Great Lakes Pacific Salmon Fly Fishing | Ontario Pacific Salmon

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Ontario has a large number of premiere steelhead and salmon fly fishing rivers. The Great Lakes are massive inland freshwater seas that are the perfect habitat for these giant migratory species from the west coast.

Ontario Pacific Salmon Migration - Timing

Beginning in late August, as cool, fall rains begin, migratory fish begin to enter rivers or stage at river mouths and estuaries along the great lakes shores. Coho, Chinook and even some Pink Salmon begin their final phase of life here. After a few years of growing in these giant inland seas, the salmonids begin their mating ritual by staging in large numbers at the mouths of the larger (and some smaller) rivers waiting for just the right moment to rocket upstream, usually many kilometres, to reach the place at which they were born. Once in their natal streams, the males, or bucks, battle it out in an attempt to pair up with a female, spawn, and shortly after.both male and female will die.

Ontario Pink Salmon

Usually, but not always as mother nature likes to play a wild card now and then, the Pinks are the first to return from mid-summer to fall. Pinks are the smallest of Ontarios salmonids, not growing much larger than about 24, with average weights in the range of 3-7 lbs. Not huge fish, but fun and very willing to take a well presented fly.

Ontario Chinook Salmon

From roughly the end of August until early October, Chinooks enter the rivers in large numbers. Chinook Salmon are the heftiest of the salmonids in Ontario. On average, Chinooks reach lengths of 36 or more, and easily weigh in excess of 30 lbs. These fish will put your gear through hell!! If you are targeting Chinooks, use heavy rods in the 8-10wt range, combined with a reel that holds plenty of backing. Chinnies will strip a hundred feet of line off of your reel in an instant.be ready for it!

Ontario Coho Salmon

Towards the end of September, Coho salmon begin their migration upstream. Cohos are not overly large fish, and fall somewhere between Pinks and Chinooks in size. Average lengths of Coho Salmon in the great lakes are around 24 with some larger fish available. These fish usually weigh in at roughly 8 12 lbs.

Ontario Salmon Fly Fishing Techniques

For the most part, once Pacific Salmon have entered the rivers, they are not going to be actively feeding. Fishing estuaries and river mouths can produce some fish that are still feeding on baitfish, making streamer fishing a definite option if you encounter actively feeding fish. Once these fish have moved upstream, their brains are thinking only about mating. Your fly really has to come very close to these fishes line of sight, and they will strike more out of aggression than anything else. Both small and large nymphs are effective patterns to use, as are woolly buggers and streamers. Match your tippet size to water clarity, always going as heavy as you can to avoid break offs from these massive fish. Single egg patterns are key flies as well. Youll find salmon cleaning up on lost, drifting eggs as they tumble downstream. There are several theories as to why salmon pick up these eggs as they float downstream. My favourite theory is competition. Adult salmon are picking up these eggs in an attempt to give their own offspring a better chance at survival by reducing what may become competing salmon parr several months down the road.

Ontario Salmon Fly Fishing Equipment:

8-10wt rods
Floating line to match rod weight
Large arbour reel with a capacity of 100-150 yards of backing plus fly line
Waders with felt soled or studded boots

Ontario Salmon Fly Fishing Flies

Nymphs
Woolly Buggers, zonkers, mickey fins
Egg patterns in various colours and sizes.

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Last Updated on Wednesday, 24 March 2010 13:07

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Fly Fish Ontario is an independent provider of news and information for Fly Fishing in Ontario. Featured areas of FFO include free fly fishing videos, articles, fly tying patterns, Ontario River profiles and access information for those rivers. Email us at: info@flyfishontario.ca.

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