Fishing Report Update - Oct 27
As October is nearly over, it is a good time to see what's all going on now as we're turning the corner now into the late fall period of the season.
The Brown Trout & Rainbow Trout (aka Steelhead) are moving in now behind the Salmon in the creeks, rivers & harbors along Lake Ontario. Depending on location, either float fishing or bottom bouncing 3-way rigs will best good techniques. The next few weeks eggs patterns will work best. Whether that is real roe bags, or artificial's like yarn, beads, corkies, etc...
Of course minnow /smelt patterns can work too like streamers, plastic minnows, hard baits like Kwik Fish or Flat Fish and you can successfully cast spoons & spinners too.
Keep in mind Lake Trout are out of season in Ontario waters of Lake Ontario/Niagara River until Dec 1.
Lake Erie , perch fishing is getting good now too. On the eastern basin (Crystal Beach - Port Colborne) they will generally be found anywhere from45-65 FOW. It will often require moving around a bit to find them, but when you land on them it can be great action. Best technique is double hook rigs ( aka Pickeral rig) with live minnows. If they are aggressively feeding, sometimes you can get them good on jigging spoons or plastics.
Long Point Bay, Normandale & Turkey Point can also have good action this time of year, but in much shallower water. Perch can be had right up until the ice comes!
We're also getting into some of the best Smallmouth bass action of the season. 20-35FOW is generally a good range to be finding them. Regular techniques like, tubes, ned's & drop shot will work well, but as the water gets colder bring some jigging spoons & blade baits! Remember the last day of Bass season is Nov 30 in Canadian waters of Lake Erie/Niagara River but you can fish the NY waters after that.
Its also time to go looking for some of the bigger walleye. The smaller "migratory" fish will be offshore & many heading back to the wester basin, but bigger eyes will often be found in shallow. In the rivers, near the river mouths ad out along points & reefs.
Muskie anglers are also putting in long hours looking for the fish of a lifetime. Don't forget to be sure you are prepared for them with proper landing gear & tools to ensure a good release.
Finally, as the cool weather continues, we remind everyone to prepare accordingly. Watch the weather as best you can, dress accordingly & be diligent in the maintenance of your boat & equipment.
