For migratory fish, rain is something you should be paying close attention to. A good rainfall can raise river levels, add some colour to the water, and, most importantly, encourage fish to leave the lakes and move upstream. It doesn't necessarily mean that you want to run out and fish immediately after the rain, though. Rivers can become high, dirty, and even dangerous following a major storm. Instead, think about the rain as setting the table for the fishing that follows.
Once water levels begin to settle and the river starts to clear, you can have some excellent opportunities. This is especially true on smaller systems, where a relatively modest increase in flow can have a noticeable effect on fish movement. We're already seeing salmon spread into more river systems, and with cooler nights, longer hours of darkness, and additional rainfall, that trend should continue through the weekend and into the coming weeks.
There are still some rivers that are considerably more productive than others at this stage of the season. Early in the migratory season, fish don't necessarily distribute themselves evenly across the province. Some systems receive significant numbers of fish very early, while others won't really get going until later in September. If you're planning a trip and want to make the most of your time, this is one of those situations where a little local information can make a huge difference. Get in touch with us before you head out and we can help point you toward the waters that are producing.
Salmon and Migratory Trout
If you're targeting salmon this weekend, higher water following the recent rain is a good opportunity to adjust your fly selection. When rivers have some colour and additional flow, don't be afraid to make your flies bigger, brighter, and easier for fish to find.
Eggs, worms, nymphs, and leech or bugger-style patterns are all excellent choices. Under an indicator, larger and more visible patterns can be particularly effective when the water has some stain to it. If you're fishing eggs, this is a good time to reach for larger patterns and brighter colours. Chartreuse, bright pink, orange, and other high-contrast options can stand out extremely well when visibility is reduced.
The same principle applies to the migratory brown trout and early steelhead that are beginning to show up alongside the salmon. These fish are often highly opportunistic at this stage of the season, and salmon eggs are an important food source as soon as the salmon begin spawning. Bright egg patterns can therefore be extremely effective, particularly when the river has some colour.
As the water begins to clear later in the weekend, however, it's worth changing gears. What works well in dirty, high water can suddenly become much less effective once the river drops and clears. As visibility improves, start moving toward smaller, more natural and muted patterns. This is one of the most important adjustments you can make throughout the day or over the course of a weekend: match your flies to the water conditions you're dealing with.
Don't Overlook the Trout
The migratory fishing is exciting right now, but our resident trout fisheries are also in excellent shape. The upper Credit and several other trout rivers are now holding temperatures that allow for much longer fishing days than we were seeing earlier in the summer.
We've had a few warmer days recently, but the forecast is calling for cooler overnight temperatures and daytime highs in the low to mid-20s. Those cooler nights are particularly important because they give the rivers more opportunity to shed heat overnight. On suitable systems, that can mean fishable temperatures throughout much of the day.
As always, bring a thermometer and check your water temperature regularly. Conditions can vary significantly between rivers, and even a river that starts the morning at a good temperature can warm considerably later in the day. But with the current forecast, there should be some excellent opportunities to get out and enjoy a full day of trout fishing.
Fly selection for resident trout is going to depend heavily on water conditions. In clear, low water, the classic late-summer approach remains a great one: smaller nymphs, natural colours, subtle presentations, and terrestrials. Fish have had plenty of time to see anglers and flies throughout the summer, so scaling down can make a significant difference.
The recent rain, however, creates another opportunity that is worth taking advantage of.
If you find yourself on a river with elevated or slightly stained water, don't be afraid to throw a streamer. This can be particularly interesting for brown trout as we move toward fall. Brown trout are fall-spawning fish, and as we get closer to that period, larger fish can become increasingly aggressive and territorial.
A good bump in water following a rain event can therefore be an excellent time to experiment with larger streamers. You don't necessarily need to spend the entire day throwing giant flies, but having a few larger patterns in the box and giving them a shot during periods of increased flow can produce some very exciting fishing.
Don't Forget About Bass
If you're heading up to cottage country for the long weekend, there are still plenty of opportunities for warm-water species as well. Bass and musky remain excellent options, and Labor Day weekend is a great excuse to get out and enjoy some of that last stretch of summer fishing.
Bass fishing in particular can still be very good, especially during the lower-light periods of the day. Poppers and streamers can all produce, and if you're fishing clear, heavily pressured water, don't be afraid to downsize.
This is also a great time of year to experiment a little. The fish have seen a lot of anglers and a lot of flies throughout the summer, so a smaller streamer, lighter tippet, or more subtle presentation can sometimes be exactly what it takes to turn a follow into an eat.
Whatever you're targeting this weekend, though, the big story is the transition into fall. Cooler nights, shorter days, rain, and rising river levels are all signs that we're moving into one of the most exciting periods of the Ontario fishing calendar.
The next few weeks are going to see a major increase in migratory fish activity, while resident trout fishing continues to improve. If you've been waiting for the fall season to arrive, it's here.
One final reminder: we'll be closed Friday and Saturday this week while we're out on the water ourselves. If you need flies, leaders, tippet, or advice before heading out, make sure to get in touch with us ahead of the weekend and we'll get you set up.
Have a great long weekend, enjoy the water, and we'll see you on the river.
