Determining Great Fishing Locations

Good tips you should consider when picking a spot to fish.  

Majority of lakes in Ontario are filled with fish waiting to be caught. The key is, knowing what fish are in the lake and where they are hiding. Knowing the depth of the water you’re fishing in is a key advantage because it helps you to better judge you lure choice and determine the probability of fishin that area. Many anglers (aka Fishermen/fisherwomen) use what’s called a depth sounder or also known as a fish finder to determine the depth of the water. A depth sounder can also be used to indicate the structure of the lake bottom. When you can tell the structure of the lake bottom you can determine what type of fish are likely to be in that location. For instance, Pike and Musky enjoy hiding out in long, very healthy, weeds, in around 10- 20 ft. of water (depending on the season). Having this advantage severely increases your chances of catching a fish. Another tip for catching fish is watching the direction of the water current and watching the wind patterns. Watching the current and the wind patterns can help you determine where the bigger fish are because where ever there is bait fish, theres big fish that follow. Schools of bait fish are influenced by the water current. For example, if the water current is flowing in, towards a shallow bay, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll find a decent sized fish. The wind patter also has something to do with the placement of the bait fish because usually if the wind is strong enough it will create waves that move in the direction of the wind. Since bait fish are usually closer to the surface, they can be influenced by this wave action in the same way they are influenced by water current. One more good technique is fishing at the mouth of an “out flowing” river. Many of the bait fish are being pulled by the current downstream, whereas the really big pike and musky for example, will not generally make their way down these really shallow rivers and streams.  This means they can be found hanging around at the mount of the river. Taking into consideration these points can significantly increase you chances of catching a fish.

Muskellunge (Musky) Fishing Overview

In Canada, there are a vast number of fresh water lakes, rivers and streams that flourish with a variety of different fish. The large volume of water and strong ecosystem provides a perfect habitat for Muskie to live and grow, creating a great potential chance to catch a “monster”.

The conservation of fish in Canada is taken very seriously. The only time a fish should be killed is when there are intentions of eating it. There are very strict rules and regulations that MUST be followed when fishing in Canada.  The Ministry of Canada is responsible for these laws. Fishing regulations are something that should never be over looked. Breaking the law has serious consequences. For example, if you are caught keeping fish in Canada without a fishing licence, the ministry has the right to seize all of your fishing equipment and in extreme cases they can even seize your boat!!!

To check rules in your area refer to the Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary 2012.

The best time to catch these fish is between 1 pm to 4 pm as well as around midnight. Due to the fact that this is primarily the time that these fish are searching for food. Their main diet consists of fish that aren’t as big as them (ironically the food chain). They can be found in heavily vegetated lakes, bays, and rivers. This is because smaller fish tend to eat in the vegetated areas and quickly become prey. When searching for muskies use an extremely large lour such as a plug. This is a big wood lure that is more durable than the average lure; perfect for larger fish. Other recommended lures include big spinners, and oversized Rapala’s.  Any type of rod could be used, but it is well worth the investment in some heavy tackle. Good quality rods include Abu Garcia, Dawia, Shimano, Cabela, and St. Croix just to name a few.

 

One of the biggest Muskies every caught was pulled out of the same lake and general area as one of my favorite fishing locations. The fish was caught by a Toronto accountant in 1988, out of Georgian Bay’s, Blackstone Harbor, Moon River Basin (Ontario). The Muskie weighed 65 Pounds, was 58 inches in length, and had a girth of 38 inches!!! Goes to show you that you never know what your day of fishing will bring.

Follow this link for a picture and article on this Record Musky.

http://www.musky.ca/ontario-record-muskie-ontario-record-musky.htm

Fishing Gear

When fishing in Canada, or anywhere for that matter, you need the right equipment. There is nothing more frustrating than fishing for hours, waiting for the big one to bite with no luck. Until, unexpectedly you got one! Your adrenaline kicks in and the fight is on, or at least, until your equipment fails and the fish gets away. Having an equipment failure instantly removes the feeling of excitement. The worst part is that it could have been completely avoidable. There’s no telling if the opportunity you just gave up was the biggest for the year, you may not get a second chance. Many fishing enthusiasts may have only caught a couple of real “monster fish” in their life time. This is why it is so essential to have trust and confidence in your fishing equipment. Using the right equipment for the type of fishing you doing is the best thing you can do to help reduce your chance of losing a fish. There are many different styles and types of fishing that you should be aware of. For example there is fresh water fishing, saltwater fishing, fly fishing, ice fishing, casting, trolling, and jigging just to name a few. It is important to know that there are differences between them. Equipment used in salt water is not the same as equipment used in fresh water. In salt water objects are more buoyant and float differently than in fresh water. Some fishing reels are designed for casting, while others are designed for trolling. The key element on a fishing reel is the drag, this allows line out well before the line snaps, allowing you to be able to catch a 20lb fish on 10lb line. Deciding the gear you’re going to use is very important. One thing I recommend for fishing in fresh water is to use braided line, not monofilament. Braided line is extremely sensitive, doesn’t stretch, and is a lot stronger than regular (clear) Monofilament line. Usually it is a little more expensive but I find it to be worth the investment. Remember: Don't forget to bring a net when you go fishing because you never know when you may catch a giant fish.