Fish Lake Ontario
At the mouth of the Niagara River where it meets Lake Ontario, we find an enormous shoal called the “Niagara Bar” which is home to just about every species available in the area. You never know what you’re going to hook next when fishing here, but Lake Trout are here in huge numbers in the winter and spring months, while Smallmouth Bass swarm the area in the warmer months. Once again, the combination of steep shoals and swift currents creates huge waves, particularly when the wind is coming off the lake, and extreme caution is needed when fishing this area.
Moving out into Lake Ontario itself the Niagara Bar drops off very quickly into 200 feet of water, and this steep slope is where we often find large numbers of King Salmon in the Spring and Summer months. These fish can reach weights of over 30 lbs, and their line-stripping, rod-bending, lure-crushing power is second to none! There’s nothing to compare with the excitement of a screaming drag as a fish tears 300 feet of line from your reel on its first run.
Out further still, we find ourselves in deep, blue water known as the “Blue Zone” where schools of acrobatic Steelhead roam freely feeding upon baitfish and insects from the surface. Schools of Steelhead can provide hectic action as multiple rods fire at once and fish begin their typical acrobatics, breaking the surface and leaping several feet into the air in an attempt to shake the hook.
In the Spring time, typically around mid April, we are privileged to experience the “Return of the Kings”- those King Salmon which have wintered out in the depths of Lake Ontario migrate very close to our shores in search of warmer water and accompanying baitfish. Our 26’ Thompson “Natural High” is moored in St Catharine’s Marina only minutes from the action, and ready to get you out to the fish quickly and safely. For several weeks those fish are held here by the combined influences of the bait supply and the natural thermal barrier caused by the waters of the Niagara River entering the Lake. This period can usually be relied upon to provide hectic action, and daily limits of 5 fish per person are common. These fish are bright, silver, feisty, and hungry, and it goes without saying that it’s advisable to book early if you want to avoid disappointment and get in on this amazing action.
It is worth noting that at this same time, the Niagara River generally rewards with fantastic Steelhead returns, and the Niagara Bar is littered with Lake Trout which makes this a great time for those anglers looking for a true multi-species package. Call or e-mail us to ask how we can assemble the perfect package just for you.
As the water temperatures begin to even out around the end of May, we begin to settle into our summer pattern, catching Kings in depths anywhere from 50-200 feet, as well as Lake Trout, Brown Trout, Coho Salmon and those trusty old Steelhead. Mixed bags are the order of the day throughout the summer months.
By July we begin to see mature King Salmon “Staging”- preparing for their spawning run up the rivers and tributaries. This is when we find our heaviest fish of the year, and 25lb fish are common. It takes fish over 30lbs to raise eyebrows at this time of year.
By mid-September we generally turn our attention offshore again for immature Kings (mostly under 20lbs) and lots of overlooked Steelhead, but this time and until the beginning of November (when the marina closes for the season) is when we tend to produce our best overall numbers of fish on a day to day basis.
From November through mid-April our attention is once again focussed entirely upon the Niagara River for Salmon, Steelhead, Lake Trout, Brown Trout, Musky and Walleye.
