Nothing like a day on the water... close by

By Brent Bochek

Being a full-time fishing guide/charter captain, I am fortunate to spend more than my fair share of time on the water fishing. Ontario has an abundance of fishing opportunities for a wide variety of species.

As much as I love a good road trip to fish destinations hours from home, the Niagara Peninsula is a world class fishery that many people travel from far and wide to explore.

Many of my personal best fish have been caught within an hour of my home.

Let us look at some of the fabulous species we have here right on our doorstep.

Lake Ontario is one of the finest salmon and trout fisheries of all the Great lakes. Every year salmon over 30 lbs are caught and every now and then the magical 40lb plateau is reached. The Niagara shoreline from Grimsby to the Niagara River is the hottest fishery the lake has to offer in the spring. As early as March, boats of all sizes can be seen trolling the shoreline in search of chinook salmon, lake trout and brown trout. The influence of species. One day in particular last May, in just a few hours during an afternoon we caught 6 different species. Walleye, pike, bowfin, sheepshead (freshwater drum), carp and channel cat all came out to play.

Continued From Page 19 of the Niagara River and other tributaries bringing warmer water into the lake attracting baitfish and, in turn, attracting the larger predator fish.

As the water warms up around early to mid May, these fish will start to leave the shallows in search of cooler waters.

Forty-five minutes to an hour south is Lake Erie. Lake Erie is known for its tremendous walleye, perch and smallmouth bass fishing.

We have caught carp up to 30 lbs, walleye just over 12 lbs and channel cats up to 20 lbs all here in our backyard. My biggest musky was also caught close to home in the Niagara River.

Every year walleye over 10 lbs are caught along

Craig Battle with a big Channel cat caught minutes from his home. with smallmouth bass over six lbs.

Although the eastern end of Lake Erie from Long Point to the headwaters of the Niagara River has resident walleye, large school of migratory fish make their way from the western end where they spawn in places like the Detroit River and arrive here, usually late June. When this happens, it is not uncommon to catch your limit of these tasty creatures.

One of the hidden gems of the Niagara peninsula is the Grand River. From the dam in Caledonia all the way to the mouth in Port Maitland, there is always something to fish for. Although the waters are murky due to the clay runoff, the fish of the Grand have no problem finding your baits.

It’s not uncommon to spend a day fishing the Grand and catch a multitude

If you’re interested in learning more about the fabulous fishing we have here, stop in at your local tackle retailer and ask questions. Not only will they have up to date fishing information, but they will also have the necessary equipment along with the hot baits.

So, before planning that fishing trip up north hours away, look and see what the area has to offer. You might just be surprised and catch a fish of a lifetime.

Note: The Ministry of Natural Resources publishes a summary of the fishing regulations every year and these can usually be picked up at tackle stores.

It is also available online through their website. Make sure to check the regulations to see what is in season and any size restrictions.