43 replies to this topic

[Fisherman Dave]

I agree 100% with the above comment. Very good insight. As for your question whether or not pressure affects aggressions trikes, my thought has always been, and it would be really hard to convince me otherwise, the more pressure the less they bite. I figure a bunch of casts in the water with a whole lot of foreign objects, more disturbances through walking and fighting fish through the pool, the more spooked they are. I know I said above that we give them too much credit, but they are also not COMPLETELY stupid. Walk as far as you can to get away from it I say. Then again if the run is good and everyone is hooking up, you can get away with being lazier, which I am all for some days!

[MuskieBait]

As Fisherman Dave said, the more pressure there is, the less they bite. It's the same with EVERY other species of fish, not just salmon.

That's why cramming so many anglers into one pool makes no sense at all. The more lines drifting by, the more they spook. I wish people would realize that. And all the people popping floats all the time scare the fish as well. If you actually watch and pay attention, you will see the fish tail give an extra kick whenever a float is popped. They sense it by their lateral line, especially in a slow pool.

When fishing lures, the fish will quickly tell you if they want it or not. You usually get hit within the first few casts or swings. If you see the fish moving away, or the tail kicking when the lure lands in the water, the fish is already spooked and very unlikely to hit. This is where the fly often have an advantage over lures with less spook factor (quieter entry into the water and less noisy vibration/wobbling). Sometimes the fish key in on noise to trigger aggression. Sometimes they get spooked by it regardless of how aggressive the fish can be.

When they are spooked, you may sometimes see the whole pool of fish scramble and scatter everywhere as soon as the lure lands in the water. It's almost pointless targeting those fish. Just a waste of time. But if there is a fish in the pool that wants it, you will often see it chase or take the lure, and at times swimming across the pool to hit the lure. I've seen salmon came out of a log jam to hit a lure 15 feet way that I was drifting in a deeper run. I wasn't even aware that there was a salmon under the log jam (I have a suspicion, but not a visual confirmation).

You just have to try different presentation or different lures for EACH individual fish. Just like people, each fish has a slightly different mood and may require a slightly different approach. I've had fish ran off before I could even get 20 feet to it. For fish like that, I would need to do long downstream drift to swing the lure to the fish so my presence doesn't scare it off. Then there are fish I can literally kick with my feet and I could bounce the spoon off its nose to get a hit.

The same can apply for piers too. Sometimes, the fish will just shut off with too many people casting into the water, especially when there are snagging lines in the water and the fish constantly run into or rub onto the lines. They simply get spooked, switching from aggression to evasion.

The more time on the river, the more you'll realize the nuance of fishing...including salmon fishing. All it takes is an eye for details and subtle differences to put it all together in your head.

[Fisherman Dave]

The one I got last weekend was amongst easy 4 or 5 dozen surfaces/jumps in the same pool within a couple hours. Out of habit I cast at every jump I see, and it worked like a charm... for that one fish. Otherwise, same lure, different lures, bait, everything went untouched (except for one lady that landed the most massive sheephead off a row bag, incredible). Evidently only that one fish was interested that day, next day a whole bunch were caught in that pool. Vary your tactics, don't stop casting, and at a certain point its almost a formula including time your line is in the water, presence of fish, and definitely luck.

[MuskieBait]

I have been fishing for salmon for about 20 years...and I fish with people who have fished for salmon most of their lives.

If we can understand what makes salmon bite like crazy on some days, but yet not touch a thing on the next day, we would become guides by now. We still haven't figure out how to catch them consistently (as in predictable action day in and day out).

I've seen them jump all around from pre-sunset to 2 hours after dark. Some days you get hit with them jumping all around. Some days you get skunked with them jumping all around.

Jumps are just an indication that fish are in the area...but not necessarily an indicator of probability of lure-chasing fish. On the other hand, if there are no jumping fish around, you simply do not know if fish are present or not. Yet, sometimes, you may hit the odd fish even if they are not jumping.

Just have to go out and cast your arm off. If you go enough times, you'll run into some OK days, a few good days, and the rare epic day.

[RiverRuns]

It all boils down to your personal code of ethics. Although the legalities of fishing are quite clear, there are many differences in what anglers perceive to be sporting behaviour. Personally, I would never fish any pool where the fish are basically stuck and stacked; however, if someone wanted to fish there (roe, beads, worms, spoons, flies, or otherwise) that would be their business.
You, and you alone, need to decide what is ethical and sporting.

[rick james]

One of the things I love most about fishing is that I'm constantly learning. Whether it's tying a new knot or trying a new fly or bead or jig, or a different setup, or walking a new section of river, fishing a new pool, the constant discovery impassions me .  Heck when I first started fishing as a 10 year old boy at my local river I was so desperate to hook into a fish that I would try anything, even things I'm ashamed of today. So I can understand where the newbies are coming from. But I think as one evolves as an angler so too do their ethics and I agree this is a very personal thing.  I hope that we all can share a commitment to evolving as anglers and respect the fish, the fishery, our environment and our fellow angler.

[SlappadaBass]

Just got back from a west trib in Toronto. Got one on a streamer fly, but I did notice some real BS going on. At this specific park, there are signs posted downstream from the dam that clearly indicate no fishing 60m from the dam. There were a bunch of ass nuggets fishing ON the dam. People were telling them they couldn't, but they didn't care. Another thing I witnessed were a couple people taking eggs and leaving the fish on the bank or dumping them in the water. I saw at least 5 gutted fish floating down stream, and I was only there for 3 hours! 

[jc53]

Ah the good old circus

I stopped going once the nooks are in the rivers. I will only target nooks off the pier as they are more fun

 

From another site I read they was a guy with a crossbow at e-dale park.

[PUMP KNOWS]

Call 1-877-847-7667 to report any illegal activity against Ontario’s natural resources.

[fishfreek]

CO's are always walking E-dale park . I hope they nab that clown.

[Swing4Steel]

Lol I've never seen a co at the credit

[fishfreek]

I was actually talking to one a few days back. Not at Erindale Park but just north from there on the Credit.

[DILLIGAF?!]

Always ran into the same CO on my trib for 3 seasons until last year. This year haven't seen her....very polite...easy on the eyes.

Some parts of my trib are reeking now and the garbage would make you scratch your head. No common sense at all. if the bin is full why do they still keep putting garbage on the sides...thank God the salmon-sanity is almost over...

[IR4J]

I was actually talking to one a few days back. Not at Erindale Park but just north from there on the Credit.

thats where ive seen them to, my past 3 trips in fact. (last fall)

[DILLIGAF?!]

And Again.
Why put bins out if your not going to empty them more than once a month?
Obviously people are using them.
Get your arse on the golf cart and empty the garbage. lol

or maybe when he came back to empty the bin, it was already overflowing and thought to himself...."f**k this...i'm going home"

[Fisherman Dave]

Easy on the eyes CO? Please tell me more...

 

On a serious note, I've run into one every other year at huron tribs. First time my buddy didn't have a license (he goes to school overseas and renewed his license the year before just to go on 2 or 3 trips with me, and he was under the impression he gets a full year, IE he bought it in April so he thought it was good to following April) but the officer was actually really cool and gave him the bare minimum fine. Totally fair, had me worried for a bit, nice guy otherwise. Other than that, everytime they've been pleasant, like to chat a bit first before business, non-threatening.

[DILLIGAF?!]

Easy on the eyes CO? Please tell me more...

 

On a serious note, I've run into one every other year at huron tribs. First time my buddy didn't have a license (he goes to school overseas and renewed his license the year before just to go on 2 or 3 trips with me, and he was under the impression he gets a full year, IE he bought it in April so he thought it was good to following April) but the officer was actually really cool and gave him the bare minimum fine. Totally fair, had me worried for a bit, nice guy otherwise. Other than that, everytime they've been pleasant, like to chat a bit first before business, non-threatening.

I have come across some cuties on my trib. One was not there to check on license but to do some survey on how frequent people fish, what kind of fish, totally keeping records too. The other cutie was checking licenses both are wearing their CO uniform. both laid back on their approach.

[Fisherman Dave]

Did you show the first one your worm when she asked what bait you were using?