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Water just hit 39 degrees and I don't have to say anymore. Pass on the 3 way and go for the slinky or drop weights. Bring assorted slinky weights. Bring streamers, ass't size roebags in all colors except blue, buy some minnows at Pete's Tackle in St. Catharines, singles in the 3 usual colors and a few Kwik's. US licence gets you into a very nice long and deep drift called the Artpark drift. Costs a little more this year but can be worth it if you fish the tribs in N.Y. and Summer for Coho's. Oh, pay attention to what "hawk-eye" said and write it down. Is very good info there. Good Luck, Rob!

Float reel: Instant hook-ups and longer, smoother slow drifts. Alot more line at your disposal and almost never a reel failure. Spinning reel: You can cast farther upstream all day long, fish 14 hrs/day and 7 days/week with no arm fatigue and loose less fish with a good drag. Guides: Try not fish on weekends when most of their clients book and hope when you run into them that their clients have experience, etiquette, commensense and the wrong bait. Rob!

Never thought to take pics of smelts here. My arm is still sore cleaning them a few nights ago. There is alot more smelt this year than many years I have seen but still not the same as in the late 60's when a 6x6 smelt net would break bringing up one load of smelt and you could load one bushel basket full with one catch. The smelt are a younger class this year with only a few of the mature older ones. I just can't wait until next year so I will only have to clean 60 or so for some good frozen meals. Take care....Rob!

Been fishing for trout for almost 40 yrs here and 35 years float fishing with a float you had to buy made from balsa wood in the States. There are different drifts with my Tournament Drifter float reel setup, you just cannot fish proficiantly. I still try to bring 3 rods with me to fish with but its getting harder to portage all that stuff to some places. Float, spinning and casting setups, each has its skill and catches fish. You cannot say one is better than the other because I have gone to rivers where 30 or more people have drifted a bobber over the same area with the same technique and presentation and the bite has gone off. I see this, and either bottom bounce out in the fast, deep flowing river where the other fishermen just can't cast or they float through way too fast through it, or I hotshot a Kwikky also where they cannot drift because it is way too deep for them to reach float fishing. This produces alot of fish and then they wonder what they are doing wrong. One example is off the piers at the 'geen and another is the Niagara(upper n' lower). Lets see you floatfish in the Forebay 30 years ago. I have seen guides send people to some spots to hold so they can bring their clients there later. Still not happy about that one here. I have seen many things that young fishermen still need to learn. Etiquette, manners, releasing fish, the proper way to post fish photo's on the internet and the list goes on. Sorry to bore you all but cya on the river n' gl there......Rob!

What? No Shimano? Mono? I say spend the $$$$ now. Loomis casting rod, Shimano Calais, braided line and name brand fluorocarbon. If you shop around on the net and local, total price is about $500 bucks. Get 'er done.... Rob!

Herring is one exception that allows you to use it as specified for baitfish. Any fish classified as "Game Fish" cannot be used as bait. You can use other suckers as dead bait but they have the classification of "Caution" for various reasons. Some other suckers are "illegal" used dead or alive. The following link is the DFO's of Canada. Check it out. Remember to check your Zone in the 2010 fishing regulations for added restictions. http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/regions/central/pub/baitfish-appat-on/index-eng.htm Hope this helps, Rob!

I would not use Sunfish for bait. Sunfish are not legal baitfish, dead or alive. Besides, you really don't want to waste a nice fish fry....would ya?

Steelhead - Lake Erie: Rainbows are very water temperature oriented. Once water hits 55 to 60 degrees or when the algae sets up, you have to go out into the lake and find the right temperature to catch them. From late fall to early spring is the best time to hook into these fish from shore. Since you are fishing Lake Erie, there are only a few creeks and rivers to fish for them and only a very short time to catch them. Your best bet is spots around Fort Erie that allow you to fish for them from shore with easy access for a boat. Drop in at the fishing store on Niagara Blvd and the gentleman from there will give you alot of hints and tricks. Last year, the best bait was a small to medium size rubber minnow. From November to May, you can catch Browns and Bows at many different spots. Remember, timing is everything when you are catching these fish. In Fort Erie, you can catch alot of fish from the Old Dance Hall with only worms, down to the last drift before the bend in the river. There are alot of hotspots between these two points. Drive along this area and also chat up with the locals. They are very friendly and will help lots. Rob!