Ashbridges Bay, Tommy Thompson Park Gear Help

Hey folks,

I'm a relatively new fishing enthusiast - I've always fished up at the camp by Sudbury where I have a boat and very little competition. This summer, however, I won't be able to get up there as much so I'm going to try fishing a little closer to home at Ashbridges Bay and/or Tommy Thompson park, all catch and release (of course) I've got my license and a copy of the regs, I'm just not familiar with the spot or species, but finding out is the fun!

I'm hoping for some tips on the gear you folks bring down for shore fishing here in Toronto. I have an ultra light rod, a handful of small spoons,spinners and crankbaits as well as some jigs and mr. wigglers. I'll bike down and see what I can find. For those of you familiar with those spots, is there anything that you'd reccomend one HAS to bring? Net? Frog? Live bait? Topwater? Drop Shot? I'd hate to get down there and realize I missed bringing something essential.

If I'm reading the regs right, everything is open except Bass. Any tips on how to avoid catching Bass? Lures not to use, places not to try?

Any help is appreciated, if you're going down any afternoon during the week and want company, I'd be happy to tag along and buy the first round!

~lotro

You need a net down there. one with a 3-4ft handle. You cant really "avoid" catching bass, unless you use bread/corn/boilies/whatever-you-call-it for carp.
Its not like a certain lure/bait will only attract certain species.
Pretty much all lures will attract bass, if they are in the mood to bite. If you catch a fish in the off season, just throw it back, no big deal. Its not like you can't use worms to fish if bass season isnt on.

I visit Tommy Thompson regularly. And can tell you that this is prime time for pike :razz:

These are a little more expensive, but try looking into buying one or two Clackin Raps from Rapala.

Absolutely DEADLY over there for pike.

Oh and ALWAYS bring a net. Just responsible angling imo.

I met a guy down there this weekend who just butchered a pike. He didnt know how to open its mouth (make sure you learn this before casting) nor did he know how to handle it and ended up pulling the lure out of its mouth instead of opening its mouth to remove it safely.

But it started with the whole, "do you have a net I can use?"

"do you have any pliers?" bit.

^Dont be that guy^

Fish PREPARED. :mrgreen: Happy angling

Thanks Guys,

I'll definitely get a net and brush up on my pike mouth opening skills. I always have at least one pair of pliers and a backup. Thanks for the tip on the clackin rap too, much appreciated.

For shoreline should I be in rubber books or other waterproof shoes, or will I be able to avoid the dreaded soaker?

Lotro said:

Thanks Guys,

I'll definitely get a net and brush up on my pike mouth opening skills. I always have at least one pair of pliers and a backup. Thanks for the tip on the clackin rap too, much appreciated.

For shoreline should I be in rubber books or other waterproof shoes, or will I be able to avoid the dreaded soaker?

Click to expand...

Thats a great question...

I like how your looking at different angles.

Some fish may require you to get wet, but it all comes to knowing what your fishing for...

I absolutely DESPISE catch and release pics people post of big fish they caught that are simply 'beached' -Meaning, they didnt have nets, no unhooking mats, and they had no intentions of getting wet themselves.

So, they draaaagggggg the fish onto shore through the rocks, weeds, wooden roots/branches and such to land it. Then take a pic.

Fish arent designed to be landed onto grass with twigs, or sandy/rocky beaches. They are water animals. So you might have noticed that fish are usually slimey. That slime is actually a protective coating to protect themselves from potentially harmful elements, and particulates in their waters.

For myself personally, I always always bring a mat of some sort to transfer larger fish from the net onto the mat in order to unhook them safely. The mat acts as a buffer from land elements and a coating protector for the larger fish I catch.

The mat seperates the fish from potentially harmful twigs/brush that may poke and damage the fishes eyes and other body parts during unhooking. As for the slime, the first fish I catch is the unfortunate one, because the mat is not yet coated with fish slime. So thats my bad, but fish slime cannot be purchased yet, so what I do is NOT wash the mat after I land my first fish. -Only wash it after my session is complete.

What this does is it adds a protective coating for the next fish onto that mat and for the next fish after that. So basically, you want to maintain the fishes slimey coating, without rubbing it off, onto grass and such.

This is only one part of my catch-and-release care though.

But to answer your question:

When fishing for larger species of fish, its never a bad idea to prep for getting up to your knees wet with water.

-keep your electronic devices/ wallets and other valuables in your bag and not on you, just in case you have to get wet :razz:

So boots on colder days, and sandals/shorts for warmer, but again, it depends on your gear and what your looking for.

Good luck brother!

Checked out Ashbridges Bay last Friday. Didn't catch anything, or even get a nibble. Has a small crankbait and then a few spoons. Lost a lure in the rocks on the one side. Great weather, had a nice time. I saw a large school of little silver looking fish. I also saw fish-zilla, I don't know what it was, but it was big and not interested in the spoon I threw out in front of him. Didn't make Tommy Thompson - hopefully this week. Thanks again for the help.

little fish are alewife. They are all over the waterfront, and messing up my pike fishing big time