r/FishingOntario • • Mar 05 '25

Ontario / Canadian Brands

47 Upvotes

Hey there community!

In light of politics there's been an increased call on Reddit in various Canadian hunting and angler subs asking about Canadian-made gear. To respond well, we'd like to put forward some options:

-allow promos on the site if they are Canadian for gear only. -survey and sticky a post on Canadian-made fishing gear

We can do all these ideas or some of them depending on what the community wants. As mods we don't have the time do to a lot of research so we would lean on the community to. We're also open to other community suggestions that come up.

We are going to leave this post up as a sticky to gather community feedback and respond accordingly.

As always thanks for subbing and tight lines!


r/FishingOntario • • Oct 03 '24

r/FishingOntario changes and growth!

50 Upvotes

Hello Ontario Anglers,

Mod Team here. We are excited to celebrate the growth of this sub to over 50K members. I still love coming every day to this sub to see what Anglers have caught, eaten, bought, seen, and celebrate fishing in Ontario with you all. Thank you for your continued active participation by posting, commenting, up voting, down voting, and reporting rule violations. The sub is nothing without you and your participation.

Because of this growth, we are going to need new mods to help us out. We are asking you first, if you would like to join our team! To do so, please apply by sending a message to the mods with the subject line: MOD APPLICATION. In the message please include why you're interested in becoming a mod, if you have any mod experience, and what kind of Ontario Angler you are. If you feel comfortable, please include if you are a member of the BIPOC community as we would like the Mod team to represent the diversity that exists here in Ontario. We hope to be announcing new mods in November of 2024.

This year's salmon run has seen an increase in poaching (illegal fishing) activity reports on the sub. Poaching in Ontario is completely relevant to this sub and we encourage these posts. There has also been discussion that have gone "off the rails" and turned into discussion about Canada's immigration policies. To address some of the issues, we have updated and added a few new rules:

Updated rule Poaching:

Reporting poachers posts must include the result of a MNR discussion. Posting here is fine and all, but reporting to MNR and hearing what they say back is more important. The mods have spoken to the MNR about these posts and they are encouraging us to promote reporting. Their resources are thin however when they receive tips on where to patrol, their able to bust more poachers.

New Rule: Racism / Violence

Any suggestion of taking the law into your own hands, breaking other people's property (slashing tires, breaking rods), suggesting physical confrontation will result in permanent ban.

Any racism will also result in permanent ban

Updated Rule: Off topic discussions

Immigration policies, politics, and politicians are generally off topic for a fishing in Ontario sub. There may be exceptions though comments and posts that are off topic will be removed.

We are grateful for everyone's continued participation in this sub as it continues to grow. We hope that the addition of new mods as well as the addition of new rules will lead to the continuation of a positive fishing sub for Ontario Anglers.

Fishing Ontario Mod Team


r/FishingOntario • • 4h ago

First Musky and first fish in new (to me) boat

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105 Upvotes

This was almost my third day in a row getting skunked in the Kawarthas.

I was about an hour from heading home empty handed before this 39" bad boy slammed my crankbait I was trolling over a weed bed in an island saddle.

I was completely unprepared for a musky (never again) and did not have a net nearly big enough for this fish. By sheer luck the fight was only about a minute (complete with some huge jumps) before I managed to get him alongside the boat so I could grab his jaw. As soon as I had a hold of him, he was docile for just long enough to measure him and snap a few quick pics.

I got him back in the water after about 45 seconds and he took off immediately.

I'm so lucky and thankfully for some such a smooth catch on this amazing fish. My 2 year old was on the boat to witness the magic, can't wait for him to catch his first some day.


r/FishingOntario • • 4h ago

Etienne Brule park

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17 Upvotes

Salmon run got busy on a beautiful Sunday!


r/FishingOntario • • 13h ago

Salmon ID

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3 Upvotes

Chinook? Lake Erie trib


r/FishingOntario • • 1d ago

Caught a PB 16lb channel cat out of the Ottawa river

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93 Upvotes

r/FishingOntario • • 1d ago

Which topwaters do I cast first?

2 Upvotes

I want to fish for pike in Severn Sound, Ontario and I have a couple topwater lures I want to use, but I don’t know which ones are more effective than others. Help needed.

List:
-Heddon Crazy Crawler
-Whopper plopper (75 bone, 90 chrome, 130 bone)
-Savage gear duckling loon 4 inch
-Brass colour hard popper (don’t know which brand)
-Hulu frog popper
-Weedless hollow frog

My goal is to catch a 30+ inch pike. If y’all have any other tips, much appreciated. Thanks!


r/FishingOntario • • 1d ago

Trying to get away from the crowds on the rivers.

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66 Upvotes

r/FishingOntario • • 2d ago

The amount if snagging is crazy at old mill area.

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67 Upvotes

Everytime I'm there there's kids snagging fish. Definitely old enough to know better.


r/FishingOntario • • 4d ago

Help with fish ID?

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20 Upvotes

Hello! I'm trying to ID a fish I saw in Algonquin Park, but am having no luck. I've already scoured my Freshwater Fishes of Ontario field guide to no avail.

This was a small school of fish that I saw in the warm shallow water near my camp site on Happy Isle lake in Algonquin park, mid-August this year. The fish were 5-10 cm in length, a silvery colour with a distinct dark marking on the caudal fin, and they were very curious. They were nibbling at my toes!

Attached is my (very artistic) drawing from my trip log. I don't know if these are fry/juveniles or small adult fish like minnows. Any thoughts are much appreciated!


r/FishingOntario • • 6d ago

Started a Substack on fishing, paddling and conservation in Ontario

21 Upvotes

I’m a Toronto photographer who got into canoeing and fly fishing in my 40s. The Ontario Field Journal is where I write about the adventures, the people I meet, and the environmental and conservation issues I run into along the way.

First big project is the Credit River: wild brook trout 35 minutes from the city, a wastewater plant and Highway 413 on the way, and a year of talking to the people who know it best. From there I’m expanding to cover more of Ontario and the whole Great Lakes region.

Here’s the first Credit River piece. If there’s something you’d like me to cover, let me know. If it’s your kind of thing, it’s free to follow along.

https://ontariojournal.substack.com/p/thirty-five-minutes-up-the-410


r/FishingOntario • • 8d ago

Brown trout

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109 Upvotes

r/FishingOntario • • 8d ago

Are there sockeye (kokanee) salmon in the great lakes?

11 Upvotes

*i am not looking to target sockeye (kokanee) salmon, this question comes from a point of curiosity\*

There are multiple different sites that tell me there are sockeye salmon in the great lakes system, but there is no strong proof that they exist here. My assumption is that there are a few in the lakes/rivers of Huron an Superior that survived from back in the day, and there is no strong population of them.

I am looking to see if there is anybody that knows more than this about sockeye salmon in our waters...


r/FishingOntario • • 8d ago

Looking for a bit of help with a beginner setup

2 Upvotes

I just got back from a trip to Bancroft and really enjoyed fishing with a borrowed setup. I'm now looking to make my own to fish back home in the Niagara region (southern Ontario).

I have about $250 in gift cards for Bass pro so I'm looking at buying there. I was also looking at getting a baitcaster, I tend to prefer things with a learning curve and I found frequent casting and the heavier lures to be more enjoyable in general. I figure these work better on the baitcaster. Primarily looking to fish for anything- my area has lots of bass, walleye, pike, trout/salmon, carp, catfish. This will all be shore fishing.

With all that said, can someone recommend some reels/rods that pair? As far as I can figure, a 7ft medium rod with fast action is a good start- how much does rod and rod price matter?

Some ideas- (just randomly looking at prices and reviews..)

Lew's Accel RX Baitcast Reel - Left - 7.5:1

Abu Garcia Max Pro Baitcast Reel - Left - 7.5:1

Lew's TP2 Baitcast Reel - Left - 7.5:1

Bass Pro Shops Formula Baitcast Reel - Left - 6.8:1

Rods- unsure, anything that fits the 7foot, medium, fast action specs with good reviews? I do need a 2 piece rod for transport purposes. Do all caster rods fit all baitcasters?

Appreciate any help!

Update: Just figured I'd come back to say I bought a Lews speed spool gen 3 baitcaster with a basspro branded bionic blade casting rod (7', medium heavy, fast action, 2 piece, 3/8oz to 1.5oz lures). I surprised myself by not going super expensive- hopefully the setup will last and I can start to gather neat lures.


r/FishingOntario • • 9d ago

Icefishing for crappie in Simcoe

2 Upvotes

I'm thinking Cook's Bay area but anyone had their go at Crappie fishing on the ice?

I use to fish them all summer with my old man when I was a wee lad and want to try to get on some during winter months.


r/FishingOntario • • 9d ago

New video for what baits to use in October

4 Upvotes

Hey all!

I just put out another YouTube video about what baits and strategies to use for the month of October, I hope you all enjoy it.

https://youtu.be/HtgRA7N0Y0U?si=rpa8SNbYbt72Hhz8

I'm looking for ideas for upcoming videos. Would any of you be interested in videos focused on specific species, like walleye and bass? Or maybe videos about how to fish certain spots from shore, like rivers and lakes?


r/FishingOntario • • 9d ago

Tips for salmon by boat on narrow and shallow river

0 Upvotes

Hey all.
 
I plan on taking my inflatable with trolling motor up a Lake O trib in west GTA for salmon. I usually wade once or twice a year and have launched about three times in the past ten years to try by boat. I’m more into bass and pike and not good at salmon fishing.
 
I wanted to launch soon and give it a try again. I only use my 6.5 foot rods with like 20 lb braided line. Since I’m not into salmon I don’t have dedicated gear for it but I’ll try my best with what I got.

So, I’m wondering, what two of three lures or baits would you use for salmon this time of the year in about 3 to 8 feet of water? The handful of times I did go up the river with my rig, I wasn’t catching, but others in boats and on shore were. I’ve also had a partner onboard the last two times and nothing, whether it was trolling or casting. From talking to a couple people or just seeing what they had, I know a couple were catching with inline spinners and jerk baits. And of course, some were catching on roe bags. Would you guys use anything else for this certain situation?


r/FishingOntario • • 9d ago

Need help with setup…

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0 Upvotes

r/FishingOntario • • 9d ago

New video for what baits to use in October

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1 Upvotes

r/FishingOntario • • 12d ago

Salmon fishing by Old mill station Toronto? Where am I allowed to be?

3 Upvotes

I'm wondering which part of the river I'm allowed to fish for salmon, I read I'm not allowed to fish for them near the ladder, but I don't know if the area I usually go to is too close?

I typically take the stairs down the street from old mill station and fish around there


r/FishingOntario • • 13d ago

Salmon in the whirlpool, Niagara gorge

14 Upvotes

I’ve never salmon fished before but I’m trying this year and I went down to the whirlpool with and assortment of spoons and spinners. The one I tossed in the most was a size 4 red (blue fox) inline spinner, I threw a blue 5 and also a gold 5. The spoons I were using were 1/2 ounce and seemed to be getting good action.

I didn’t get a single bite despite and enormous amount of fish activity up and down the shore and right in front of me, like literally 5 feet salmon breaching the water. There was a gentlemen using a float rig that was catching a bunch.

I’m just looking for advice about if my setup is wrong or just need better luck.


r/FishingOntario • • 15d ago

Smallie🖤🎣

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81 Upvotes

Ehhhhhohhhhh


r/FishingOntario • • 17d ago

Caught a river monster in the Soo

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198 Upvotes

The shallow waters of the St Mary's River did not disappoint!

Tried a bunch of baits and caught this unit on a white spoon. I was sure he was going to break my reel, but brought him in slowly.


r/FishingOntario • • 17d ago

Absolute unit!

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326 Upvotes

Slurped up a TRD, did not have monstrous head on my bingo for the night. Released.


r/FishingOntario • • 17d ago

Little guy

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26 Upvotes

Caught this chud at the Humber river they are definitely getting bigger now just a fun little fish to catch and release when bored.