oates

excellent, I have caught a Pike, largest maybe only 4lb only (little guy). Interested to know which line you are using (lb test?) Thanks

I'm using 6lb spiderwire - find it stays on reel longer than triline

Murky dirty deep dangerous got swept out lost rod swam to shore yesterday. If rain is minimal wed. Thurs might be ok hopefully next week will be better

Hi all, the rain has made the rivers swampy and dangerous, seemingly more than 1-1 1/2 ft higher and fast. My question is about the lakes, will all the heavy rain wreck lake fishing, my buddy is coming down from Montreal and I want to take him out on Rice Lake - is that advisable? Does heavy rains (like we have hade) wreck lake fishing like it does river? Or is that a non-factor. Also will it make Rice more murkey or is that only winds that will make that happen. Thanks, Hopefully Aug. will be sunny for 30 days straight!

Yup, sure is, went to the grand today, went downstream a wee bit, was sucked down by an undercurrent rushing over some rocks (the upper part of the water looked calm enough) - I lost my rod/reel, ended up snorkling without a snorkel and had to swim for safety. Lesson learned.

Mann Baby 1 minus It is a heavy crankbait that can be cast (with 7ft rod) 50 ft or more, it swims one ft. under water so it doesn't get weeded, has a loud rattle and is a good lure for a starter, it worked for me - won't catch much other than bass as it is quite fat.

Storm Chugbug I have had more success with topwater lures for Bass than any other method (maybe I suck at other methods).

Thanks, might be something to do with Algea, as the water is low and not moving fast but still cloudy anyway. In terms of crankbaits I have Storm Chug bug (does well at sunset) few X-Raps (nothing caught on it) Sinkables (large rattle, caught a few things with it) I might have to expand my exploration of the Grand, go earlier, walk farther. Appreciate all the feedback, when I have the bass slamming the lures, I will let you guys know!

Just and update. Water has gotten more murky, I'm confused - I thought only Rains and Windy conditions affect the clarity of the water - it hasn't been raining but as the summer goes on, it is getting murkier, last fall, as time passed it became crystal clear and I hit 5 walleye in about 40 mins! So I'm missing something, does the summer have something to do with it, it is a muddy base small rocks in some parts. I feel that fish can't see my lures or white chomper worms (tasty garlic salt flavour - actually is smells like crap). I guess I should just give up on the area till fall?

Fished just above Bean park (1km) and walked around - after reading this post. Beautiful spot - I noticed tons of minnows for a long stretch - thought that would be a good sign - perhaps not - no sign of any fish. Further up I found a Pike and 2 bass, catch and release (rules). Been exploring the grand, quite nice but fish seem to be only in certain parts, I found pools and pockets, crystal clear - no sign of any bass/walleye. I guess I have to keep exploring, perhaps Guelph area! Sore like crazy from all that wading and falling and the pike who bit me when I unhooked it.

That's an amazing scene. That Pike must be like a mafia boss of the lake, fearless.

Hi all, Went to Brant Park Conservation Area, hadn't been since last year. Have to admit, I find it to be terrible. I fish below the dam for hour upon hour, not a hit. I see people fishing all day, getting nada. I finally caught a 3lb bass after dark somewhere above the dam with a surface popper. Can't believe that place gets so much hype. - just a heads up, many of the conservation areas advertise fishing but often fishing can be hideous there (maybe too much pressure), the more rugged/quiet the area the better! On another note, I'm looking for waters I can wade in (usually go to Caledonia), I hear the Speed River is a good place to wade but I can't find the access points, seems to be mostly private. It is supposed to be a shallow type of river good for wading, does anyone know access points for it? Or other rivers that are good for wading? Thanks

Hi all, Was in the Grand last week, wading as usual. So I never landed anything bigger than 2lb in my brief fishing career! So suddenly, something slams my lure, I try to set the hook, BINGO. All I hear is line whistling out of my reel, like I landed Jaws, and it just keeps going and going, so I thought I need to adjust the tension as the fish just ate the lure and said bye, So I do that and I feel the massive weight on the rod, I needed two hands on the rod (using 6lb test line, after all, its the river and I'm looking for walleye), as I adjust the tension, it shows strain, line still trickling out but it feels like it will snap and the fish will not swim towards me, so now 5 mins passed, so I say, what the heck, and start reeling in and it is too strong, as I reel in, it pulls out line, so I'm confused, what to do? so I tighten up the tension and just go for it and it keeps pulling away and I slowly get it closer and maybe 15ft away I see this massive carp, must have been 10LB, The rod is bent up, I have two hands on the rod and my arms are hurting, been 15 mins now, so I get confused as to what to do, I eventually try to grab the line and drag it towards me, once it is about 3 ft in front of me, the line snapped and he left with the lure. Wild, thing is what do you do in that situation? is there a way to bring him in? when you have a way bigger fish than your line should handle, I guess there is no sure way to reel em in. Comments?

Hi all, Was at my favourite river spot, water was down, so I was able to wade around nicely, eventually reached a small island (nice hawks flying overhead too), only marks were the footprints of birds! Gotta love the river. Nonetheless, perhaps it is the time of year but I can't find the Walleyes when they were so active around the same area last autumn. Amazingly, whilst on this island, I saw 3 or 4 pike, cruising up and down in 1ft of water. I could almost touch them! They were needlenosed and about 1 1/2 foot in length (not monstorous like the lakes), so I tried a crankbait, small rapala, didn't work, they just looked at it, tried a tail, they didn't pay attention, tried a pink worm, one of them bit it and spat it out. Yikes! Tried jigging, crankbaits, surface popper - nada. I was dropping the stuff on their mouths and they weren't interested, the week before I did the same to a Catfish and he couldn't care less. I must be missing something. My questions: 1. Best way to catch Pike 2. '' '' Catfish 3. Do walleyes have a different pattern in Spring (deeper water?) 4. Approach of river fishing vs. lake (different?) I landed three bass looking for eyes, had to let go. There seems to be a big difference in the aggression of Bass over all other fish in the river. I have been fishing since last Summer, I'm getting there, slowly! Any advice apprreciated. Thanks guys

I bought $60 ones, PVC last year, hot, sticky and bound to my legs, ripping hair of them and scarring me in four places from friction. Uncomfortable boot soles etc. Be warned, you could wreck your back. Got $200 breathables from Bass Pro, loose, comfy and cool with comfortable boots - if you want to wade a lot, spend the money, if you don't care, just wait till it is warm and get wet but avoid the cheap ones.

ok thanks, I guess that also means Walleye never go after topwater lures. Appreciate feedback, will try Jig mentioned

Hi all, went to my fav spot on the Grand (mostly 2-3 ft of water, pockets and pools of 5-7 ft), was a real good walleye spot (rarely got anything else there last year), went out for the first time this year, Bass popping all over the place (out of season though), I wasn't having any success so I put on a Rapala top water and wasn't even watching when a small mouth bass jumped up and snagged it in 2 ft of water. I seen Walleye, popping up here and there, seemingly doung 360's where there were some minnows. My question is, the water is murkey and flowing (gently), when usuing lures (rapalas), they often get covered in green moss like stuff and it wrecks the cast, I wanted to know what would be a good alternative, I was thinking of Jiggy with a tail on the end, is jigging realistic when wading or is this only from a boat? I tried to drop a line down with a a worm but the flowing water downstream keeps everything moving. What about drop shotting? Just trying to find an alternative to using crankbait, I will catch 2-3 fish over 5-6 hrs but I figure there are other methods which will yield more success. Any advice appreciated. Also, is it just me or do Bass seem more active this year than last? I heard from some people, the rains in July etc. made the waters cold and Bass inactive? Thanks guys

Went up to the northern parts of the Credit, around Alton, ON. found some access to the river, seemed quite narrow, water depth around 2-3 ft with pools around 5-6 ft. Weather was rough, so I had to wait till it slowed to just light rain, didn't see any action on this part of the river, got maybe one bite (something small, wasn't trout). It was nice and peaceful up there. Perhaps I was beating dead water but what I was curious about is, are you as likely to find trout in streams and shallow waters as one would at wider, deeper parts of the river?

I bought a pair of PVC for $60, hot, stickey, burn your skin (rub against), slide off your shoulders, boots unstable. Just FYI if you go the poor man route.

Great feedback guys, glad to know that there are alternatives to Fly fishing for catching trout. I will see if I can pick up those spinners. I was looking for regulations (Credit River) on both the MNR site and the CRAA and found this outdated info: http://craa.on.ca/new_regulations.shtml Does anyone know if it is allowed currently to catch trout or catch and release or nothing at all (i.e. season not open yet), I don't want to follow and old guide. Thanks to all

Hi all, I went out last year (once) to the Credit River (can't remember where, but about 45 mins north of Miss.) it was absolutely beautiful, just a wonderfully preserved area. I had just started fishing, was completely clueless, I actually had flys and a non fly fishing rod?!?! Anyway, enjoyed the day out. I waded through fast flowing water, no one fishing there. I had two questions 1. Is it realistic to catch trout without fly fishing, like with a reg. rod and lure? (since the Credit seems to emphasise fly fishing) 2. Does anyone know the general vacinity to fish for them on this river (just the general area, I like wading and exploring, don't need any secret locations) I don't see too much discussion about the Credit here, perhaps it isn't too popular. Thanks, by the way, this has to be the most interesting fishing forum (stories, tips, pics, debate) Tony

Hi all, Went to Rice Lake (rented a boat) on Monday, it was my 3rd time doing so, in three trips, I have caught a yellow perch (yes, one little fish), I was watching people out on the lake getting nothing but clean lures. I don't know, I find Rice Lake is a small lake with too much pressure maybe, but the fishing there really sucks and aparently, there are few bass this year which is alarming for the future. On another note, I have been fishing the rivers and I enjoy it much more (even though the fish are smaller I guess), I went to the Thames in London yesterday and nabbed some Silver Bass (White Bass), I knew they existed in Ontario but I thought maybe up north as I never caught them before. Me and the wife grabbed 2 small mouth and three silver bass, I had the wadders on so I was able to move around, found some deep pools and threw a small gold minnow (rappala) and grabbed what I think is 2lb+ (see pic). Couldn't believe the size of them, I then cast in the same spot and bang, caught another one exactly the same size. I knew they were bigger than what I ususally catch (started fishing this summer, never caught over 2lb), they felt heavy on the line but were kinda like Walleye, you know they are there but they don't fight too much just try to drag the lure down. I have attached a pic. Let me know what you guys think, the Silver Bass is a nice looking fish. I also like rivers because you can move around areas that motorized boats can't, it is very peaceful and much muckier work that the avg. guy won't want to do (get muddy and wet sometimes) but it is rewarding, got 5 walleye on in 1hr on the Grand on Sat. really weak exp. on lakes, enjoying the rivers.

Just south of Caledonia (Walleye), mostly shallow with some pockets, pools.

Hi all, Just been fishing since Aug. starting to have more success, location and type of lure/bait seem to be key. I started fishing the southern part of the Grand, I had my first breakthrough, grabbing 5 walleye (in 45 mins) on a small rappala (all 1-2lb), it all happened late afternoon, not a bite before or after. I have a few questions: 1) Is there a reason walleye seem to bite in the late afternoon and not earlier or at dusk? 2) I have rarely gotten a bass in the Grand, I was wondering if it is just a location thing or are Bass numbers just way down this year (I know for Rice Lake, everyone has said it is down, but perhaps they overfish Bass in that lake?) If so, is the Southern Grand good for bass, I haven't tried York yet On another note, I am going to Rice Lake tommorow, anyone have any tips, I will be renting a boat with the family, should be fun, last time I caught a perch in six hours of fishing, maybe now a bit more experience and I might catch more! Thanks for all your advice and points on this forum.

Thanks Guys, That helps a lot. Anyone experienced with the Grand River (spots/technique)?