By nature, mature chinook salmon (aka king salmon) are nomadic and identified for travelling nice distances looking for Nice Lakes prey fish. Anglers are all too aware of the adage, “Right here in the present day, gone tomorrow.” Because the organic urge to spawn dominates chinook, nonetheless, their staging behaviour presents anglers an opportunity to observe the kings.
Stage 1: Offshore
In early August, mature kings begin to transfer offshore of their eventual spawning rivers. In July, these similar fish may need been 5 to fifteen kilometres offshore chasing colleges of alewife and feeding closely. Though water temperatures is perhaps barely hotter than their most well-liked vary, mature kings will regulate to and tolerate hotter temperatures.
In the course of the first couple of weeks of August, chinook will frequent water depths of 60 to 100 toes, normally inside a number of kilometres of the rivers they’ll ultimately enter. Actions are random since colleges are nonetheless feeding on alewife, however consumption turns into much less.
Offshore strategies
Steve Tuck operates a profitable constitution boat (thereelmistress.com), out of Oshawa on Lake Ontario, and fishes extensively for staging kings.
“When chinook are in tight, temperature and baitfish aren’t a problem. Troll parallel to the shoreline in 80 to 110 toes of water and if the fish aren’t there, regularly transfer to 40 to 60 toes. For the reason that kings could possibly be at any depth, use two riggers, two divers, an inline board with leadcore and maybe one rod with 300 toes of metal,” Tuck suggests. “High lure selections are bodybaits, J-Plugs, Kwikfish, and flasher/fly combos in shades of chartreuse or white.”
Tremendous tip: Offshore
The hour earlier than dawn and close to sundown will normally be lively durations for chinook. They may transfer into shallow water, 40 to 60 toes, overevening however will transfer after dawn to 90 to 100 toes and hug backside. Don’t make the error of working over the fish close to dawn. Begin shallow and troll out.
Tremendous tip: Piers
A full moon and onshore wind will typically pull chinook into the harbour entrance even with out heavy rainfall. Tossing glo-color spoons will typically produce early run fish close to the tip of the pier in low mild circumstances.
Stage 2: Harbour and pier
The final week in August and the primary week in September is normally when chinook transfer to harbours and rivermouths. Any rain in late August will stimulate near-shore motion. Fish will maintain in 30 toes of water and cruise off the tip of the piers and with any improve in river movement, will enter the harbour.
A few days of heavy rains will set off the primary run of salmon.
Harbour and pier strategies
Quite a lot of strategies could be utilized successfully, together with fishing from small boats and kayaks and shore fishing from breakwalls and piers. Fishing out of kayaks and canoes is turning into more and more widespread. Drew Baker gained the 2021 kayak division and positioned second in 2022 within the Silver Salmon Problem.
“I exploit a 14-foot Hobie with a bow-mount electrical and pedal propulsion. The kayak permits for a silent presentation and doesn’t trouble shallow chinook,” he stated.
When he’s trying to find staging chinook, Baker prefers a trolling velocity of two.3 to 2.5 mph (3.7 to 4 km/h). Rapala J-13s and Luhr Jensen J-Plugs are his prime lure selections. He additionally suggests trolling in a zig-zag sample to maximise space of presentation.
Casting and drifting
Eliminating piers and drift fishing with roe are confirmed strategies when salmon first enter the harbour. Chinook are aggressive and can hit lures with a reflex-type chunk. Nathan Musclow, a well known pier angler, favours chartreuse Rapala J-13s and LiveTarget smelt as physique baits. As for spoon alternative, blue/silver, ¾-ounce Acme Little Cleos and bloodnose, and ¾ -ounce Moonshine lures are beneficial.
“Use a quick, jerky retrieve with the spoons and a gradual regular retrieve with the plugs,” he suggests.
Contemporary lower chunks of skeined chinook roe could be drifted below a float or held in a stationary place with a lead weight and floating roe bag or dropshot approach.
Many anglers treatment their roe with industrial merchandise.
Finest guess spots
These places in alphabetical order are angler picks primarily based on availability of boat ramps, piers, and river entry.
Lake Ontario
- Bowmanville Creek
- Bronte Creek
- Credit score River
- Duffins Creek
- Ganaraska River
- Niagara River
- Oshawa Creek
- Port Dalhousie
- Wilmot Creek
Lake Huron
- Beaver River
- Bighead River
- Nottawasaga River
- Sauble River
- Saugeen River
- St. Mary’s River
- Sydenham River
Lake Superior
Stage 3: The River
Inside a few days of coming into rivermouths, chinook will begin to transfer upstream if there’s a present movement to facilitate motion. Large rains a few days aside will get salmon on the transfer. Pre-planning for river fishing is crucial, which means you have to scout your fishing areas. Public water could be crowded, so attempt to fish on weekdays or early morning at dawn. The selection anglers face is whether or not to fish a big river which has a much bigger run of fish however could be crowded or select to fish smaller streams with fewer fish and anglers.
Gram Bristow of ontariotroutandsteelhead.com, some of the revered trout/salmon river guides in Ontario, has a easy recreation plan for achievement.
“Search for giant holes upstream from lengthy sections of shallow water and rapids. These three- to seven-foot holes present the salmon with a way of safety,” he says. “I favor to fly fish for salmon utilizing nymphing strategies resembling indicator nymphing or euro nymphing. Egg flies, worm flies, Woolly Buggers, egg-sucking leeches, and nymph patterns in sizes six to 10 are efficient.”
When guiding purchasers for salmon, his most efficient baits below a float are roe, eight-millimetre beads, four-inch plastic worms, and the identical synthetic flies used when fly fishing.
Tremendous ideas: Rivermouths
Dean Lapham, information (redwoodcharters.com), has this recommendation. “Within the Saint Marys River in Sault Ste. Marie, my prime producing lures are Lyman plugs and Luhr Jensen J-Plugs in inexperienced finishes. Trolling quick at 3 to 4 km/h appears to set off bites.”
Rivers
Graham Bristow additionally shares this tip for rivers. “Flies with some flash work extraordinarily nicely for salmon and one in every of my simplest patterns is a Prince Nymph with peacock herl. Utilizing the lightest potential chief will double the variety of hookups however a pacesetter that’s too mild will trigger breakoffs. Strive working a ten pound chief.”
King details: Chinook salmon stocking and pure replica knowledge
Lake Huron
The MNRF doesn’t inventory, however the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) member golf equipment run hatcheries and contribute to chinook stocking. Estimates are that greater than 80% of all chinook caught in Lake Huron are a results of pure replica.
Lake Ontario
Each Ontario and New York State inventory yearly. About 50% of all chinook are from pure replica.
Lake Superior
OFAH member membership hatcheries and pure replica.
