Sport Fishing - Port Colborne
Transcription
Sport Fishing - Port Colborne
Port Colborne, Ontario Niagara’s South Coast Sport Fishing Destination Port Colborne offers... World-Class Fishing in Port Colborne! Fishing in Port Colborne is an amazing experience, offering yearround world-class sport fishing. With access to Lake Erie and the Upper Niagara River, Port Colborne offers beautiful scenery and excellent fishing, as anglers from near and far have been coming to Port Colborne for decades to enjoy some of the best fishing in Southern Ontario. Well known for its trophy fish: Trout, Walleye and Bass, the upper Niagara River provides some of the best Bass fishing from June to November. One of Canada’s top fishing towns! Fishing enthusiasts across North America are taking notice of Niagara’s South Coast and the world-class fishing that can be found on Lake Erie. In a recent competition hosted by the World Fishing Network – an all-fishing television network, Port Colborne was recognized as one of the top ‘ultimate’ fishing towns in Canada. We’re extremely proud of this honour and welcome new visitors to come and experience all that Niagara’s South Coast has to offer. Lake Erie Lake Erie, the smallest of the Great Lakes in volume, measures 241 miles across and 57 miles from north to south, with a depth of 62 feet. Because it warms rapidly in the spring and summer and freezes frequently in the winter, Lake Erie is an ideal location to catch the Spring and Fall Salmon and Trout Run. Lake Erie is recognized as one of Ontario’s best fishing spots for Perch but anglers have a variety of options, as Walleye, Salmon and Trout are also thriving in Lake Erie. Year-round fishing Some of the greatest fishing in Port Colborne can be had in the winter. Despite being so cold outside, from January 1 to March 15, anglers can venture out on the ice (conditions permitting) and drop their lines for Yellow Perch, Lake Trout, tasty Whitefish and feisty Northern Pike. An oversized, paved, well maintained boat ramp that will accommodate almost all sizes of watercraft. Ample parking for trucks and trailers on-site. Two full service marinas with transient and seasonal slips. Marine supplies and fuel are available on-site at our marinas. Fish cleaning facilities at our boat ramp. Several tackle and bait shops and outfitters in the area. Charter companies to take you to the fish. Several multi-day tournaments with great prizes and entertainment. NIAGARA’S SOUTH COAST Sport Fishing Port Colborne, ON Port Colborne is located at the entrance of the Welland Canal, 20 minutes south of St. Catharines, 90 minutes from Toronto or 20 minutes from the Peace Bridge and Buffalo, NY. On Lake Erie, we are located on the north-eastern shore, between the Niagara River and the Grand River, right where the Welland Canal meets the lake. Ice fishing in Gravelly Bay has long been popular as it is typically frozen for several months every winter. Top tournament fishing Anglers of all ages come to Niagara’s South Coast to enjoy the waters off Port Colborne, catch some fish, and win prizes by competing in local fishing derbies and tournaments. Several local derbies and major tournaments bring new visitors to Port Colborne all year long. The 444 International Walleye Tournament is one of the most popular fishing tournaments on Lake Erie. Organized by the Port Colborne & District Conservation Club, this is an exciting event for professional and amateur anglers as well as the public. Visit www.portcolborne.ca/page/fishing for the latest tournament dates, details and links. Uncharted Unexpected Port Colborne’s Sugarloaf Marina Do you need a licence? The Province of Ontario requires most people to possess a valid fishing licence. You must have this licence with you at all times when you are fishing. While licences are required for both residents and non-residents, some restrictions do apply. The City of Port Colborne suggests contacting the Ministry of Natural Resources for more information about fishing licences. Call 1-800-387-7011, or visit www.outdoorscard.mnr.gov.on.ca. PORT COLBORNE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TOURISM & MARKETING 296 Fielden Avenue Port Colborne, ON L3K 4T6 Tel.: 905-834-1668 [email protected] SUGARLOAF MARINA 3 Marina Road Port Colborne, ON L3K 6C6 Tel.: 905-835-6644 [email protected] www.PortColborne.ca Top Catches of Niagara’s South Coast Lake Erie is home to many different species of fish and offers recreational anglers and sport fishing enthusiasts a wide range of fishing experiences. WARM WATER SPECIES AND THEIR HABITATS CARP Key Identifying Characteristics: “Whiskers” (barbels) beside mouth; colour varies from silver to olive-green, brassy or grey on the back and sides; belly is yellowish; lower fins are orange-red. Distribution/Habitat: Carp thrive in warm, shallow lakes and rivers that contain an abundance of aquatic vegetation. They adapt to a variety of conditions, tolerating all types of bottoms and water from clear to murky. Angling Tips: Carp are large, tough fish, capable of great speed and power. Place your bait directly on the bottom to hook these often-overlooked fish. Early in the morning and late in the evening are prime times for catching carp with rod and reel. Hot Spot Fishing Locations in Port Colborne, ON This map illustrates some of the better known fishing spots in Port Colborne. However, there are many great fishing locations throughout Niagara’s South Coast. We encourage you to consider the locations highlighted on the map, and also seek out your own favourite spots. Fly-fishing along the shores of Lake Erie is increasing in popularity with fly-fishers from across Southern Ontario. The conservation areas of Mud Lake and the Wainfleet Wetlands are also great destinations for fly-fishing, as well as passive shore fishing. In Gravelly Bay, Muskie fishing is superb for the month of June. Carp up to 40 lbs can be caught in the same area from May to August, with May and June being the best months. In the areas surrounding Port Colborne, excellent Perch fishing can be experienced in the waters off Point Abino (not marked on the map) to the east of Port Colborne. May and June are the best months at this location, although ice fishing can also be successful here. Year-round, the upper Niagara River is plentiful in numerous species, including Muskie, Pike, Walleye, Lake Trout, Brown Trout, Perch, and Bass. Ice fishing in Gravelly Bay has long been popular. Gravelly Bay is typically frozen for several months every winter. Blue Gill, Northern Pike, Perch, Crappie, and Bass have all been caught in great abundance during winter ice fishing. There is also good ice fishing off Sugarloaf Point for Perch. CHANNEL CATFISH Key Identifying Characteristics: Large, elongated fish; 4 pairs of dark barbels around the mouth; back is pale blue, pale olive, or grey; sides are lighter, often with black spots, and belly is grey to yellow to silver white. Distribution/Habitat: Channel catfish are found in a wide variety of warm water habitats in both lakes and streams. Angling Tips: Fish for channel cats in deep holes below riffles as well as under drift piles or overhanging banks and other protected areas. Although channel cats are active feeders all day long, they are often active during low light periods (dawn and dusk) and even through the night. LARGEMOUTH BASS Key Identifying Characteristics: Medium sized, deep bodied fish; back and sides green to olive, belly is yellow to white; body often has a broken horizontal stripe. Distribution/Habitat: Largemouth bass are adapted to a variety of habitats from clear, rocky lakes to shallow muddy ponds and slow-moving rivers. Largemouth bass prefer warm water with abundant aquatic vegetation. Angling Tips: Largemouth are often found in thick weeds and near sunken wood. Overhanging trees and docks also provide good largemouth hideouts. In most of the province bass season opens the 4th Saturday in June. Fishing is often best in the early morning and late evening as they tend to take shelter during the day. SMALLMOUTH BASS Key Identifying Characteristics: Medium sized, deep bodied fish; back and sides green to olive, belly is yellow to white; body often has dark vertical broken bars. Distribution/Habitat: Smallmouth bass are found in lakes and rivers that are clear and rocky. Bass concentrate around shoreline rocks and points as well as offshore shoals, often in deep water. Smallmouth bass are often found in habitat that is suitable for trout, but throughout a wider range of temperatures. Angling Tips: Fishing is often best in the early morning and late evening. Smallmouth bass can be found near deep underwater points, rocky shoals, submerged islands and weed edges. BLUEGILL Key Identifying Characteristics: Small, very deep bodied fish; back and sides green to brown with faint dark bars; belly is silver to yellow; ear flap is entirely black without a pale edge and a black spot can be found at the rear end of dorsal fin. Distribution/Habitat: Bluegills are generally found in warmer lakes, ponds, and slow-moving streams that are vegetated. Clear waters with moderate weed growth support the best bluegill populations. Angling Tips: Bluegill are part of a group of fish known as sunfish. Catching sunfish is generally easy, as they are aggressive feeders, take bait readily and fight well on light tackle. These fish are easily caught from shore and are accessible to most anglers. They will feed all day and can provide excellent action for children. in the summer and will bite all day. Strong sunlight will force them into covered areas so look for them near docks and sunken wood. These fish are easily caught from shore and are accessible to most anglers. Rock bass spend most of their time in a relatively small area. In late fall, they become nearly dormant, feeding very little. MUSKELLUNGE Key Identifying Characteristics: Very large, elongated fish; dark vertical bands on light background; at times spotted or clear; back may be green-gold, brown, grey or silver; sides are lighter and belly is beige to white. Distribution/Habitat: The muskellunge (or muskie) is usually found concealed among aquatic plants at the sides of channels, or off rocks and offshore shoals in lakes and rivers in summer. Less than one per cent of the world’s fresh water is home to muskellunge and much of that water is in Ontario. Angling Tips: Peak periods occur in June and again in the fall when water temperatures begin to cool. However, the summer months produce substantial numbers of medium-sized muskellunge. Key fishing times include the morning and evening when baitfish activity peaks. Because of its large size and fighting qualities, the muskellunge is one of Ontario’s most renowned game fish. NORTHERN PIKE COOL WATER SPECIES AND THEIR HABITATS Key Identifying Characteristics: Very large, elongated fish; light, yellowish or white spots on dark green background; background colour varies from green to brown and is dark on the back fading to creamy white on the belly. Distribution/Habitat: In lakes, pike prefer vegetated bays, creek mouths and shoals where they can ambush prey. In the summer, large pike move to deeper water to avoid higher water temperatures. Angling Tips: Pike are aggressive feeders and can be caught year round. Key fishing times include the morning and evening when baitfish activity peaks; however, pike will bite throughout the day. ROCK BASS WALLEYE Key Identifying Characteristics: Small, very deep bodied fish; back and upper sides are brown to olive with golden tints and there are often dark saddles; large, red eye. Distribution/Habitat: Rock bass prefer the cool waters of lakes and slow-moving streams and are often found over rocky bottoms. They are often found in groups with other sunfishes and basses, including smallmouth bass and pumpkinseed. Angling Tips: Rock bass are excellent targets for young anglers because they are aggressive feeders and take bait readily. They are most active Key Identifying Characteristics: Large, elongated fish; back is olive-green to brown, sides paler with yellow flecks; no distinct blotches or bands on adults. Distribution/Habitat: Walleye (also known as pickerel), thrive in a range of river and lake conditions from cold, clear water to warm, weedy and stained water. Preferred cover includes weed, wood and rock. Bottom types can be anything from soft mud to flooded timber, rubble or bedrock. Angling Tips: Walleye are a light-avoiding fish, caught most often under low light conditions. Fishing is generally best on cloudy or overcast days, or on days when waves keep light from penetrating too deeply into the water. Prime times include morning and evening. In springtime walleye will take almost any bait or lure, but may be more challenging to catch through the summer months. Fall often brings another peak of walleye feeding activity. YELLOW PERCH Key Identifying Characteristics: Light yellow background with 6 to 8 dark, vertical bands on sides; mouth large, extending to below the middle of the eye. Distribution/Habitat: Perch are most numerous where there are areas of open water and moderate amounts of vegetation. They often share habitat with species such as walleye and bass. Angling Tips: After ice-out in late April and May, perch are plentiful near shore, where they spawn. Fishing weedlines and large, flat sandy or silty areas with scattered vegetation near deeper water pays off through the summer. Perch are comfortable in bright light and do not see well in dim light. Schools of perch begin feeding in mid-morning and they may continue to feed off and on throughout the day. Schools break up during the evening. COLD WATER SPECIES AND THEIR HABITATS BROWN TROUT Key Identifying Characteristics: White mouth and gums; back is brown, blue, or green; sides silvery; belly is white; dark spots on body. The only salmon or trout with orange on adipose fin. Distribution/Habitat: In southern Ontario, brown trout frequent pools or ponds fed by streams. Although they hold their own in many turbulent, fast-flowing streams, they appear to prefer quiet, calm waters. Angling Tips: In the Great Lakes, brown trout are often best targeted by trolling. Brown trout are often found in areas that are shallower and nearer to shore than other species like rainbow trout and Chinook salmon. Browns can also be targeted by anglers casting from piers and break-walls. Brown trout feed most aggressively at night. and harbour mouths and off sandy and gravely windward shorelines. During the summer, fish disperse into deeper, cooler depths. Rainbow trout, unlike other trout, are spring spawners, moving up streams where the young remain, eventually leaving to the lake to feed and mature. CHINOOK SALMON Key Identifying Characteristics: Elongated, moderately deep-bodied fish; back is blue or green; sides are silvery; belly is white. Distribution/Habitat: In Ontario, Chinook salmon spend most of their life in the cold waters of the Great Lakes until they return to tributary streams to spawn. Angling Tips: Chinook salmon are extremely strong fighters, with potential size being the main attraction for anglers. Chinooks are extremely sensitive to light, and so are not likely to feed on the surface. Salmon are migratory fish. In the late summer and early fall, salmon are found at the mouth of rivers waiting to move upstream to spawn. Once salmon move upstream in the fall, they generally stop feeding but are aggressive and territorial and will hit the lure to defend. LAKE STURGEON Key Identifying Characteristics: Underslung mouth, whiskers and bony plates on sides Length: 90-145 cm. (3-5 ft.) Distribution/Habitat: Larger rivers and lakes, usually less than 30 feet deep. Angling Tips: Sturgeon are a very resilient fish and can be caught many times over. Hooking and landing them, especially using circle hooks, will not harm them. It’s how the fish is handled that will determine its fate. Don’t pick them up vertically by the gills or tail, a large treated landing net can be used to avoid injury to the fish. NOTE: Information provided by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Illustrative purposes only. Fish not to scale in reference to each other. RAINBOW TROUT Key Identifying Characteristics: White mouth and gums; body silver with dark spots; spots all over tail in radiating rows. Distribution/Habitat: Rainbows (often called steelhead) are widely distributed in the Great Lakes. Angling Tips: Rainbow trout, as with other trout, can be found in warmer, near-shore areas during the spring. In particular, seek them near river There’s always good fishing on Niagara’s South Coast! Lake Erie Fishing Facts Walleye range in size from 16 to 22 inches, with catch rates rivaling any country Yellow Perch has been voted as the “tastiest table fish” and the most fun to catch Lake Erie’s Perch range in size from 7 to 12 inches Late April, May, June, August and September are the best months to fish for “smallies” Small-mouth Bass are also known as “bronzebacks