danjang

I think any drag will hinder the natural presentation. I used to just release the bail and let the float drift until the float goes down then close to set the hook. Horrible and annoying way to fish. I might have been doing it wrong with a spinning reel. It just seemed a bit easier to just use a centerpin.

Thanks for everyone's input. I have some shopping around to do. What's considered to be big water? I fish most rivers between Bronte to the Ganny and occasionally Niagara. Niagara is definatly big water but would the credit also be?

I'm currently looking for a float rod no more than 200$ and I would like people's opinions. I am currently using a spinning 9'6 HMX from fenwick. I would like something around 13' but there are so many manufacturers to choose from. The rod I was really looking into at first was the Okuma Aventa rods. Probably the cheapest I can find and might compliment my Sheffield pin very well but I have heard some bad things about it. Just looking for a decent entry level float rod with a good warranty (lifetime if possible!). Also, why are the G Loomis rods insanely more expensive than the other manufactures? Are they the Lambos of the fishing world? lol

The weirdest thing though, I saw many male carcasses on the shore. Most of them look like they haven't been cut up. Whats up with that? The water dropping is possibility but some are pretty far in. Just doesn't make sense

Just came back from erindale today. It was my first time fishing the river. Few salmon were being caught, mostly snagged of course. Some nice rainbows are making it up now. This one guy caught a pretty sweet one. Right before I was leaving I saw at least 10 people surrounding the fish in a circle, half with waders half on the rocks tossing their lines right on top of a lonely salmon to snag. It was hilarious seeing that many people chucking their lines getting all tangled up with each other. Most of the living salmon I saw looked horrible. I don't see why people would keep such a thing. The tails were white, it looked like it had been half cooked yet people still took them home.

This is 100% true. I would know, I'm a biologist.

I don't know if all sanctuaries are selected in the same manner but on Opinicon Lake the sanctuaries were arbitrarily picked. From what I understood, they simply picked areas that have good spawning bays without doing any scientific testing to determine its effectiveness. I'm not saying some sanctuaries do nothing, it's just not picked based on efficiency.

I would harvest from chinooks. I'm new to salmon fishing but I think 1 chinook's roe is plenty enough for a season. After that, I'd only eat males anyways since I feel that females are being pulled out at a horribly uneven rate. On the same topic of harvesting roe, what is the deal with collecting loose roe. I caught one last year and quite a few eggs were spilling out. The fish was released. So are the loose eggs considered towards your limit?

I went to the ganny, humber and the credit mouths on the weekend. Very few fish, almost no salmon and only a few trout. I'm thinking pier and mouth fishing is pretty much done for those rivers. The other fisherpeople I've talked to agree.

Nice report. I remember my first salmon, no fish after that has interested me. You know you did some good fishing if you feel it the next day.

Stay in the middle of the boat, look out into the horizon, take dramamine (I was on a plane in a thunderstorm with the flu and did not yak once), chew ginger anything or plug one ear with your finger. These usually work for me.

My classmates and I at a biological station on Lake Opinicon. Jeremy Holden from OFAH was giving us a lecture on aging fishes.

Thanks for the replies. I had not known the fish was snagged until it was out of the water. It was night and the Ganny (Thanks solopaddler) was pretty murky for some reason anyways. My reasoning for taking a picture was my friend had already been sent to grab the camera, it was my first fish landed on a centerpin and I'm fairly new to game fishing (hence the question). I always try to release fish quickly but to me the fight was a first experience where I would like to have had a photo taken of. I'm not heart broken over the incident, I will catch more fish, but that moment would always be the first landed fight on my centerpin in my memories. I guess to simplify the way i felt about this, imagine someone telling you can't take a picture because your first fish doesn't count due to snagging. Again I'm just sharing how I felt about it. I knew I was walking a fine line trying to snap a picture. I just wasn't 100% clear on it.

Hey all, this is my first fishing report on OFC. I also have a question which is related to my report and is also the reason why there are no pics . I went to the Granny with my good friend and my dad. I had a horrible year of not catching much so I was really looking forward to catch myself a nice chinny. I had bought a centerpin during the summer and was itching to use it. Prior to yesterday I had never hooked a fish with it. About 2 minutes after getting my line wet Fish On! Followed by a snap! My dad thought an 8 lb leader was too light but I'm pretty sure I got a bit too excited and palmed a bit too hard. Round two begun before my friend and dad finished setting up. This time I was a bit better on the palming. I wasn't going to lose this one. This fight was more like me praying the line wouldn't snap again. I want my fish! After the most fun 20 minute fight ever I finally landed my first chinny of the season. I'm guessing around 25lb female. Here is the portion of my report where I would like to know what is considered to be OK to do. I quickly dispatched my friend to run to the car to grab a camera as it was being netted. When it was brought up, it was snagged. A gentleman nearby with a fairly commanding voice said for me to release it immediately because it was snagged. I said "yes I know" but I was thinking I would like a picture first, my friend was on the way back with the camera. And I walked towards him to get the picture quickly. That gentleman kept on saying for me to release the fish. I didn't want to cause trouble so I went and released it. OK so here's the question. Was he just being a difficult person or was he right? I had no intention of killing this fish and I am fully aware of the regulations. It says for me to release any fish not caught legally immediately. Am I not allowed to take a photograph? -Dan

I was there last night near the foot bridge with roe. Went 0/2 while trying to centerpin with 8lbs line :/ (new to pinning). It gets pretty active right after sundown then dies off for a bit.

My Dad ended up going without me yesterday. He said the fishing was quite slow but he caught two.

Thanks all! Haven't been doing much fishing this summer due to work and rain. Can't wait to catch anything really lol.

Hey all, I was wondering what can be caught near or at the mouth of the Notty at this time of year. I'm going up to a cottage fairly close to the river and would like to get some good fishing done. No boat, just shore fishing . Thanks -Dan

I was up at heart lake maybe two weeks ago. There are a few shore fishing spots but are mostly swamped with algae. Didn't bring any worms so I was left to use spinners, flies, cranks. Caught small rock bass, pumpkinseed and large mouths on the fly. Apparently it is stocked with trout but the boat rentals aren't available during the weekdays so it is difficult to reach the deeper water. -Dan

Hey all, Me and a few friends are going out fishing today. I was wondering where I can possibly catch trout within an hour from Toronto. Would the credit still hold steelies? If so where abouts. I have yet to catch one and I've gone on multiple occasions. We're just looking to enjoy the outdoors and possible catch some fish. Thanks -Dan

Thanks for the welcomes and the help! Turns out I have a ride tomorrow to Port Hope so I won't be able to fish the Humber just yet but I can't wait to try. As for using regular line on a fly rod, I was asking because I figure since I have a second spool for my reel I could use some other type of line just to be flexible. I can't believe I can fit the rod in my backpack. I could fish anywhere anytime.

Hi everyone, I'd like to introduce myself first! My name is Dan and I'm a bio undergrad at York. I'm a frequent reader I've casually fishing here and there up until last fall when I caught my first salmon. Now I'm kinda hooked! I'm going to attempt to catch my first steelhead tomorrow at Humber river. So I have a few questions about steelheading. 1. I have a spinning reel I used for salmon. Is it possible to float fish or bottom bounce with this reel? There is no way I can afford a centerpin at the moment. If not what other options do I have in terms of tackle. I don't mind buying some before I head down. 2. My second rod is a fly rod/reel I recently bought at the Sportsmen show. Am I limited to only floating lines or can I use a normal line? 3. I don't have a car and my range is limited by the TTC. Does anyone want to share any relatively accessible tribs for fly fishing? Thanks -Dan