Labor Day weekend is here, and with it comes some of the best late-summer fishing opportunities in Southern Ontario. While the shop will be closed Saturday through Monday for the holiday, make sure to stop by beforehand to stock up on flies, gear, and supplies for what’s shaping up to be a fantastic long weekend on the water.

This time of year feels like the unofficial kickoff to fall fishing. Rather than the end of a season, late August marks the beginning of several great ones, trout, bass, musky, and salmon are all in play right now. Here’s what to expect in this week’s Southern Ontario Fly Fishing Forecast for August 27th.

While the Grand River remains on the warm side, most other trout streams across the region have cooled down nicely, making them fishable throughout the day. The Credit River, for example, has stayed under 20°C for several days, opening up full-day trout fishing opportunities.

Expect trout to hold in broken water, riffles, and undercut banks rather than slow, glassy pools. Think of September as a “second opener” where fish are well-rested after a hot summer and often more willing to eat.

Nymphs: Small pheasant tails and hare’s ears in sizes 14–18

Dry Flies: Terrestrials like ants and small hoppers, caddis, blue-winged olives (18–20), and ISO mayflies (size 14, with an Adams working well).

Streamers: Smaller patterns for clear water, with larger streamers reserved for rainy or low-light conditions.

Late summer and early fall bring out some of the best bass fishing of the year. Shorter days and cooler weather have smallmouth aggressively feeding to bulk up before winter. Streamers and baitfish imitations are excellent choices now, Clouser Minnows, synthetic baitfish, and perch or bluegill patterns depending on the lake. Bigger flies not only help cover water but also attract larger fish.

Topwater is also prime. Cloudy days or light rain make conditions perfect for poppers like the MFC Bombshell, which can call fish up from a long way off.

Much like bass, musky and pike are in heavy feeding mode this time of year. Look for fish in shallow water, particularly near green weed beds or along inside edges close to shore.

Larger patterns such as the MFC Yard Sale are great choices for enticing these apex predators. Early fall also means these fish are putting on weight fast, making now a great time to target trophy-sized fish.

Salmon are beginning to show up across Southern Ontario rivers. Cooler temperatures and rain events are moving fish upstream, and we’ve already had reports of salmon in multiple systems. Eastern and northern rivers will usually see fish first, but action will quickly spread across the region.

Swing by the shop or call for the latest river reports before heading out. Things can change quickly at this stage of the season.

Enjoy the holiday weekend, and if you need advice on where to go or what to fish, don’t hesitate to reach out to us before the shop closes for Labor Day.