Chinook salmon, brown trout and steelhead are a common part of the Lake Ontario fishing scene during springtime. As the seasons progress a variety of other fish are added to the mix.
During the summer salmon are found off-shore in depths from 20 to 60 feet, while lake trout are caught in deeper waters. As the season winds down chinook and coho salmon move into the river systems and spawn.
September
Fishing for Salmon can be a great way to spend a day on the water. They can be caught using a variety of different methods including fly fishing, trolling and casting.
In Ontario, the Salmon fishing season usually runs from early September to late October. The salmon enter the rivers in good numbers around this time of year and can be a fun and exciting experience for those who are fortunate enough to be able to take a salmon fishing trip.
The best time to fish for Salmon is in the early fall before they start spawning. The salmon that spawn are usually darker in color and can be more difficult to catch, but there is always a chance you can get one!
There are a number of rivers in the Toronto area that can be very productive for Salmon. Some of these include the Humber River, the Credit River, Bronte Creek and Duffins Creek.
Another place to look for Salmon is the Niagara River. This is one of the largest rivers in the province and gets large runs of Salmon. The Niagara River also gets some of the most consistent Salmon fishing in Canada.
In addition to the big Niagara River, there are a number of other smaller tributaries that also get salmon. These tributaries are not quite as famous but they can still be very productive and fun to fish.
Chinook or King Salmon are the most common type of salmon in Lake Ontario. They are very strong and fight aggressively.
They can grow to over 40 pounds but they normally average between 20 and 25 pounds on most of the rivers in Ontario. These fish can be very tough to hook but once you do they feel like you’ve hooked the back of a boat!
When a Chinook Salmon is on the line it can be a very exciting and memorable experience for anyone. They are known to acrobatically swim up and down the rivers in their efforts to spawn.
During this spawning cycle they can be pretty beat up looking with scars, scraped scales and sometimes large dog-like teeth. This is a big sign that they have been in the river for a long time and are in their final stage of life.
October
The fall Salmon run attracts a lot of people from all over the Great Lakes region. It is a beautiful and magical time to be out on the water, whether you are fishing or just watching.
During the fall, there is a lot of action in Lake Ontario. This is because the salmon are in search of food after a long, hard year. They are also looking for a good place to spawn.
September and October are the best months for catching salmon. This is when the salmon schools are at their busiest. The chinook and coho salmon move into the rivers around the lake to spawn.
This is also a popular time for steelhead. The tributaries that run into the lake are full of steelhead, so you can expect to catch these fish as well.
Early mornings are the best time to go fishing on the lake. This is when you can get the most bites on your bait.
July is another good month for catching salmon on the lake. It’s a little hot on the surface but the colder water offshore makes it easier for fish to bite.
The top fishing spots on the north shore include Bluffers Park, Whitby, Bowmanville, Newcastle, Port Hope and Cobourg. These areas offer excellent fishing for king, sockeye and coho salmon.
You can also target smallmouth bass throughout the summer in the near shore areas. The rocky bottom areas off Butterfly Swamp, the cliffs off Mexico Point, and the area off A Frame Point are all popular near shore fishing spots.
There are a number of other rocky bottom areas on the west side of the lake, including on either side of Catfish Creek and at the mouths of the Little Salmon River. The warm inflows from Otter Brook and Catfish Creek make these spots especially popular for smallmouth bass.
The chinook and coho salmon schools move into the rivers to spawn in the fall. This is a good time to catch them because they are at their most aggressive and ready to attack. The best lures to use when fishing for salmon are spoons that move quickly and have a lot of movement in the water. You can also use a variety of lures such as plugs, imitation plastic squids, and cut bait rigs.
November
The salmon fishing season in Ontario is a spectacular time of year. From mid-September through October, salmon run up the tributaries of Lake Ontario on their way to spawning grounds. This acrobatic migration is often a highlight of trips to the Great Lakes for tourists and locals alike.
The best place to fish for salmon is in the south-east part of the lake near Salmon River and Oswego River. It is also a good idea to fish in the inshore waters and river mouths. This is the ideal time to catch coho salmon and steelhead.
In November, salmon spawning season is over but anglers can still catch steelhead and other species in the lakes and tributaries. The best time to fish is in the morning or before sunset.
Chinook and coho salmon are stocked by New York State in Lake Ontario and its tributaries in large numbers. These salmon grow to be quite large, weighing between 8 and 30 pounds when they are fully grown.
When fishing for salmon, you can use a variety of baits and lures. Popular options include plastic worms, spawn bags, trout bead and fly patterns. It is important to fish these baits with the proper techniques and presentations.
Typically, fishing for salmon requires a downrigger or a fishing float with a dodger attached. Using a dodger can help you get more hookups because it allows the salmon to strike your bait without being hooked on the line.
Another method that works well for salmon is casting lures such as hot shot or plugs and imitation plastic squids. If you are a flyfisher, it is a good idea to try a stream fly or nymph.
You can also use a Centerpin rod or a bobber to catch salmon. This type of fishing is not as common but it is an excellent way to catch these wonderful fish.
Salmon can be a difficult species to hook. They have a tendency to be skittish and are hard to fool. But, if you have the right equipment and technique, you can enjoy the sport of salmon fishing on Lake Ontario.
December
Salmon are one of the most popular fish to catch in Ontario and you’ll find that there is a big demand for charters fishing for these magnificent fish. The best time to go salmon fishing is during the fall and spring spawning season.
This is the most important time to go salmon fishing as it’s when the biggest Chinook and Coho Salmon run into the rivers. During this time you can expect a great deal of action with the average angler catching between 15 and 25 pounds of these big fish.
The most common way to catch salmon is on a float or from the shore using a fly rod. You can also use baits or lures.
If you’re not familiar with salmon or fishing for them, it’s best to book a charter or a guided trip with an experienced guide. A professional will be able to advise you on where and when to go and the equipment that’s best for your needs.
You can also get tips on the types of bait that will work best for your specific location and how to prepare it before you head out on the water. This will help you to increase your chance of catching the biggest and most aggressive Chinook or Coho Salmon.
A good tip to remember when preparing your bait is that the meat will taste different once it enters the river than it does when it was caught in the lake. This is because the salmon’s bodies undergo changes when they enter the river so the meat will be softer and not as firm as it is in the lake.
Another tip is that you shouldn’t eat the salmon if they’ve been in the river for too long. The meat will start to soften and turn brown and be beat up by the fish fighting and jumping around in the river.
The spawning season of salmon starts in the fall and they begin to move up the rivers looking for a mate. This is the most popular time to fish for Salmon in Ontario as it’s when you can expect a great deal of action and lots of big Chinook and Coho salmon.