We’re coming off a scorcher of a weekend. The last several days have brought extreme heat across southern Ontario and changed the fishing quite a bit. While that has made trout fishing tough in most places, we’re heading into a more seasonable stretch of weather and seeing some excellent opportunities on the warmwater front~ If you’re itching to get out, this coming weekend is shaping up nicely.
Trout Update: Watch Those Water Temps
We’re now into summer mode, and that means monitoring water temperature closely when planning your trout outings. At the moment, most of our freestone rivers are too warm to fish ethically.
For reference:
- The recommended cutoff for catch-and-release trout fishing is 20°C (68°F).
- This week, the Credit River is running around 25°C, which is well beyond safe limits.
Even in cases where fish are rising or feeding, hooking them in water that warm severely impacts their chances of recovery—so best to give those fisheries a break until things cool off.
Grand River: Still an Option (With Caution)
The one exception for trout is the upper Grand River, especially above Fergus, where cold outflow from Shand Dam is still keeping water temperatures in the safe zone. As that water travels downstream, however, it warms quickly, so make sure to check your thermometer regularly.
If you're heading out for trout this weekend:
- Focus your time early in the morning, when temps are coolest.
- Use heavier tippet to land fish quickly.
- Avoid drawn-out fights and keep handling to a minimum.
- It’s a good time to shift your focus toward warmwater species—and fortunately, there’s no shortage of options.
Bass Season in Full Swing
Bass opener in Zone 17 (including the Kawarthas) just kicked off last weekend, and this coming weekend sees most of the remaining zones opening up as well. We’re right on schedule for a classic Ontario bass season, and the weather is aligning nicely.
Bass are still hanging fairly shallow coming off the spawn, and most of the fish are feeding actively in:
- Weedy flats
- Creek mouths
- Shallow shoreline structure
- Look for submerged vegetation, rock transitions, or fallen timber—these areas offer both ambush points and food.
Bass Flies to Consider:
Topwater fishing is at its best right now. With warm surface temps and low fishing pressure early in the season, poppers and other topwater fli are an excellent choice.
- Large deer hair bass bugs are ideal for aggressive fish.
- Smaller options like Rio PTO Poppers are perfect if you’re casting with a lighter rod (6 to 8 weight).
- In quiet back bays, swap out loud poppers for something more subtle like the Rio Soft Chew, which won’t spook skittish fish in glassy water.
Subsurface options:
- Crayfish patterns like the MFC Marty Craw work well around rocks and vegetation.
- Minnow patterns like the Rio Kreelex Crawler are also excellent when fish are chasing bait.
Carp, Gar, and Other Warmwater Action
If you’re looking to stay cool while still getting into fish, carp fishing in the Great Lakes and inland lakes is in full swing. We were out this week and had excellent conditions with numerous fish hooked and landed!
The bonus of chasing carp this time of year? You can leave the waders at home. Throw on a pair of shorts and wade the flats —water clarity is excellent and sight fishing opportunities are plentiful.
What to target:
- Carp: Now showing up in greater numbers in Lake Ontario and other large lakes. Use goby, crayfish, or large nymphs.
- Gar: Often found in warmer back bays—target them with slim baitfish patterns.
- Freshwater Drum (Sheepshead): Another underrated and strong-fighting option if you want to diversify your day.
- All of these species are active and accessible, whether you're fishing from a boat or on foot!
In summary:
- Avoid most trout rivers (except for coldwater stretches of the Grand).
- Take full advantage of bass season—we’re heading into peak action.
- Explore warmwater species like carp, gar, and drum, especially in the heat.
If you need help figuring out where to go, what gear to bring, or which flies are fishing best, get in touch with us or swing by the shop—we’re always happy to help you get set up.
Good luck out there, and we’ll see you on the water.
