Because of the cold spring with water temps still in the high 30's the fishing has been extremely slow. The heavy rains we're getting this week will definitely help to raise those temps but will also cause some very muddy water in shallow. I would save your gas and wait another week to give things a chance to clear up. I have fished the BIG "O" since the early 70's so I would recommend to forget the north shore until around the end of May. The south shore is the place to be all through the spring, anywhere from Jordon Harbour to the Niagara bar. I agree with big guy that planer boards work best in the shallows flat lining body baits back 100-150 ft. although small spoons such as Little Cleo's or Manistee's also produce well. Colours in blue/silver, orange/silver, gold/silver, rainbow or brown trout have always worked for me. Simply put, if it imitates smelt or alewife they will crush it. As the spring progresses the fish will continue to move to deeper water then the fishing really picks up as you will not only catch browns but bows, lakers, cohoes and kings and sometimes even an Atlantic salmon. For launching I use Port Dalhousie a 4 ramp launch @$12 at St Catharines fish & Ass. at 61 Lighthouse Rd. St Catharines, ON L2N 7P4 or Jordon Harbour Marina off the North Service Rd. at Jordon and you can find directions online for either.
I just wanted to also mention just in case you are unaware but you do need an official nautical chart for Lake Ontario. If the OPP or MNR check you they will charge you a fine of $285 which can ruin your day. I haven't heard of anyone being charged here on Lake Erie as of yet for not having one but they have been pinching everyone they catch on Lake Ontario. It's a great fishery and I wish you well.
TRANSPORT CANADA
Carry and use official nautical Charts and publications - plan to avoid local hazards
it’s the Law!
To help make navigation safer, you
must carry the following for each
area you plan to boat in:
• the latest edition of the largest
officially produced chart available; and
• the latest edition of related
documents and publications,
including Notices to Mariners, Sailing
Directions, tide and current tables,
and the List of Lights, Buoys and
Fog Signals.
You are required to carry the above list
of navigational charts and publication
even if you are operating a boat under
100 gross tons. You can be exempted
only if you know the area sufficiently
well. This knowledge includes:
• the location and type of charted:
– shipping routes;
– lights, buoys and marks;
– boating hazards; and
• the area’s usual boating conditions,
such as tides, currents, ice and
weather patterns.
Before heading out, you should make
sure you know:
• how to plot a course;
• how to determine your position; and
• how to use:
– a compass along with
nautical charts;
– electronic navigation equipment;
and
– references such as tide tables,
Canada’s buoyage system,
navigation lights and signals, Notices
to Mariners and Sailing Directions.
Avoid potential danger by steering
clear of rapids and currents, and be
sure not to obstruct commercial
navigation in commercial shipping
channels.
The Canadian Hydrographic Service
(CHS) is the official source for supplying
navigational publications, raster BSBs
and vector Electronic Navigational
Charts (ENCs) in Canada’s waters. Under
the Charts and Nautical Publications
Regulations made pursuant to the
Canada Shipping Act, 2001 boaters
must use charts issued officially or on
the authority of the CHS. You can buy
official paper and digital charts from
authorized chart dealers. For more
information or to find the nearest
authorized chart dealer, please visit
www.charts.gc.ca or contact the
CHS at 1-866-546-3613 or at
chsinfo@dfo-mpo.gc.ca . ”
