14 replies to this topic

[a.cortellessa]

hey everyone,
I just got into salmon and trout fishing this year and was wondering about post spawn salmon/trout.
Do they stay at the river mouths where you can still catch them from piers at the moment?

Thanks

[efka]

no, they are in 200-300 fow right now. wait till aug/sep and then try the piers.

[a.cortellessa]

Dam, that wasn't what i wanted to hear haha. Might get a charter during the summer or something.
Thanks

[RedSkullz]

You can still go to small creeks and catch resident trout. We get browns and bows to 16"-18" for most of the summer. Once the end of July comes, the action slows to a crawl. Interestingly enough, a guys kid caught a 5 pound rainbow just a couple of weeks ago.

[a.cortellessa]

Oh thats still decent! Do you know any areas around TOronto that have resident browns, brooks and rainbows?
Thanks for the help!

[RedSkullz]

Sorry, i live north of the city almost 2 hours. I'd think the upper stretches of the nottawasaga would produce some small ones at least.....

[a.cortellessa]

Yeah thats a good point. The ones in the souther humber and credit just head back to the lake. THe ones farther north stay up there, no sense in moving all the way back down to the lake I guess?

Thanks for the help!

[RedSkullz]

Well to my knowledge its all about temperature and oxygen. If temperature goes too high for the species comfort zone, then they are gone, since the oxygen levels are too low. Many of the small rivers/creeks here are spring fed, so there is more cool oxygen rich water.

[a.cortellessa]

Ohh I never knew that! Thats interesting!
I wanna try up at the forks of the credit, heard that had some resident browns and brooks! Have you ever been?

[RedSkullz]

Nope never fished trout south of me. About as far south as i go is the creemore area. All you can do is go out and give it a try! My overall favorite lure for resident rainbows/browns is a #4 Panther Martin spinner.
I prefer small streams where almost nobody else fishes them.

[a.cortellessa]

Really? I've never even used a lure in a stream. You just cast it across the river and reel it back towards you?

[Mykester]

Really? I've never even used a lure in a stream. You just cast it across the river and reel it back towards you?

Hey, I saw this video yesterday on my youtube recommended slot, but haven't gotten around to watching it yet. Check it out:

... 93qI6qYJeo

I too haven't fished small creek resident trout, and all I really need to buy is a pair of waders. I do know that many creeks only allow you to fish with single hooks and not trebles, barbless.

Lastly, there are steelhead that stay in the rivers during the winter times, I think that's because of the aforementioned comfort zone, because cold weather = cold water = more oxygen.

[Joel52]

Below the Shand Dam at lake Bellwood holds some nice Browns - I've seen more than a few 24"+ fish come out of there. The Grand below the dam is a tailwater fishery. The water is fed into the river from the bottom of the lake, so it's cold enough for trout. You can fish with live bait in the conservation area, but make sure you know the rules because as you head further downstream it's all no kill zone and single barbless hook - so catch and release fly fishing.
Forks is also a no kill zone - single barbless hooks. Look in the MNR fishing regs under exceptions. Anything above the Old Baseline Rd. is no kill/fly fishing.

[RedSkullz]

Really? I've never even used a lure in a stream. You just cast it across the river and reel it back towards you?

Yep...quarter up stream and let sink close to the bottom and do a slow constant retrieve. Concentrate on deep holes, especially ones that contain logjams. In the spring, when the big spawners are in, cast just beyond a visible fish and try to work the lure in front of the fish hanging it in the current. After a few casts he/she will charge that lil' shiny thing like no tomorrow!!

[a.cortellessa]

oh sweet i gotta try that. Hopefully ill get out brown or brook fishing this summer!