Important Techniques You Need To Know When Fishing In Ontario, Canada
Any good angler knows you have to understand the area you’re fishing in if you want to be successful. You can’t show up without doing some research. The techniques, the right places to look, the right bait to use, and what you can expect to catch are all important things to know before you set out on the water.
Without this information, you’ll probably find you have quite a frustrating experience. When it comes to fishing in Ontario, you’ve found the right place to look for all the pertinent information. Take a few minutes to read about the important things you’ll need to know. Everything from where to look for specific types of fish to when the muskie season opener is will be covered.
Once you’ve figured out all the important things you’ll need to know, you can head out with confidence and come back with quite a few fish in hand (and ready to eat maybe?) A successful day of fishing feels like an amazing accomplishment so make sure you’re setting yourself up to win, and enjoy the rest of this article before heading on out to the docks or your boat.
1. Know Where The Fish Go
If you’re fishing in the summer months you’ll have to keep in mind that the freshwater fish you’re after all disperse into areas of the water that tend to stay around their preferred temperature. Because you can’t depend on them all being in a large group you’ll want to have a plan and know where the fish go.
It’s best to decide what type of fish you want to catch. If you’re hoping to catch northern pike or lake trout you’ll definitely want to head out to deeper waters. These fish tend to prefer areas that stay around 50 degrees or so. Clearwater Lake in Ontario is said to be somewhat of a mecca for lake trout so that’s definitely an area to check out if this is the type of fish you’re after.
If you’re seeking smallmouth bass you’ll want to look for areas with more structure to them. Look for rocks, logs, or even shady weedy areas. This is where you’ll have the best chance of finding the smallmouth bass you’re seeking though it might take a bit of patience to find the sweet spot. Nothing an angler isn’t already familiar with though if they truly love this sport.
If you’re hoping to catch some walleye you’ll want to head out to the deeper waters and look for lake humps or areas where baitfish are congregating. You’re sure to find some walleye in those areas if you spend some time carefully trolling the waters.
2. Muskie Season Opens The Third Saturday In June
This is a pretty anticipated part of fishing in Ontario. If you’ve been waiting to catch a trophy muskie the season opener is the mark of when you begin your quest. The muskies will be scattering to all the areas they love to hide as they’ve just finished spawning and will be looking for lots of food.
Since these are Ontario’s largest predatory fish there’s a lot of intrigue and folklore surrounding the muskie and how to best catch one. It seems the advice varies from angler to angler, so you might just want to use your gut instincts. Although the various lures may not be hard and fast rules, most people do agree that trolling for muskies should be done at a faster pace.
If you normally stay around 2 miles per hour, some anglers in the area recommend going as fast as 10 miles per hour, especially out in the open water. Catching that prize muskie is really about persistence more than anything else. So take these tips, keep the season opener in mind, and give yourself some time out on the water to see what works best for you.
3. In July You Can Try Out Topwater Fishing
The weeds in the lakes in Ontario naturally begin to thicken during the month of July. This gives you as a fisherman a new challenge to try out. Topwater fishing, which can be both challenging and amazingly fun when you get the hang of it.
Muskies aren’t out of the realm of possibility when it comes to topwater fishing, and you can even attempt to catch some larger trophy size walleyes too. If you’re unfamiliar with the best ways to topwater fish while in this area there are plenty of locals or fishing guides you can ask for tips. Take advantage of this unique chance if you’re in the area during July.
4. Take Advantage Of The Long Summer Days
Different types of fish can be more active at different times of the day. This means you can add in some extra excitement to your fishing trips on Lake Ontario by staying out on the lake all day long. What you might see in the morning may be entirely different by the time dusk rolls around.
Some guides have even suggested that there are more trophy-size walleye biting at the surface as night falls, so just because the sun is setting doesn’t mean the fun is ending for the day. You can stay out a little longer and see what else you might be able to lure in while you give yourself a little more time to enjoy both fishing, and the beautiful scenery around you.
Conclusion:
Fishing in Ontario, Canada will be an amazing experience. You have some good tips to keep in mind now, and no matter what you end up catching the scenery will be unbelievably beautiful. You’re sure to find some peace and quiet while you’re spending time figuring out the best spot to catch a few fish.
Make sure you’re enjoying everything around you as you spend your days on the lake. Don’t let the scenery pass you by, just make sure you don’t miss a fish while you’re looking at it. If you need extra tips make sure you ask the local guides for their advice. They’ll have the best knowledge available. Happy fishing.
