Archive for November, 2010

Even though a couple of my friends thought it was a little too wet to fish this morning.  My puppy Mulligan and I headed off for Eighteen Mile Creek in Olcott, NY.  When we arrived there were few vehicles in the parking lot which usually means poor fishing conditions.  As we got closer to the water it was obvious it was pretty discolored.  Visibility was only about 4″ and it was brown.  I used the Rapala prototype R-Type baitcaster and Shift baitcasting reel again and stuck to using a white streamer-fly and concentrated on fishing the back-edies around boulders.  Considering the poor water color, I still had four fish on (2 rainbows, 1 coho, and 1 brown).  As things turned out I only landed the brown which was the smallest fish of the four.  Fishing across from me was Jake Wargala who landed two nice rainbows and lost a few big fish.  I’m off to greet anglers and outdoor enthusiasts at the opening of the new Ottawa, ON www.sail.ca store.  I’ll be back on the water on Thurs.

I took Mulligan, my pup down to the Niagara Whirlpool again yesterday around 2pm and was surprised to see so many anglers fishing during the week.  I am sure when the browns are in, the word get’s out fast.  The current was flowing in a clockwise position which was opposite from Fri., when it flowed in a counter-clockwise position (normal change for the Whirlpool).  The water was even more stained than on Fri., with visibility around 8″.  Most anglers were either bottom bouncing or drift-fishing spawn-sacks.  The bottom-bouncers were having the best results.  I only fished for about an hour casting Juhr Jensen Kwikfish.  I met one of my fans there RT, who was hoping to get a picture taken with me.  I told him that we should both fish and as soon as one of us hooks a brown we would take a picture.  Well RT was casting a glow-in the dark 3/8 oz. spoon and hooked the first brown.  No one was close to us to take a picture, so he held his trophy brown and I stretched out my arm and we had the image!  RT was very excited and I will quote him:

“Hi Italo, this is Rt.  You remember me?  It was a great day.  It must be a one of my luckiest day in my whole fishing life.  You know what?  I thought I was in fishing show with you on that time.  It was really good.  I say thank to you.  Also, I attached picture and hope you see you again. You have a good day.  RT”

Rt runs a sandwich shop in one of the Hamilton, ON government building and it was a pleasure to meet him.  Hopefully I’ll see him on the river again.

Gabor Horvat reports.  Yesterday my friend Patryk and I went again to the Port Dalhousie harbor fishing for brown trout.  When we arrived around 7:30AM, there were already many anglers there. The fishing action was steady, but not hot.  The usual three way presentation with a 3-5 foot lead with a small sharp hook and row bag worked for me. The key was bottom bouncing our rig within 2’ of the bottom.  The water clarity was a bit stained, producing very good fishing condition.

I landed 4 browns, Patryk landed 1 brown and lost few browns.  Surprisingly we did not see any steel-head action/catch. I am sure more rainbows will move in once the weather gets colder.

Wayne Sheridan reports: With the snow flying around, winter has arrived in southern Ontario. It is time to get out your snow tires and winterize your car. Don’t forget to place an emergency blanket in your car and some emergency supplies like candles. River bank edges are very slippery, please be cautious. Last weekend Lenny and Dave went fishing in Port Elgin but action was slow due to dirty water levels. They went and joined Andy and Mario in Southampton but they didn’t have any luck but Andy lost 2 nice rainbows just after they left.

River Flow Rates: moderate and dropping. Visibility 5ft

Saugeen River (Durham)  dropping at 1.1M, Saugeen River (Walkerton) dropping at 9.2M,  Saugeen at Port Elgin dropping at 8.278M, Sauble River (Sauble Falls) dropping at 1.282M, Sydenham River (Owen Sound) at 5.207M, Maitland River (above Wingham) down at 10.190M, French River at Woseley Bay at 187.025M, Bronte Creek near Zimmerman dropping at 5.92M, Credit River at Streetsville steady at 4.55M, Credit River at Orangeville down at 10.4M, Grand River (Doon), down at 4.12M (below Shand dam) at 1.6M, Rideau River at Ottawa up at 3.411M, Ottawa River at Britannia at 58.13M

Prime Fishing Times: Saturday December 4th, 2010: 10:37am to 11:33am (moon overhead), 11:02pm to midnight(moon underneath). New moon December 5^th, low moon December 6^th.

Flyfishing: Hex, egg patterns, bloodworms and minnows for larger trout

Always Fish Safely

Since this morning started below zero, Mulligan and I decided to sleep in until 6:30am, and then took our time to get down to the Niagara Whirlpool.  My goal was to test for the first time a brand new version of the Rapala Andros baitcasting reel which has been modified specifically for west-coast salmon & steelhead fishing.  I matched the reel with a Rapala North Coast Mooching Rod and Sufix 12 lb. Siege (similar lb. test is popular for big-river fishing in BC), and a slip-bobber rig.   I stared off fishing freshly tied brown trout spawn-sacks and also tried working weighted purple and white flies in the current.  The water visibility was a bout 1′, which is a little too stained for spawn-sacks, but ideal for artificials.  I ended up landing one nice female brown trout.  On hand to take a picture of me with the fish was Nathan who drove all the way from Port Dover, ON to fish the Niagara.  He recently caught the “steelheading-bug” and regularly makes the 1 1/2 hr. drive to fish the Niagara River.  Nathan said he had fished the Whirlpool before, but with no luck.  I asked him if he brought any Luhr Jensen Kwikfish with him and he said, yes.  He promptly selected 3-Kwikfish which were all the right size for fishing the Niagara.  I showed him how to righ the Kwikfish by adding a few large split-shot sinkers about 24″ up the line and also showed him the technique to work the Kwikfish in the current.  Well, on his first cast as he was retrieving slowly he nailed his first fish in the Niagara.  It got off, but shortly afterward he hooked another nice brown trout which he landed.  If you get a chance to fish the Whirlpool, it’s full of browns right now.  With stained water conditions the easiest way to catch them is by casting & retrieving a #5 or #7 Kwikfish.

All photos were taken by Joe Shugan, our audio technician.

What better way to celebrate the US Thanksgiving than to go fishing!!  And that’s exactly what the Canadian Sportfishing Team did along with about 150 US anglers on Eighteen Mile Creek in Newfane, NY.  I had scouted potential shore fishing locations in Upper NY, Mon., Tues., & Wed..  After having travelled to the Upper NY Lake Erie tributaries (which were high & dirty from 3-days of intensive rain), I also checked out the Upper NY Lake Ontario tributaries that flow between Niagara Falls, NY and Rochester, NY.  My decision was made to shoot a TV show, without waders and with the new Rapala R-Type light-line 11′ Steelhead baitcasting rod matched with a Shift baitcaster and loaded with Sufix Siege 8 lb. test orange/tangarine main line & Sufix 6 lb. test fluorocarbon leader.  I knew there would be lot’s of US anglers out and I wanted to capture the crowds, what great sportsman they are, and how clean they keep their tributaries, and it all came together.  I started off by giving viewers tips on drifting freshly tied brown trout spawn sacks and demonstrating the “line-feathering” technique that center-pin anglers achieve by letting the current take their float presentation with current maintaining the most natural drift.  This is easily achieved with the awesome Rapala light-line R-Type/Shift reel steelhead baitcasting outfit.  I also used the Lucky Strike Live Release Basket Net to safely land and release all of the fish caught on the show!  Within the first 1 hr. I was blessed to land two trophy female steelhead.  Both fought hard and one took be down-stream about 50 yds., before it let itself be netted.  American anglers are very curtious and anyone seeing you fighting a fish and walking it downstream stops fishing to let you fight and land your fish….now that’s sportsmanship!  They even offer to land the fish for you!!  From that point it rained steadily and we agreed it was timee for lunch.  We took a abreak and than headed down-stream where I switched to a 1/32 oz. white/jig fly and landed 3-additional trophy rainbows.  By that time the crowd of 150-anglers had gone down to 6-anglers.  I guess everyone was home enjoying a hot turkey dinner!  Besides the great fishing in Upper NY state, I am always impressed by how our American neighbours maintain healthy steelhead and brown trout stockings, how they have parking lots for anglers, portable toilets, garbage cans (recyclable and garbage) in the parking lot’s  and all along the tributaries.  They are so respectful of their outdoors that it’s hard to find a piece of garbage along the stream.  If you love tributary fishing, make sure to see this episode when it airs in the 2011-2012 series.  You will love the action and the great tips!  Now it’s time for me to test a new Rapala Andros steelhead model reel on the Niagara River…have a great weekend!

Don’t miss the great cold weather action this week as Italo, Gary and Grant target Walleye using Rapala Tail Dancer Crankbaits! ( G2 Angling www.g2angling.com
http://www.canadian-sportfishing.com/thisweeksepisode.html

We would encourage visitors to drop by and experience the thrill and excitment of our Canadian Sportfishing Interactive Fishing Simulator that will be available at the show. Our simulator will be easy to find as we are located behind the Outdoor Canada Stage located in Hall 1. ( or if you prefer Isle 100 booth 149 ).

Please note the DIY show hours and times are available below:
http://www.cottagelife.com/index.php?ci_id=47508&la_id=1

SHOW DAYS
Friday, Nov. 26: 11 am–8 pm
Saturday, Nov. 27: 9 am–6 pm
Sunday, Nov. 28: 10 am–5 pm

ADMISSION
Adults (18+): $15 at the door,
$13 online
Youth (13-17): $8
Kids under 13: free
Weekend pass: $22

Well, after the heavy rain we had two nights ago I decided to explore the Upper NY Lake Erie tributaries, but after arriving at a couple of the rivers just after day-break, they were high, dirty and un-fishable.  So, I decided to drive through Buffalo and Niagara Falls, NY . to Wilson, NY (on Lake Ontario), to check-out a couple of tributaries there.  My first stop was Eighteen Mile Creek in Newfane, NY and I did not get any further.  The water was a beautiful green color, flow was low, but the fish were there and taking well.  I have been testing a new Rapala R-Type light-line steelheading baitcaster matched with one of the new Shift baitcasters and Sufix Seige Orange/Tangarine 8 lb. test line and the outfit has been performing incredibly well.  Fishing with just my pup Mulligan yesterday I could not get any pictures, but today there were a few more people out and a couple of gentlemen were kind enough to take some photos of my fish.  Have a close look at the but/grip on this amazing Rapala baitcaster.  It casts extremely well, the free-spool is so smooth that you feel like you are letting the current take your line just like using a centre-pin reel, and when  fish hits, the reaction time is instant.  The rod is “spined” just right for using medium-size float rigs and has enough backbone to land even salmon.  As a matter a fact, my first fish yesterday was a bright silver female Chinook that still had eggs!

Noel Gyger reports.  Weather is extremely cold.  Daytime highs of only minus 5-7 degrees C. Steelhead and Trout are the only species targeted now.  It is just too cold for fishing, for most of us:-))  The Skeena River is in good shape. The Kalum River is in good shape. The Zymoetz (Copper) River is in good shape.  The Lakelse River is in good shape. Sorry, no reports from Smithers. They must be frozen. Fishing would be GREAT if it was NOT so cold!  The Kitimat River had clear blue skies and sunshine all week but there was a cold bite in the air with strong winds.  The weather was very nice for this time of year providing you dressed with warm fleece.  Douglas Channel; The sunny clear blue skies were accompanied with strong winds which discouraged most anglers from venturing out. Ferd Wuensche reports sneaking out for a bit on Wednesday and reports losing 2 Winter Chinook before the winds got too strong.  Prince Rupert; As predicted, the Winter Chinook have arrived. For those fishermen who venture out looking for some action on the water, I have heard of many anglers catching their limit of Chinooks in the past several days, averaging from 5 to 25lbs. This week guide reports came from Ron Wakita, Ariel Kuppers, Tracey Hittel and Jeff Carlson.

If you would like to book a comfortable, warm Charter Boat for Winter Chinook and Dungeness Crab please contact me anytime at, www.noelgyger.ca .