TO..
Looking for a world
class fishery,Well this is the place.The Niagara region is one of
the most deverse fisheries in the world.Whats your favorite
species?We more then likely have it in size and numbers.You
looking for Bass,how about smallies up to 6lbs and a few areas
with some nice largemouth too.Got your attention yet.Well ok then
how about Walleyes averging 7lbs with 12pounders not a rareity
but the norm.Still looking for more,Well how about a world class
salmon and trout fishery as well.Chinooks over 20lbs,lakers over
20,rainbows over 12 and some huge browns thrown in for good
measure.But wait there's more,Don't forget the great Muskie
fishing in the upper river.We may not have a world record fish
out there,but the quantity of Muskie makes up for it.With lots of
fish in the 10-20lbs class.Still not satisfied well there still
is channel cats,jumbo perch,slab crappiesand pike.Ok now wipe off
the drool and lets look at the HOW WHEN AND WHERES.For now we
will look just at BASS with more added later
SmallmouthBass
Smallies are spread all over the
region.With good catches from Lake Erie through to Lake
Ontario.While action can be good all year if you want to come for
the true giants the fall season is the time for smallies.From
sept.through oct. are tops and presure is very light.With the
salmon run taking most locals away from this hot action.Lake Erie
holds some true monster smallies with 6lbs+ fish taken.Lots of
care must be taken on Erie.It's a shallow body of water,A light
wind can bring on huge swells.Check the weather before going
out.There are many shoals amd humps in the lake most holding
smallies.For a bit safer water the Niagara River can be hot.In
the upper river smallies can be found all along the
shoreline.Some shoals and around Navy Island is a hot spot as
well as the limestone flats between the Peace Bridge and the old
rail bridge.The lower Niagara is a bit different.From the Falls
to Queenston the river rages through the Niagara Gorge.This makes
boating impossible,but the shore angler can have great
luck.Starting from the bay by the Maid of the Mist dock,This spot
always produces early in the morning and nothing beats the
view.Standing across river from the falls as the sun rises over
it and a big smallie on your line will stick in your mind for a
life time.As you follow the river down stream there are many
small bays and back eddy which all can produce good catches.
From Queenston to
Lake Ontario the river opens up and slows.Now the boating angler
can get back into the
action.The shoreline drops off quickly
here from a couple feet to 25ft.The best thing to try here is a
drifting technique.I like drifting a carolina rig with a tube or
plastic worm.For tubes start by trying a smoke colour this will
be your start and finish colour 90% of the time.For worms
Tequella Sunrise is always my colour of choice.Somedays others
will work well,but as a rule these to baits will catch you fish
almost everyday.Try drifting close to shore covering the depths
of the break till you find the fish then keep working that
depth.When you reach the mouth of the river,There is a large
point at the mouth.It runs from a few feet out to about 30 feet
then drops off into deep water.Here try the one two punch of
tubes and jerk baits.Don't be afraid to try real shallow,On
somedays the smallies will be up in a couple feet of water around
the many boulders and rocks.When they are there jerk baits
shine,These fish are ready to feed work your bait as fast as you
can.The action can be hot and fast,but you never know how long it
will last.So enjoy it while you can,if the shallow bit dies off
start working out with jerk baits and tubes.The water is very
clear and the jerk bait will produce in water up to 20ft.I've had
many fish come out of deep water to smash a jerk bait here.
Largemouth
Bass
Due to the
popularity of smallmouth around here the Largemouth fishery is
often over looked.But they are many good spots for good large
mouth catches.They are not as widely spread as smallmouth,but
concentrations can be found around tributaries of the upper
river.The best pick on the upper is the Chippawa creek,which is
more a river then a creek.It's divided into two parts,the lower
end from the mouth upto the hydro canal intakes.The river has
been dredged making the water flow upstream.The water here is the
clear cool water of the Niagara river.The shore drops of
quick,but the shore has a lot of cover on it from docks,tree
falls and overhanging willows.Working spinner baits and flipping
works well here.Boat control can be hard here the current is
fast.A good electric bowmount is really needed here to stay on
the fish.The upper section is a slow moving of coloured and
shallow.Here you will find many reeds,stumps,falldowns and
overhanging cover.With the water color being dark try working
loud baits and chartruse is the best bet.I like working rattle
baits and spinner baits with oversized blades.
Now my favorite hot
spot would be Jordon harbor.It's a large creek mouth off lake
Ontario.For a few years boat acsess was very limited forcing a
long ride down the lake.So the affect was very light pressure for
years,now with a marina on the lake right at the mouth access is
easy and the fishing can be great.Due to the light pressure for
years size and numbers are up.There's good fishing through out
the whole inner bay.But the back end near the old train bridge
abbutments can be real hot.The water is dark so chartruse
rules.Running spinner baits along the abutment almost always
brings in a few good fish.As well as the shore is loaded with
structure for tossing spinnerbaits or flipping can also shine.The
harbor also has huge lilypad flats that can produce well also.
So if you ever get
the chance to visit the Niagara region don't forget your rod.But
be ready for maybe your best fishing experience of your life.The
combination of the sights the sounds and the fish can't be match
by many places in the whole world.
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