007

I wish I did have a free source of worms but unfortunately no worms in my back 'yard' - I live 16 floors up in a condo with only a small concrete balcony overlooking downtown I would certainly be interested to know if there was somewhere down at the harbourfront that sells worms - never seen anything before. I did read in a brochure about the Toronto Islands that they sell bait along with licences down at the boathouse in summer, but I've lived here 2 years now and never seen it open so guess it doesn't anymore. Thanks for all your help

Thanks again Kevin. Will definitely check some of these places out. Thanks Urban Angler and Ludovic too.

Thanks Kevin. I think I went to that Lucky fishing place last year. Was passing on a streetcar and got off to get some nightcrawlers. You're right - the lady didn't seem too friendly but she did give me some of her 'lucky' worms as she called them! They were lucky for me (but not so lucky for the worms LOL) as I caught some nice bass at the islands with them. Problem was the rest of the tackle and the prices there didn't seem great. Would prefer to try somewhere else. Will look up your other suggestions.

Thanks snag/snog - hadn't heard of JB's. Had seen lebarons mentioned before but didn't realise it was in Toronto. Are either accessible by TTC or do I need a car? Thanks Golfisher - I will check the map for nearest public transit to Fish on Line. Any others? cheers 007

Hi everyone. Can anyone recommend a good fishing tackle and bait shop in Toronto? Preferably close to downtown or accessible by TTC subway, streetcar etc. I usually pick up lures and stuff at one of my local Canadian Tires downtown or do a massive shopping session at Basspro for tackle and bait when I rent a car to head out of town but was wondering if there are any decent local specialist fishing shops that I could go to for a change. Being able to get livebait (worms, maggots) close by would make a nice change. Thanks for the help. 007

Thanks for the report Bucktail. Nice photos of what looks like a good day out. Nice looking fish those herring - never seen one before - thanks for posting. Is that one of those swedish pimple jigs that you caught the herring with? Did you use that lure for the perch too? 007

Thanks Blackfish 88. If I'm BOQ/Belleville way I'll give you a shout - definitely going to catch a walleye this year - I can feel it! You have a point Zib - a lot of European anglers love the carp fishing in N America. I think its because you've got a lot of fish here that are freely accessible at a choice of different lakes and the larger lakes you have can support them. Also I get the feeling that until recently many people haven't fished for them and therefore they have had a chance to grow and are pretty exciting to catch. Even an 8 pound fish (not a big carp) I caught this year seemed to fight a lot more than ones I caught in the UK.

Crikey - just realised how much I just wrote! Obviously got too much time on my hands - when will there be some warm weather and a chance to fish!!!!! Cheers, Frustrated English pretending to be Canadian angler! (a.k.a - 007)

Good topic. I'm from the UK and the issue of bigger fish (and less catch and release) has played on my mind since being and fishing in Canada and learning about how fishing is done here. I think there are a number of reasons - most of which have been mentioned. I talk about the UK but I'm sure much of western Europe is the same. 1) In the UK we practice catch and release by law and have done so more a long time on most fish species (except for some trout and salmon fisheries) and therefore fish are allowed to grow - I bet if less small perch were taken from Simcoe they would bigger than the dinks I caught this winter. 2) Fish are probably more productive because of milder conditions, less severe winters and generally more productive waters/food sources allowing them to grow faster and bigger. 3) Many lakes in the UK are stocked with fish - bred for growing and anglers to catch - whereas in Canada your lakes are wilder and most fish are allowed to replenish naturally (except for stocked trout and salmon of course). 4) In the UK with smaller bodies of water and lots of fishing pressure the fish get caught more often and therefore we see how big they are - I bet there are lots of record fish in Canada that no one has seen. 5) In the UK the style of fishing is different - we put lots of groundbait (referred to as chum over here) or loose feed like maggots into the water to attract fish to where we are fishing because on the small heavily fished lakes we can't move around as much, where as over here you tend not to do this (except for carp) and tend to be more mobile to find the fish. Therefore anglers are actually feeding the fish much more! I enjoyed fishing in the UK (finesse fishing and some great fish species that you don't get here) but I have to say that despite larger fish being caught more often in Europe I prefer fishing in Canada. Being able to find a lake that is publicly accessible anywhere in Ontario and being able to fish not knowing what I might catch and how big it will be is great. I'm not looking forward to going back to the UK and having to buy not just a fishing licence as I do here but also a very expensive membership to a fishing club or day permits which allows me to fish a few local rivers and lakes that I pretty much already know what fish are in there and how big they are. Fishing is more fun here, though I do wish more catch and release was practiced to safeguard fish species and increase the size a little. If there were LM/SM bass in the UK (which there aren't) fishing would be more fun, but I'm not sure I would want us to stock bass there as that would upset the balance (albeit slightly manufactured already) just as much as I wouldn't want to introduce anymore European species and spoil the much more natural ecosystem that you have here. As for Zander they're pretty much the same as Walleye anyway and you got lots ot them...(so I hear - still haven't caught one LOL) You should be happy with the great fishing opportunities you have in Ontario - you don't know how lucky you are and should do everything to protect it (even if that means putting a few more back). I'm so glad I have been lucky enough to fish here and awaken my childhood passion for fishing once more. Just a few of my thoughts.... 007

Thanks for the link GaryV - I will look into it.

Hi Dutch. Thanks for the reply. I guess I will have the same problem you had - not being able to find an operator close by and having to drive a long way north first - which is not something I really want to do. I was hoping I might find an operator near Toronto or at worst within a few hours of T.O and then see where they fly to. I don't mind doing a day trip just for the expereince though the thought of a longer fly-in fishing trip sounds good too. 007

Hey folks. My wife says she would like to book a float plane trip for my 30th birthday in June this year - something I've always wanted to do. However she hasn't been able to find much info for southern Ontario. Any suggestions where I could get such a trip? I'm based in Toronto - does anyone know if they have float plane trips from the Island airport to lakes up north or would I have to travel somewhere else first then take a plane north? Perhaps someone can suggest an operator or perhaps a fly-in fishing lodge? Any ideas on price would be good too as I have no idea how much a trip would be and even if we can afford it! Any help would be appreciated. Cheers 007

Thanks for the report - nice pics. 007

Nice fish. How deep were you fishing? Your friend looks sick! LOL

Great Report Terry. The two times I fished Cooks Bay this winter I also found that the perch were attracted by the movement of the bait but often didn't bite until it was stationary or slightly moving. Wish I had one of those underwater cameras rather than fishing blind. I might have hit more of the bites! Great to see what it's like down there though. Thanks. 007

Thanks for sharing your adventures. Great photos. Looks like a wonderful place full of amazing wildlife. Wish I could get up Yukon way one day. 007

Thanks for the report. Where's Shanty Bay? Any pics?

Thanks for the info EddyK. Out of interest what time of year did you go to Bonnechere? I was thinking of going in September and trying for one of the river sites to get the full experience. Any one else got any advice for Bonnechere or Silent Lake?

Hey all. I'm thinking of booking weekend camping trips to Bonnechere and Silent Lake this year and wondered if anyone had fished these provincial parks? What fish species can be caught there? Can you shore fish or do you need a boat? Boat rentals? Fishing Tips? Also what time of year should I go for the best fishing? I would be grateful for any advice you may have particularly on species and what time of year to go. I had thought September or October but would consider June or August if the fishing is good at that time. Thanks for your help. 007

Really nice looking fish there. Thanks for sharing.

Wow! That's amazing. Great photos.

Beautiful fish there mate. Congrats... 007

Thanks again guys. I'll try and get another ice fishing report in before the end of the season. Snag - you're right it was quite a walk but well worth it. Perhaps I should do more ice trekking to lose a few more pounds - would certainly make my wife happier if I did LOL

Thanks for the report. May consider Pefferlaw for my next trip - sounds like a few bigger perch there. What was the ice thickness and condition like from Pefferlaw?

Thanks for all the kind words guys. Glad you liked the pics. It was just such a great feeling out there and I'm sure I will try to get out there again before it melts. I will really consider renting a hut to get out of the wind and cold next time though. Good luck to all of you out there on the ice 007