If you were on the rivers last weekend, you already know steelhead fishing was phenomenal across Southern Ontario. Between friends and shop staff, we saw many fish landed on the swing, with consistent reports coming from western and central systems alike. There’s no doubt about it, the fish are here, and the season is in full swing.

Looking ahead, things are shaping up for another excellent weekend of fishing.

We’ve got another solid dose of rain on the way for Friday, which should help keep rivers active and full of fresh fish. Rainfall totals will vary quite a bit depending on where you are in the province, anywhere from 5mm to over 20mm, so conditions are going to differ from river to river.

That means some systems may be running borderline high by Saturday, while others will stay in great shape right through the weekend. The best approach? If you’re able to get out for both days, plan to hop between rivers, time your outings as it drops back into shape. That way, you’ll stay right in the prime window as water levels fluctuate.

Either way, expect good flows, fresh fish, and excellent opportunities across the region.

The steelhead are spread throughout the systems right now, holding in all kinds of water, from the heads of pools and riffles to the guts and tailouts. Temperatures are cooling, but it’s far from winter conditions, so fish remain aggressive and willing to move for a fly.

You don’t need to go super deep just yet. Light sink tips, like a slow-sink poly leader or an intermediate tip are more than enough for most situations. Only if your chosen river gets heavier rain and rises significantly would you need to step up to a faster-sinking setup.

As for flies, unweighted patterns are still our go-to's, keeping you versatile in riffles and pocket water without hanging up. Carry a few lightly weighted flies for higher or dirtier water, and make sure to have a mix of colors, natural tones for clear conditions and darker or more contrasting patterns like black and purple for stained flows.

For those float fishing or nymphing, egg patterns continue to be very productive, but with an important seasonal shift, most salmon have now finished spawning, so their eggs have aged and lost that bright orange color.

Now’s the time to fish lighter, milkier tones, soft pinks, off-whites, and pale peaches to better match what’s naturally in the drift. This small change can make a huge difference, especially on pressured rivers where fish have seen a lot of bright patterns already.

With cooler water and some color to the water, worms are also becoming a key producer. Whether you prefer a Squirmy Wormy, San Juan, or plastic worm, these profiles get noticed. Larger worms are particularly effective now as fish look for easy, high-protein meals in stained water.

And don’t forget about nymphs, classics like Hare’s Ears, Pheasant Tails, and Prince Nymphs still shine in clear or pressured conditions. While the big stoneflies tend to take over later in the season, smaller nymphs are still a staple through late fall.

All signs point to another great weekend of steelheading across Southern Ontario. With fresh fish moving and favorable flows in many systems, there’s no better time to hit the water. Pack a range of sink tips, bring both natural and dark fly options, and adjust your eggs and worms to the changing conditions.

As always, if you’re unsure where to go or how to rig for the weekend, get in touch with us at the shop, we’re happy to help you get dialed in. Tight lines, and we’ll see you on the water.