Fishing Forecast for Oct 16th

It's Chris here with your fishing forecast for October 16th! Before we dive into this week’s forecast, just a couple of reminders: We’ve got some fly tying and casting classes coming up. This weekend, we've got the second round of the Spey School, and there are still a couple of spots left. So, if you’ve been wanting to up your Spey casting game, definitely check that out while you can.

Our October 30th fly tying class with Nick Roman is sold out, but we still have a couple of spots left for the centerpin tying class this Saturday. There's also a beginner fly tying lesson next Wednesday that you might want to check out.

Now, let's talk fishing. The weather looks nice this week—cool temperatures, almost borderline cold—so don’t forget your gloves when you head out. This is great news for steelhead and salmon fishing. Right now, we're mostly focused on steelhead and brown trout, which are starting to show up.

We haven’t had much rain this week, so focus on rivers with better water flows. This includes larger rivers like the Grand, Saugeen, Niagara, Nottawasaga and others that have consistent water levels. Smaller rivers with good groundwater are also worth exploring. Instead of rivers like the Don, which flows through Toronto and has a lot of concrete around it, consider heading to some of the eastern tributaries with better groundwater supplies. These rivers tend to attract early fish as well.

If you’d like specific recommendations on where we’d go ourselves, don’t hesitate to get in touch—we’d be happy to help.

When it comes to early-season steelhead, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, they’re not always going to be in the same spots they’ll be in during the winter. Early season, you’ll want to focus on the heads of pools, riffles, and pocket water. These areas are often neglected but are great places to find early-season fish. The more oxygen-rich water at the heads of pools provides better cover for the fish, especially when water levels are lower and clearer.

Also, downsize your patterns this time of year. Instead of fishing with big, bright flies—whether they’re streamers, nymphs, or big egg flies—go smaller. We’re big fans of smaller nymphs, paler egg flies, and small baitfish patterns like the "White Death." These allow you to cover water quickly without spooking the fish.

We’re definitely hearing more and more reports of steelhead being caught every day, so things are shaping up nicely. Hopefully, these tips will help you get into those early-season fish.

Lastly, if you’re itching to fish for resident trout after the regular trout season closed, there are still some great opportunities. This can be a fun time of year to target resident trout. There are a few rivers within a decent driving distance from Toronto that offer excellent rainbow and brown trout fishing. You can even get on some dry fly action this time of year, which can be a lot of fun.

Don’t forget about the U.S. side, either. A lot of people neglect it, but you can get to New York or Pennsylvania within a few hours of Toronto, even with the border crossing. It’s a great option for a day trip, with the potential for resident trout and some October dry fly action.

If you’re unsure where to start, we can definitely point you in the right direction. We’ve done it ourselves and love it as a way to mix up our fishing routine. A lot of people think it’s too far, but it’s an easy day trip and definitely worth considering for your weekend fishing plans.

We hope this helps! As always, if you have any questions, feel free to get in touch, and we’ll be happy to help.