The salmon and trout fishing in Ontario seems to get better each year. The re-introduction of the Great Salmon Hunt has sparked a fury of anglers heading out to brave the big waters in search of that derby winning fish and a shot at over $1,000,000 in prizes. Many of the tackle stores are once again loading their shelves with every spoon and plug imaginable, as well as all the necessities such as downriggers, rods, reels and electronics. Over the last few years Lake Ontario has gone through a few major changes. Some changes have been good, yet the effects of others are still to be determined. Whatever the case, the fishing is hot and the fish are big. Last year, anglers were throwing back 30lb salmon like it was no big deal. Ten years ago, a 30lb salmon was a guaranteed weekly prize. However, now a 30lb salmon may only hold 10th place. In turn, warmer winters mean longer growing seasons. An abundance of food and clear waters makes it easier for the salmon to find their prey. New anglers are eager to tangle with these arm busting, reel burning salmon that love to bite a properly presented lure. However, there is much more involved in catching prize-winning fish than simply dropping down a line and trolling across the lake.
If you are planning on rigging up your boat to get in on the action, you are going to need to purchase some downriggers. Downriggers are essential because they get your line down to the fish. It is a good idea not to spend too much money. Match your downriggers to your fishing needs. If you are fishing several times per week, naturally you will want to buy the best units you can afford. However, if you are only out occasionally, the top of the line equipment is not necessary. This stands true for the majority of your equipment. Buy your rods and reels in accordance with your fishing needs. There are a few manufacturers that make affordable, good quality rod and reel combos that will stand up to a 30lb fish. The one piece of equipment that is vital is your depth finder of fish finder, as this is your bloodline to the deep world below. A good unit should have a maximum depth of over 400 feet. It should also display surface temperature, boat speed, distance travelled as well as an optional G.P.S display. Most top of the line units offer these features. The G.P.S. is important when you are fishing a lake the size of Lake Ontario. It is useful not only for marking certain locations but if you get stranded you can pinpoint your location to enable the Coast Guard or fellow boaters to find you.
Another necessity to have on your Great Lakes fishing boat is a V.H.F. radio. Many anglers don't realize how important this piece of equipment is. Several boaters, as well as fishermen will agree that having a V.H.F. on their boat has probably saved their lives at some point in time. Most large boats have a V.H.F. but most people fishing from smaller fishing vessels feel it's not necessary to spend the money. If you plan on fishing out in the lake, you must have a V.H.F. If you were fishing when a storm or fog crept up on you or even if you simply had problems with your boat, your V.H.F. radio would be the best way to get help fast (i.e. Coast guard). It also tunes into a weather channel for the latest weather and marine conditions to help you stay safe. I can remember a few times being out on the water and hearing a storm warning, but the sky around me was clear and calm. I decided I wasn't going to take any chances. By the time I got my lines up I could see the storm coming and I made it to shore just in time. That extra five minutes I spent listening to my V.H.F. saved me from 40 km/hr winds and a storm I would have remembered for a long time.
When purchasing a unit you don't have to spend a lot of money. A good quality radio can be purchased for a few hundred dollars and won't take up a lot of room on your boat. Another major advantage to having a radio on board is the ability to be able to communicate with other anglers. Much of the advice I received to help me increase my downrigging success, was from the regular anglers at the local marina. I will admit, much of my success as a new angler to the lake, came from their guidance and advice. I listened to my V.H.F. and could communicate with other anglers when we were out on the water. This helped me learn different techniques for which I am thankful. I am sure that the many anglers at other marinas will be just as happy and willing to share their tips and techniques!
Having worked in a local tackle shop for several years, I can remember being asked many times about the different shapes and sizes of cannon balls. Well, there are many different cannon balls on the market but they are all basically the same and have the same purpose (to get your line down to the fish). The standard shape is the round cannon ball style, which is perfectly fine for most fishermen. The only set-back to these cannon balls is that they put a lot of drag on your downrigger cable especially at great depths. The solution to this is the "pancake" cannon ball, which is thin and streamlines to enable it to cut through the water much easier and with less drag. One key advantage to the cannon balls is that they provide greater depth control of your lures. At a depth of 100 feet, depending on how fast you are trolling, a standard ball may lose you 10-20 feet. This means if the downrigger counter reads 100 feet, your spoons are only 80-90 feet down. With a more streamlined cannon ball such as a pancake, the drag is much less and you have more control of your lures. This is very important in certain situations when precise depth control is essential. Many anglers don't take this into consideration. It is a small tip, but if you can learn how to judge the actual depth of your cannon balls, I guarantee it will pay off.
What you can do is run a cheater line, which is a piece of line 5-8 feet in length with a snap swivel at both ends. One end has the spoon and the other clips onto your main line and the movement of the boat will pull your spoon down about halfway to the cannon ball. This gives you the chance to test new colors while keeping your successful lures in the water.
One thing to remember is that at various depths, all colors reflect light differently. On a warm, sunny, clear day, the sunlight penetrates the water very deep. On a day like this anything silver seems to produce well. In contrast, on a cloudy, windy day the fish seem to respond best to dull colors. Basically, if you put time in on the water you will learn which color pattern and size will work best for you on any given day. Finally, I would like to stress that the Great Lakes are large and can sometimes be very unforgiving. If you plan on venturing out onto any of these lakes, take the extra safety precautions. The salmon and trout fishing on the Great Lakes is among the best in the world. More and more people are enjoying the fantastic fishing that is available. Try these few tips and techniques to help you get started and improve your catch.
