations of each species. With
so many different species available in abundance to anglers of the north
we can be easily described as “spoiled”.
Spring Steelhead – A Newbie’s Gear Guide
With the spring thaw only a few weeks away. Ontario steelhead
bums like myself, are anxiously waiting for the rivers to open up enough
to get a drift in. No doubt, the next few months is my favourite time of
year. Migratory trout have already begun to stage and even move into
rivers throughout all of the Great Lakes.
Deep Down Lake Trout
Deep, cold and gin clear water usually represent most lakes
that hold healthy populations of lake trout throughout Ontario. During
the summer months Lakers drop down in the warming water column. These
fish are often very aggressive and concentrated in the most predictable
areas in the lake.
Spring Steelhead
Every angler tries it and often most give up. It’s slippery, damp, and
often leaves you frustrated and fishless. Fishermen and women spend
countless hours on the banks of Great Lake tributaries in search of
spawning rainbow trout each spring. Mouths of rivers where steelhead
begin to congregate in late winter become an open water hotspot at ice
out. As the water begins to warm steelhead will begin their spring run
up rivers to spawn. Casting at the same pool or drifting a current break
for hours with minimal results, often steers anglers to fish for other
species. Little do most anglers realize; spring is the hottest time of
the year with amazing numbers of fish accessible to anglers willing to
put in the time
Ice Out
Trout!
You’re in your own little world, your eyes are focused. You wait
patiently, yet posed to strike. As that little clear float drifts down
the river, it rockets under and you set the hook. This is when you feel
those head shakes that you have waited all winter for. It’s time for
“ice out trout.
Icing
Rainbow Trout
Every year thousands of rainbow trout are stocked in many lakes.
Targeting these chrome-coloured fish makes for exciting ice angling.
These worthy adversaries will test your angling skills, demanding
finesse presentations at times and peeling line with bursts of speed
once hooked. Not to mention they're darn tasty on the dinner table.
Here’s where to find them and how to hook them this ice season.
 Run and
Gun Ice Lake Trout
When winter wraps its cold grip over the landscape, a lot of underwater
life slows down. Warm-water fish get lethargic. This is not the case for
cold-water species, like lake trout. Lakers prefer frigid waters. They
aggressively feed and are frequently on the move in winter. To succeed
at finding and catching these silver, spotted fish, adopt a run-and-gun
approach. For any angler, catching a few wintertime lake trout will
surely shake off a case of the winter blues
Shallow
Spring Browns
The loosening of winters grip on the Great Lakes signifies one
of the best times for boat and shore anglers alike to welcome spring
with some brown trout action. Starting in mid to late March, brown
trout start to show up in the shallows of the Great Lakes making
themselves available to the savvy angler that recognizes the right
places at the right times to enjoy this spring bounty.
Floating for
Spring Steel
Of the various methods employed to catch migratory rainbow trout, or
steelhead, in the tributary rivers, creeks and streams that flow into the
Great Lakes, float fishing is likely the most popular. Float fishing
allows the angler to present a bait at any level of the water column,
including in the prime fish-holding zone located within 18 inches or so of
the bottom. But these areas also tend to snag hooks and sinkers. A float
can carry a bait safely above these tackle-eating snags, and right at eye
level of waiting trout.
Temperature,
Tackle and Techniques
Early Season Longlining For Trout From The Gardiner Expressway To God's
Country Your boat works around a small, rocky knob along the
shoreline, and the warm, offshore breeze immediately dries up. With no
more chop music on the hull, the only sounds are songbirds flitting in the
naked hardwoods and melt water's crisp daytrip down the land and back into
the lake. Shade from big cedars, pines and sharp overhangs has kept snow
alive in brilliant patches amongst the black, grey and pink rock. Light
jackets and sweaters instantly come off.
Late Season
Steelies
The late fall is often looked upon as the slowest time for fishing as it
is kind of a transition period. The warm water species have shut down
until springtime and the ice-fishing season hasn't quite started yet. Even
though it is technically still fall, the cold days of winter can
definitely be felt in the air, which can scare away a lot of anglers who
don't want to bundle up and battle the cold north winds. But without
question, some of the hottest Steelhead action of the year can happen
right before winter sets in and the coldest days arrive.
Spring
Steelhead Primer
As
winter makes way for spring, the world, once again, starts to flourish.
The ice melts away, the birds return, and the creeks and rivers become
alive with silvery-sheened steelhead!
Spring
Rainbows on Trolled Streamers
Mid to late April is when ice often leaves Ontario lakes, unveiling open
water trout fishing. I particularly enjoy targeting rainbow on small lakes
at this time of year. Fishing tactics in the spring include casting or
trolling small spoons, minnow plugs, or streamer flies. It's the latter
that has consistently delivered for me over the years, and you don't need
a fly rod to fish them.
Discover
the Joy of Small-Stream Trout
Imagine yourself exploring a
small tranquil stream - lost in your own world yet in the thick of trout
country. Cascading waterfalls, riverbank critters and satisfying solitude
are yours to enjoy and explore for the length of a day. Thousands of tiny
creeks and rivers call Ontario home, and the wondrous colours and
energetic tussles that the resident brookies, browns and rainbows exhibit
is like discovering a new realm in the land of angling fun. Come take a
walk off the beaten path and reap the rewards that small-stream fishing
can offer.
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