funfishing

Awesome vid, what did that pike have in its mouth

They went from being under "salmo" - typically trout, to Oncorhynchus - typically associated with salmon, because DNA research revealed a closer resemblance to other Oncorhynchus. They'll always be rainbow trout to anglers though, even if under microscopes they are salmon. Similarly, Atlantic Salmon are under "salmo", but they'll always be known colloquially as salmon to anglers.

Genetically, recent research indicates closer resemblance to Pacific Salmon than previously thought and they changed genera. But fishermen still consider rainbow trout to be trout, because they were considered that way for hundreds of years. I don't think anybody calls them rainbow salmon, or steelhead salmon (other than that Norwegian smoked fish packaging - likely for marketing purposes more than anything). Just want to distinguish recent biological studies from colloquial terms used by all fishermen, so as to not confuse newbies.

Steelhead are not "actually salmon". They are trout. If you want to get technical, since the Great Lakes are technically lakes, not seas, you can call our population of "steelhead" migratory rainbow trout, since they never live in saltwater. But that technicality is pretty meaningless. When you talk about Great Lakes steelhead, people know you aren't talking about steelhead that migrated all the way from the pacific to spawn in a Great Lakes trib.

Steelhead are not a Pacific salmon, they are in the same family as Pacific salmon, salmonidae, but steelhead are simply migratory rainbow TROUT. Atlantic salmon are just that, SALMON. Lake trout and brook trout are char, which are also a part of the salmonidae family. Even though they are called lake "trout" and brook "trout", they are actually char.

You guys are going to confuse a lot of newbies with your trout this, salmon that, steelhead this, steelhead that. Genetics aside, (in Canada) a steelhead is the term used for migratory rainbow trout that live in the sea and spawn in tributaries. TROUT. Atlantic salmon are genetically very similar to brown trout. We still call them SALMON. You can buy "smoked Norwegian steelhead salmon" at the store. Is this a rainbow trout, or do the Norwegians use the term steelhead differently? Who cares, put a few capers on a slice and enjoy.

Thanks for clarifying, funny I thought calling them a Baltimore Oriole was like calling a blue jay a Toronto Blue Jay.

Not familiar with that charter, but very nice boat

I have seen quite a few of them this year and the last, the bird is just called an Oriole.

Cool, I wonder why there isn't a stronger run of them when I hear so many reports of guys catching them out in the lake. I guess only certain tribs get a solid coho run, or some of those might be destined for American tribs.

Is that last one on the left a coho

A lot of Americans think we are!

Good thing the Bible says to love thy neighbour, otherwise you guys wouldn't have too many friends! And yes that's neighbour, with a u.

What's going on with the mouth of the sturgeon? The mouth area looks like, not a mouth at all. Wow, just realized those creatures of very different yaps, never saw that before.

Look for any "shallow running" crankbait. You can also modify the lip on "deep diving" crankbaits to alter how they dive. Wal-Mart carries a good line of crankbaits for around $5, they're bass, panfish, walleye and even pike imitations. The pike imitation is a shallow runner. Pike eat other pike, so the pike imitation works for pike too. Dollarama has crankbaits, they aren't Rapalas but they work. If you're unsure about a spot, you can run a one dollar crankbait through it first. Dollarama also has Mepps-like spinners which also work.

What are you using as bait? For pike in the summer, large sucker minnows are your best bet. For bass, top water lures, mister twisters, or the good old worm. I find minnows or minnow imitations to be the best for walleye, but those are mostly caught when it's dark. Dawn and dusk are by far the most productive times. Fishing is generally slow from noon until 5pm.

The Grand River is home to every known specie to man. Ok maybe not all, but most.

Check with a CO, you may be able to use them if you dispatch them first. The reason it's illegal to transport live crayfish and consequently to use them as bait in bodies of water other than where you caught them, is that the MNR is trying to stop the spread of invasive crayfish.

Just don't get caught by a CO transporting or releasing live crayfish tomorrow, or you may have some explaining to do. You can eat them if they're from a clean source:

I thought their slime would have anti-bacterial effects?

FYI, it's illegal to transport live crayfish anywhere but from the body of water where you caught them.

Nice bass, congrats on a PB

A guided trip with either one of the local stream guides, or a salmon/trout charter on one of the Great Lakes. I'd make it Huron, so you can comfortably eat your catch!

Make a left off the County Road 48 bridge if you're heading eastward, it's a right if you're heading westward.