Hello, first time fishing in Canada

[--G--]

Hey everyone.

I just joined up here as I was looking online for some fishing tips. I moved here from Scotland last Sept, and just bought myself a cheap rod and reel combo from Canadian tire, as I really miss fishing with my friend back home. So i looked over everything they had in store and ended up with the Abu Garcia specialist combo setup. Not brilliant, but for $30 all in, worth a punt.

I live downtown and really fancy getting some urban fishing done.

Back home, i went with my friend fishing alot, always on the hunt for pike. Seen a good few big ones getting pulled out. We always catch and release (I dont like the taste of fish!)

Anyways, I went out along the Don River today to test out the new kit and ended up finding A LOT of carp - I have never fished (or even seen) carp before, but to me they all looked pretty big and interesting. They had no interest in the lures i have, which is understandable.

I have been now looking into what is required to catch these guys and it is so accessible for me. My only real problem is I am not 100% confident on landing these fish, in all honest most of my fishing experience is sitting on the banking waiting, my friend generally took care of the landing/unhooking. I don’t want to hurt these fish by doing it wrong or causing them stress so any advice is always welcome. I am here to learn and really look forward to catching fish over here.

G

 

[RedSkullz]

Hey everyone.

I just joined up here as I was looking online for some fishing tips. I moved here from Scotland last Sept, and just bought myself a cheap rod and reel combo from Canadian tire, as I really miss fishing with my friend back home. So i looked over everything they had in store and ended up with the Abu Garcia specialist combo setup. Not brilliant, but for $30 all in, worth a punt.

I live downtown and really fancy getting some urban fishing done.

Back home, i went with my friend fishing alot, always on the hunt for pike. Seen a good few big ones getting pulled out. We always catch and release (I dont like the taste of fish!)

Anyways, I went out along the Don River today to test out the new kit and ended up finding A LOT of carp - I have never fished (or even seen) carp before, but to me they all looked pretty big and interesting. They had no interest in the lures i have, which is understandable.

I have been now looking into what is required to catch these guys and it is so accessible for me. My only real problem is I am not 100% confident on landing these fish, in all honest most of my fishing experience is sitting on the banking waiting, my friend generally took care of the landing/unhooking. I don’t want to hurt these fish by doing it wrong or causing them stress so any advice is always welcome. I am here to learn and really look forward to catching fish over here.

G

Hi there
I have 3 abu garcia combos and they have suited me very well for multiple species...carp however are huge and your combo will be pretty light for them. For catching carp worms have always done well for me. A drop shot rig with a 1/2-1oz sinker with a 3/0 hook with 3 nightcrawlers on the hook will get em for you. As for landing those big brutes, if the bank is nicely tapered and not rocky you can just slide them up on the shore and remove the hook with pliers before gently sliding them back into the water. If the fish has been played out then hold the fishin the water and gently move it back and forth until it gets its strength back. If the shorline is rocky you are either going to need a net or get your hand into the gill plate and lift him out to a spot where it isnt rocky. Welcome to canada and have fun fishing here!!
Jay
P.S> If you can through out the summer get a buddy and get north of the city for a few days for camping/fishing. The fishing a few hours north of the city is farrrrr better than in the city. UP here 2 hours north we consistantly catch smallmouth and largemouth bass, pike, perch along with the occasional walleye, crappie, musky, salmon, trout and other non gamefish species. I could even point you to a few nice quiet lakes that are awesome for camping and fishing. Fire me a pm if this interests you.

 

[NADO]

Lake ontario tribs have some of the best sseasonal fishing around, and they are also good for bass and pike as well. Try credit river for some pike with spoons or spinners. My buddy got a couple incidental pike there last year chucking spoons for salmon

 

[--G--]

Thanks for the advice!

I was away up north at a cottage a week back, and did my first Bass fishing. Really enjoyed it, would like to do more in GTA, researching Candy beach - I was told this might be a good spot.