Notes on Fishing for Migratory Species
By Peter Thomas (aka tyeflyer) October 2003
The purpose of this document is to help educate people new to the sport of fishing. If you are already an avid angler, and live close to the water you fish, this information may be of little help to you. If you travel hours to get to your favorite river and wonder about how a storm has affected it then you may only want to read the sections on “When to fish” & “The river and the weather”. All the information used in this document was obtained from the web. (though while it may be called the information super highway, a few more directional signs would be nice). I am sure there is even more if you put some time and effort into looking for it.
This document should provide you with information on the various species, where to fish, and when to fish. If you can understand these concepts, and master them, your success rate will increase. If you are on the river at the right time after a storm, then the next battle is how to find the fish. And once you find your opponents, then the fun starts. I have another document here
While it contains a certain amount of information that is specific to fly fishing, the tactics can be applied to spinning or noodles rods. It does discuss ways to find fish and to ways to entice them to increase your odds, once you have found them.
The Fish
a) Pink Salmon
For rivers that receive runs of these incredible fish, they are the first salmon to spawn
They can enter the rivers in early August and are spent by the end of September
They are a few rivers in Ontario where there are large runs and the fish stage earlier
They die after spawning
b) Coho Salmon
They can enter the rivers as early as August and can continue to run until December
They spawn from September to February (depending on conditions)
As their duration in the river increases, their sides start to turn red
They die after spawning
c) Chinook Salmon
They can enter the rivers as early as August and are spent by the end of October
Runs traditionally start at the end of September and peak around thanksgiving
They primarily spawn in October
They die after spawning
d) Atlantic Salmon
They can enter the rivers in late September and are continue until November
They spawn primarily in October and November
They are a few rivers in Ontario where there are large runs and the fish stage earlier
They do not die after spawning
e) Brown Trout
They can enter the rivers in late September and are continue until November
They spawn primarily in late fall
They do not die after spawning
f) Rainbow Trout
These trout have the longest run of all species.
Approximately half of the fish run upstream between September and December
The remainder runs between December and April
They spawn primarily in April (or when the water temperature is appropriate)
Fish that run up in the fall, winter in the rivers in very deep pools
They do not die after spawning
Depending on water conditions, they can stay in the rivers up to June
So those are your basic opponents and a rough idea of when they are active.
Where to Fish
Now that we know what we are after and when they are possibly in the rivers, streams and creeks; the next question is where to fish. Here is a well kept secret that most people don’t realize. Almost every river that receives a run of migratory fish is listed in the Fishing Regulations. When you pick up the regulations in the spring, I suggest getting 3 copies. Keep one in your vest/tackle box, one in your car and one in your home. If a question ever occurs, you will have the answer at your fingertips. You have to remember, ignorance is not a defense if get caught violating the Fish & Game Act.
The other thing about the fishing regulations is that they have all of the fish limits, seasons, extended seasons, special rules and fish identification charts. This one book is packed full of useful information.
Just because somebody says it is ok to fish an area, does not mean that it is. Check the regs to make sure, because if you get busted, you are buying all new equipment and you can’t fish for a year. I once heard a story of a guy who caught over this limit of fish (he did not know how many he was allowed to keep). Unfortunately, the conservation officer found the fish in his motor home, and since it was being used in the offense, it was seized along with his license and equipment. Fishing regulations can also be obtained from http://wwww.mnr.gov.on.ca
So at this point, you should know what species you are after and what rivers you are going to fish. It is better if you decide where you are going to go fishing in the fall during the summer. Take a trip up to the possible rivers, find access points, places to park, and walk the rivers. While the fall rains will submerge some structure and create new flows, you will still be better prepared. I strongly suggest taking a camera and photograph the spots that look good, so you can create visual reminders for the actual trip.
Also stop into the local tackle stores. Fishing in many of these communities is considered tourism. The tackle shops may have fishing maps of that region (many of them free), they may have a web site with river conditions, or you can ask if you can e-mail them for river conditions. Quite often they are more receptive if you purchase something, but go in and talk to the people that have fished that area for years. They are the best source of local information. They can advise you of spots, timing, best baits to used, how crowded it gets and so forth. And I would rather see you fishing dollars spent at these local merchants than the national chain stores, as these are the guys that support the local clubs and provide prizes for tournaments.
If you take a weekend trip up you can also scout several rivers in one area. Almost all of the lakes and Georgian Bay have multiple choices that are very close together. If you have 3 or 4 choices, you can alter your plans, depending on weather and crowds. Sometimes a storm will blow out one river, but may only slightly affect one an hour away.
Your best strategy for a successful trip is knowledge. The next question that most people ask is about river access. As I mentioned, the first line of attack is to talk the local tackle stores and see if they have any fishing maps. Beyond that, your next choice is quite simple: maps.
For maps you have 3 choices; topo maps (often sold at tackle and outfitter stores), Soft maps and Map Art.
Soft Maps is a product that has all of the topo maps put into a computer program. It also has the rivers on an index, so that if you don’t know where a river is, the index will take you right to it. From this product you can print out all of the topo maps you want. (Just don’t let them get wet, inkjet ink bleeds really bad).
So with topo maps either purchased or printed, you now know where the rivers flows and where all the bridges are. These are the major access points. Check out as many as possible. If the land is posted “NO TRESSPASSING”, see if you can find the nearest house and ask for permission. Mark up the map with as many details, so that when you go back you will know what bridges to avoid and spots with the highest potential.
Most fisherman take nothing but pictures, and leave nothing but footprints. In some cases, years of fisherman walking to rivers have carved deep paths. Recently I was scouting a river in an urban setting east of Toronto. There was a paved walkway that followed the river and paths along the river bank made by wading boots. At times the river bank path lead back up to the paved path, and you had to look for new access down further. I came across a path that literally had been carved out so deep, it was 12” deeper than the surrounding soil. I found a similar path father upstream. Both of these paths lead to the 2 top producing holes on that river. On that particular day I walked the majority of that river, talked to a number of people, found better parking spots, and even a few fishing spots. The point that I will continue to make in this document is, your best strategy for a successful trip is knowledge.
So with your topo maps in hand, as your drive from bridge to bridge, when ever the river is close to the road, drive really slow and look for paths. If you think you see one, stop and investigate it. Quite often there is evidence of fishing even though nobody is around (fishing line, hook packages, tim horton cups, etc.). When the fish are in the rivers, it is easier to spot these paths, as there are usually cars parked at them.
If you are going to go fishing in urban areas, pick up the Map Art map for that town. They even have regional maps with all the roads on them for southern Ontario (printed over 3 separate maps). These show the river paths and bridges just like the topo maps, except that topo maps will show waterfalls and rapids. It sort of 6 of one and half dozen of the other which one you want to use. Both have pros and cons. But for fishing in urban settings, nothing beats the Map Art maps.
Another good source of information is the fishing bulletin boards. The ones that I have discovered to date are;
http://www.longpoint.on.ca/disc4_frm.asp
http://forums.fishontario.com/
http://www.fishinontario.com/wwwboard.html
http://www.floatfishing.ca/cgi-bin/floatfishing.pl/
http://www.greybruceoutdoors.com/cgi-bin/fishing.pl
http://www.hipwader.com/index.php
http://www.bmts.com/~fish/
http://members.boardhost.com/fishniagara/
http://www.ontariofishing.net/linkspage … ge_Boards/
http://www.b2g2.com/boards/
http://zebra.zoo.utoronto.ca/cgi-bin/FB … nboard.cgi
http://www.floatfishing.net/
Some of these boards also have information on local areas to fish. And other boards have archives that you can search through for information.
Check out these boards to find out which one offers the best information on the areas that you want to fish. Now while you can post a message and ask questions, I am attempting to provide sufficient information, so that you do not have to do that. Some of the boards have cryptic messages on them; others offer straightforward information. Some members will answer questions and others will take offense.
One thing you have to keep in mind with these boards is that a lot of very serious people exchange information here. When some of these guys were first born, I think their mothers used to bath them in the rivers they fish in. They were not breast fed, instead they were bottle fed river water. In order to really understand them, you need to see one fishing in a blizzard in the middle of winter, when he had to walk several kilometers through snow to get to his spot. If you ask for a good spot to go fishing, they are not going to tell you to park at the third bridge, walk upstream 300’ and look for the path to your right, follow that up 500 feet, take the left fork and so on. These people have spent years learning rivers and looking for remote spots where the fishing pressure is minimal and the chances are great. They have given names to each hole, bolder, tree, and in some cases can recognize the offspring of a fish they caught five years ago.
Sometimes the information on success is posted after the season, other times you will get an idea of river conditions or fish activity. These boards are already overrun with questions about regulations, people looking for free advice, people wanting to know where to fish, how to fish. In most cases they will answer intelligent questions (how to cast a float reel, what to use in clear water conditions, new products, etc.). But very seldom, if ever, will you see them post a spot where they had success. Especially in the urban areas. If a member ever posted that the Credit River is full of fish, he stands a chance of going fishing the next day and not be able to find a spot. I saw posting in October of 2003 where people were asking where are all the fish, and there was a big run in most rivers during the last 2 weeks of September. By the time they got interested in the fishing, the fish had already made it to the out of season areas or were spawning farther up river.
Use these boards intelligently. They can provide a unique source of information. Attempt to ask intelligent questions. Don’t say I’m wondering how the fishing is in a certain river when you live 2 hours from it. In your posting mention that you are driving 2 hours to a river, and could anybody please provide you with that information. If you are looking for a spot to take your kids fishing, mention that in your posting. Don’t abuse these boards, else new ones will be created and you will loose the opportunity to gain some knowledge.
When to Fish
So if you are following my advice, you note what you are fishing for, what rivers you are targeting, have maps of those areas, possibly information from tackle stores or fisherman, and some knowledge gained from the fishing boards. The next big questions is when to fish. This depends on weather. Fish need rain to increase the water flow so that they can swim through shallow rapids. The more water in the rivers, streams and creeks, the easier it is for them to get to their wintering or spawning spots. In years when flows are inadequate, they spawn at the first available gravel. When water levels are sufficient, you would be surprise how far up the trout will swim, it is almost unfathomable. When water levels are excessive, and the normal spawning grounds are too far submerged, I have seen trout swimming up drainage ditches looking for places to spawn. While Chinook salmon will run if the rain does not come (these things are tanks and will move boulders to get upstream) all other fish will wait for the rain.
So then in order to have a good day fishing, you have to be weather aware. Starting in September watch the weather religiously. The weather network (http://www.theweathernetwork.com/index.htm) will give you weather forecasts (you can even have them e-mailed to you). When they start talking about a storm go to the Intellicast home page (http://www.intellicast.com/) and click on the radar button. When the map appears, click on the area closest to where you live. This will show you the approaching storm, and the intensity of the rain (or snow). As the storm is passing, keep your eye on it. After 12 hours go back to this site and click on the “interactive loop” button, and then the “12 hour loop” button. At the bottom of the map you will see buttons to Stop, Play, Rewind, Step Forward, and Step Back. Once all of the images have loaded, press rewind, and then step the loop through 1 frame at a time. Copy each of these images to what ever word processor you use so that you can review the storm in detail. Some rivers have large watersheds, others have small ones. But this will give you an idea of where the rain fell, how long it fell and the intensity of it. The last storm that visited Ontario in October, I watched like a hawk. One river that everybody thought was going to be “blown out” and unfishable was quite fishable, because I knew that it did not get as much rain as everybody thought. Unfortunately, the fish waited until the next day to run, when I was then 4 and half hours away. On the day when I thought the fish were going to be there, there was less than 6 cars at the river. When the conditions are good on that river, there can be as many as 40 cars. Timing is everything. After the storm has made finished, go back to the Intellicast map that you watched the storm on, and click on the “Historic” button and you can generate maps that show you the daily precipitation and the weekly precipitation. By having an idea of watershed you fishing, you should be able to conjure an idea of whether that river is fishable. The first rain of the season could trigger a big run. On the next rain, the fish might wait a day to run. The fish run when they want to run. Sometimes you might be a day late, other times you may be a day early. But if you understand how the weather works, you stand a better chance of having a great day.
Some rivers with large watersheds will take longer to crest, retain there water longer and take longer to return to normal levels. Some are slow to crest, but quick to drop. Some rivers that are mud the day after the storm, will be fishable in 3 days, others will be fishable in 2 days. Some will even clear up by the end of that day. If you can target specific rivers, you should be able to gauge how the rain will affect the river, so that you can be fishing on the correct day. The best fishing is usually had when the fish are running. For every 10% of the river that you go up, 10% of the fish don’t. So when you get to some of the headwaters, you will be lucky to find less than 1% of the fish. They have all gone up different creeks, are spawning in the rivers, etc. At the beginning of a run, if your timing is right, and you are fishing close to a river mouth, all of the fish have to go by you. In September of 2003, I applied this logic, and saw several thousand fish go by me over a two week period. I was fortunate enough to hook into several hundred fish and land over a hundred, but I was in the right place at the right time, when the river had water in it. The days in-between the storms, I stayed home.
The river and the weather
Any experience anglers who have read this are probably falling asleep by now. This is the one section that they should wake up for. So if you can’t get to a river, how can you tell how the storm has affected it. For this we have 4 web sites; (you have to figure out how to use them and what the data means)
real time hydrometeric data
http://scitech.pyr.ec.gc.ca/waterweb/formnav.asp?lang=0
It has river flow information on the Ausable, Big Creek, Big Otter, Don River, Duffins Creek, Etobicoke Creek, Grand River, Harmony Creek, Highland Creek, Humber River, Rouge River, Salmon River, Sauble River, Saugeen River, St Mary’s River, Sydenham River and the Nottawassaga River.
Tides, currents and water levels
http://biachss.bur.dfo.ca/danp/gs_selection_e.html
It has information on the rivers that flow through Sault Ste. Marie , Collingwood, Goderich, Port Dover, Burlington, Toronto and Coburg.
Grand River Conservation Authority
http://www.grandriver.ca/
It has river flow information on all of the rivers that are in the Grand River watershed
And for anybody that goes to the US to fish, you will love this site
http://water.usgs.gov/waterwatch
I think it has river flow data for almost every river in the US
Now while you may not be able to find river flow data on the water that you fish, you should be able find data on a stream that is close. Keep in mind that watersheds vary in size, rain might hit one river and miss another, and you need to understand how fast they crest and fall.
If you are new to the sport of fishing, I would also suggest reading as much information as possible. An extensive collection of books have been published where the authors have gone to great extents to capture all of their thoughts and put them to paper to answer all of your questions. They will in no doubt be better organized and contain more data than I can put to paper. And also consider magazines. After you have gone through them, rip out the pages that either interest you today or may be of interest one day and put them in sheet protectors in a binder. This way when you move, you carry five years of magazines in one hand instead of 5 boxes.
So in summary
a) Know what species you are going after
b) Have an idea of when they will be active in the rivers
c) Get as much information about the river you want to fish (maps, etc)
d) Investigate the river
e) Pay close attention to the weather
f) Try to analyze the storms to determine when to go fishing.
As I said before, your best strategy for a successful trip is knowledge.
If you have found this information useful, I would appreciate knowing.
Please e-mail at p_thomas@sympatico.ca
