By Jenna Bilsback

I love fishing.  You put that line in the water and you don’t know what’s on the other end.  Your imagination is under there.    ~Robert Altman

Spring

The Spring Fishing season begins immediately after the ice thaws. In the early spring the fish start to migrate towards shallow waters which provide more warmth then the great depths of the lake. The brown trout is most prominent at this time. It can handle water temperature slightly above 22° Celsius, allowing it to be in low depth streams such as the one at Vosburg.

Summer

During the summer, a wider variety of fish are found the tributaries of Lake Ontario including the Summer Chinook, the Coho Salmon, the Steelhead, and still, the Brown Trout. These fish enjoy the tributaries primarily because of currents. The currents provide a surplus of food particles floating downstream and oxygenated water. In addition, it administers protection from predators due to the rippling of the stream, and its myriad of boulders and logs to rest behind.

Fall

When water temperatures start to decline, this frequently is the period that fish start to spawn. While the fish do not have a set time, spawning occurs typically in November. The fish come upstream to find discreet areas to lay their eggs.

Technique

A major key to river fishing is casting. It is necessary to cast upstream due to the currents. If the lure is cast beyond the potential hiding place of a fish, this will allow for the bait to drift past them, creating a more realistic environment for stream feeding.

 “Fishing is much more than fish.  It is the great occasion when we may return to the fine simplicity of our forefathers.”  ~Herbert Hoover