13 replies to this topic

[Slobbergirl23]

Hey everyone!

Thinking of heading down to Niagara soon for some steelhead fishing. New to the whole thing though and not sure if there are any good spots? If it's even worth the drive for me? Is be going solo so some help would be greatly appreciated thanks everyone!

[NiagaraSteel]

You can't go down for the first time and expect to catch something, especially since it's not salmon season. Right now if you land one fish in a morning that's pretty awesome. I know some guys who go there almost every day and they could land 3+ fish there in a tornado, but they've been doing it for 20+ years. For me, I go every weekend, I did well during salmon season when the fresh egg bite was on but now it's more the minnow bite and it seems to be tough for everyone. You need to commit yourself to keep on going and going there if you want to catch. But if you want to go there to check things out and to get a change of scenery, then give it a go. PM me if you're gonna go and I can recommend some gear and where to go.

Oh and always go with someone down there, some rugged terrain and if you sprain your ankle or break something alone it's not gonna be good.

[chinooky]

slow going today. plenty of people but fish not really cooperating for most. Saw a couple of steels and a laker landed

[NiagaraSteel]

slow going today. plenty of people but fish not really cooperating for most. Saw a couple of steels and a laker landed

We got a coloured up buck, 4-5lbs. Barely seeing any fish caught past the beginning of november

[fishfreek]

The whirlpool is an awesome spot , but that trek up those stairs(when wet and icy) can be pain full .

[cptpronin]

The Niagara is a very challenging stretch, but is some very nice scenary no matter which spot you choose. Fishing in the shadow of the bluffs, the emerald water and raging current is an experience that keeps me coming back. I think you will enjoy it.

 

A couple pieces of advice: be prepared to lose tackle. The bottom is a boulder garden. You will loose a lot of sinkers and hooks down there. Pay attention to the locals and how they are setup and fish. Most of them are decent and outgoing folks who are willing to share a couple pointers. Fish hold on the bottom along the seams of the current and dropoffs... Cover as much water as you can, but be prepared to share the shore, especially on weekends.

 

Don't get discouraged if you get skunked on the first couple trips. Been fishing that water for five seasons now and I still come back from the majority of my trips with the skunk badge. But the experience of fishing that water is something I look forward to every year.

 

One more thing... fishing is good in the fall, slows down in the winter (but still possible), but kicks into high gear in the spring. March/April is when the real magic happens! Smallies and pike can be had in the summer.

[Diana Danger]

You are crazy to go there alone when you have a perfectly able boyfriend to take you. 

[GoodenTight]

pretty much what everyone is saying, it takes time to learn that water and know where the fish will be. I was way into double digit outings before I got my first fish out of there. Mind you, we were chucking spoons with bass rods at that point lol

[troutddicted]

Watch what the guys catching fish are doing ( what they are using, how deep they are fishing, where they are fishing, etc. ).  If you're not getting snagged up once in a while you aren't fishing deep enough.  Dress down when you hike so you don't sweat and end up getting really cold.  Minnow imitations are always productive ( 3" will catch all spp of trout ).  Be aware that the water levels rise and drop 2 - 3 feet daily.  If the water is dirty fish close to shore.  Have fun and don't be discouraged if you don't catch fish for the first few times you go there - its not easy at the start.

[GoodenTight]

water can raise or drop 2-3 feet in an hour let alone a day. I have seen too many "camps" (back packs, tackle boxes etc) get gobbled up. We even watched a guy with a fish on a stringer get gobbled up, man... that was funny

[NiagaraSteel]

Water level fluctuates like crazy especially before november. Will go up 10 ft easy over night. I've seen the huge rock beach around the pool gone with the water into the trees. I hooked 2 fish about 2 ft from shore that day, they were sitting beside the bushes that I was fishing infront of the day before LOL.

[Slickrick]

there is lots of fish in there!  the water is getting colder and being near the bottom is key. they wont rise up for an offering like the fall & spring.  gotta move around to find em.   me and a buddy hit a bunch in a 2 hr trip yesterday.

[stealthseth]

I would also like to try the river. Can anyone provide some access points?

[ChasinTails]

if your going to fish the pool, go to the whirlpool (golf course i think) parking lot and walk down the trail. There are lots of signs. Its a great scenery, I had a XC race there before i started fishing as much as i do and the scenery is a part of the reason i fished there as much as i do. In the summer, chuck some cranks for bass/pike/muskie fall and spring hit the glen for steelhead/salmon much more fish than the whirlpool and less people. Fishing isn't great in the winter but your best bet is the glen above the pebbly beach